Traffic Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide exact figures for how much money will be in the grant fund or what percentage local governments must match.

Student Pedestrian Protection Grant Program

This bill establishes a grant program to provide funding for local governments to improve sidewalk infrastructure around public schools in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Student Pedestrian Protection Grant Program within the Department of Transportation.
• Creates a separate fund called the Student Pedestrian Protection Grant Fund within the state's general fund, which includes funds appropriated by the General Assembly and gifts or donations received by the department.
• Requires local governments to match grant funding with either cash or in-kind contributions as determined by the commissioner.
• Sets rules for awarding grants on a competitive basis each fiscal year.
• Receives quarterly reports from recipients detailing progress and final reports upon completion of projects.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local governments in Tennessee
• Public schools in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Grant

Money given by the government to help pay for projects or programs.

In-kind project work

Work done as a contribution towards a project instead of money, like providing materials or labor.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact amount of funds that will be appropriated by the General Assembly.
• It is unclear how much local governments must match in cash or in-kind contributions for grant funding.

Official Summary Text

STUDENT PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM

This bill requires the department of transportation ("department") to establish and administer a student pedestrian protec
tion grant program ("program"). The purpose of the program is to provide grants to local governments to be used solely for designing, constructing, and repairing or replacing sidewalk infrastructure around public schools in this state.

FUNDING

This bil
l creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the student pedestrian protection grant fund. The fund is composed of (i) funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donations received by th
e
department for the fund.

GRANTS

This bill requires the department, subject to the availability of funds, to allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to local governments. The grants must be awarded on a competitive basis. The commissioner of tra
nsportation ("commissioner") must propose the annual recurring budget of the program and establish the selection criteria for awarding grants. This bill prohibits the funds from being obligated or expended under the program unless the local government ag
r
ees to match the proposed expenditures in an amount established by the commissioner. The commissioner must determine whether all, or a portion, of the required match may be provided by in-kind project work approved by the commissioner.

REPORT

This bi
ll requires each recipient of grant funds to provide a quarterly report to the department detailing the progress on use of the funds and a final report once all of the grant funds have been expended. On or before October 1 in any year during which the de
p
artment has allocated and dispersed funds pursuant to this bill, the department must prepare a report to the general assembly regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rule
s to effectuate this bill.

ON MARCH 31, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 141, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:



Requires, b
efore funds may be appropriated by the general assembly for the
student pedestrian protection grant
fund, the general assembly
to
authorize the appropriation of such funds by means of a separate joint resolution.



Removes the requirement that the commissioner propose the annual recurring budget of the program.



Requires the department to submit a
report to the general assembly regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund
by October 1 of each year regardless of whether the department has allocated and dispersed funds in the year of the report.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 16
By Clemmons

SENATE BILL 141
By Kyle

SB0141
000490
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 49; Title 54 and Title 55, relative to pedestrian
safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54, Chapter 4, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
54-4-701.
The department of transportation shall establish and administer a student
pedestrian protection grant program. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to
local governments to be used solely for designing, constructing, and repairing or
replacing sidewalk infrastructure around public schools in this state.
54-4-702.
(a) There is created a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the
student pedestrian protection grant fund. The fund is composed of:
(1) Funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and
(2) Gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the
fund.
(b) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall allocate and disperse
grants each fiscal year to local governments. The grants must be awarded on a
competitive basis. The commissioner shall propose the annual recurring budget of the
program and shall establish the selection criteria for awarding grants. Funds must not
be obligated or expended under the program unless the local government agrees to
match the proposed expenditures in an amount established by the commissioner. The

- 2 - 000490

commissioner shall determine whether all, or a portion, of the required match may be
provided by in-kind project work approved by the commissioner.
(c) Moneys in the fund must be invested by the state treasurer for the benefit of
the fund in accordance with § 9-4-603. Interest accruing on investments and deposits of
the fund must be returned to the fund and remain part of the fund. Any unencumbered
moneys and any unexpended balance of the fund remaining at the end of a fiscal year
do not revert to the general fund, but must be carried forward until expended in
accordance with this section.
54-4-703.
The commissioner may promulgate rules to effectuate this part in accordance
with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
54-4-704.
Each recipient of student pedestrian protection grant funds shall provide a
quarterly report to the department detailing the progress on use of the funds and a final
report once all of the grant funds have been expended. On or before October 1 in any
year during which the department has allocated and dispersed funds pursuant to this
part, the department of transportation shall prepare a report to the general assembly
regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.