49-10-111 - School construction to serve special needs.
49-10-111. School construction to serve special needs.
(a) (1) Every school system that constructs, remodels, renovates, expands or modifies school buildings or other structures intended as adjuncts to school buildings or structures shall plan, design, construct and equip the buildings and structures in a manner and with materials that will facilitate use by all children with disabilities who may reasonably be expected to enter upon the premises and to make use of them for instructional, remedial or supplementary services.
(2) Subdivision (a)(1) shall be interpreted and administered in the light of the policy of this state to educate and provide services for children with disabilities in or in close proximity to the regular schools to the maximum extent practicable.
(b) (1) The state board of education shall issue and may from time to time revise rules and regulations to implement this section.
(2) Rules and regulations shall include procedures for submission and review of plans and specifications and may include requirements for additional information to be furnished by school systems or other legal entities constructing or proposing to construct special education facilities.
(3) All plans and specifications shall be approved by the commissioner of education if they meet the rules and regulations of this subsection (b).
(c) (1) Public and private builders of special education facilities may consult with the commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative concerning any matter related to the administration of this section or its application to any special education facility proposed to be constructed or operated by them.
(2) No consultation and no representation made shall be construed as an approval of plans and specifications.
(3) Only plans and specifications that have been approved pursuant to this section shall be used in the construction, renovation, expansion or modification of public school buildings and special education facilities.
[Acts 1972, ch. 839, § 10; 1978, ch. 574, § 7; T.C.A., § 49-2954; Acts 1994, ch. 768, § 2.]