Reasonable accommodation for student, teacher, or employee who desires greater privacy when using multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for student's, teacher's, or employee's sex

(a) A public school shall, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation to a student, teacher, or employee of the public school who: (1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and (2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf. (b) The school principal shall evaluate the request on behalf of the public school and, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation. The principal shall issue a decision approving or denying the request in writing. If the principal denies the request, then the grounds for denial must be provided in the principal's written decision. (c) This section does not prohibit public schools from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), or persons in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities located in public schools. Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 452, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.

(a) A public school shall, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation to a student, teacher, or employee of the public school who: (1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and (2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.

(1) Desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex and located within a public school building, or when using multi-occupancy sleeping quarters designated for the student's, teacher's, or employee's sex while the student, teacher, or employee is attending a public school-sponsored activity; and

(2) Provides a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the school principal. If the student requesting a reasonable accommodation is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the student's parent or legal guardian must provide the written request on the student's behalf.

(b) The school principal shall evaluate the request on behalf of the public school and, to the extent practicable, provide a reasonable accommodation. The principal shall issue a decision approving or denying the request in writing. If the principal denies the request, then the grounds for denial must be provided in the principal's written decision.

(c) This section does not prohibit public schools from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ( 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), or persons in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities located in public schools.

Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 452, s 4, eff. 7/1/2021.