(The Center Square) – Tennessee school staff are now eligible to concealed carry firearms at school if they have met the criteria and gained proper approval.

The law went into effect after it was signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Several school districts have already said they will not take part in the concealed carry option, which requires the approval of the school principal, superintendent and local law enforcement department.

The law allows for teachers, administrators and other staff to be approved for concealed carry if they meet a variety of criteria, including 40 hours of training in school policing at their own expense.

The identity of those employees who are approved for open carry will remain confidential except for three approving individuals.

Those seeking approval need to complete another background check and finger-printing process, have a concealed carry permit, complete a psychological evaluation and have completed the 40 hours of training including hands-on training.

House sponsor Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, noted a law has allowed distressed counties to do something similar to this for the past seven years and individuals on higher education campuses to carry concealed firearms with an enhanced carry permit without the dean or president of the school being made aware.