Health, Dept. of

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how the $500,000 limit will be allocated among different types of recipients.

Grant Program for Anti-Choking Devices

This bill requires the Department of Health to establish and administer a grant program by July 1, 2025, to reimburse local education agencies, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for purchasing anti-choking devices.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Health to create and administer a grant program by July 1, 2025, until July 1, 2028.
• Reimburses local education agencies (LEAs), public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for purchasing one anti-choking device per cafeteria or vehicle used for emergency response.
• Limits total grants awarded through the program to $500,000.
• Requires an annual report on grant activities by July 31 each year starting from 2026.
• Allows the Department of Health to make rules about which anti-choking devices are eligible for reimbursement.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local education agencies
• Public charter schools
• Private schools
• Medical first responders

Terms To Know

LEA

Local Education Agency, which refers to a school district or other local authority responsible for public education.

Medical First Responder

A person who responds to emergency medical calls from 119 and includes fire departments, emergency services agencies, and personnel.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill specifies that the total grants awarded through the program cannot exceed $500,000.
• It is unclear how the $500,000 limit will be allocated among different types of recipients.
• The effectiveness and impact of the grant program on reducing choking incidents have not been assessed.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires

t
he department
of health to
establish, by July 1, 2025
, and
administer
, until
July 1, 2028, a grant program to reimburse
local education agencies (
LEAs
)
, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for the costs of anti-choking devices purchased by the LEA, public charter school, private school, or
medical first responder on or after July 1, 2025.
This bill provides the following with regard to such grants:



A grant awarded to
an
LEA is the cost to the LEA of purchasing one anti-choking device for each cafeteria located in each school under the jurisdiction of the LEA's local board of education
.



A grant awarded to
a
public charter school or private school is the cost to the school of purchasing one anti-choking device for each cafeteria in the public charter school or private school, as applicable
.



A grant awarded to
a
medical first responder is the cost to the medical first responder of purchasing one anti-choking device for each vehicle used by the medical first responder to respond to calls for emergency medical assistance from a 911 call.
As used in this bill, a "medical
first responder" means a fire department or emergency services agency, emergency services personnel, or other person who responds to calls for emergency medical assistance from a 911 call
.

However, this bill prohibits the
depa
rtment
from
award
ing
more than $500,000

in total grants through the grant program.

ANNUAL REPORT

By July 31, 2026, and by each July 31 thereafter,
this bill requires
the department
to
submit a report to the general assembly regarding the amount of grant funds available in the grant program for the immediately preceding fiscal year; the number of LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders that applied fo
r
a grant in the immediately preceding fiscal year; and the number and amounts of grants awarded pursuant to this
bill
in the immediately preceding fiscal year.

RULEMAKING

This bill requires the
department
to
promulgate rules to effectuate this
bill
, inc
luding rules to establish the types of anti-choking devices that are reimbursable through the grant program.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1391
By Watson

HOUSE BILL 1084
By Martin G

HB1084
001903
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49
and Title 68, relative to anti-choking devices.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Department" means the department of health;
(2) "LEA" has the same meaning as defined in § 49-1-103;
(3) "Medical first responder" means a fire department or emergency
services agency, emergency services personnel, or other person who responds
to calls for emergency medical assistance from a 911 call;
(4) "Private school" has the same meaning as defined in § 49-6-3001;
and
(5) "Public charter school" has the same meaning as defined in § 49-13-
104.
(b) The department shall establish and, by July 1, 2025, administer, a grant
program to reimburse LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first
responders for the costs of anti-choking devices purchased by the LEA, public charter
school, private school, or medical first responder on or after July 1, 2025.
(c)
(1) Subject to subdivision (c)(2) and appropriations, a grant awarded to:

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(A) An LEA is the cost to the LEA of purchasing one (1) anti-
choking device for each cafeteria located in each school under the
jurisdiction of the LEA's local board of education;
(B) A public charter school or private school is the cost to the
school of purchasing one (1) anti-choking device for each cafeteria in the
public charter school or private school, as applicable; or
(C) A medical first responder is the cost to the medical first
responder of purchasing one (1) anti-choking device for each vehicle
used by the medical first responder to respond to calls for emergency
medical assistance from a 911 call.
(2) The department shall not award more than five hundred thousand
dollars ($500,000) in total grants through the grant program.
(d) By July 31, 2026, and by each July 31 thereafter, the department shall
submit a report to the general assembly regarding the amount of grant funds available in
the grant program for the immediately preceding fiscal year; the number of LEAs, public
charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders that applied for a grant in
the immediately preceding fiscal year; and the number and amounts of grants awarded
pursuant to this section in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
(e) The department shall promulgate rules to effectuate this section, including
rules to establish the types of anti-choking devices that are reimbursable through the
grant program. The rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform
Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(f) This section is repealed on July 1, 2028.

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SECTION 2. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.