Personal Injury Caused by Assault

T. C. A. § 49-5-714 requires a local education agency (LEA) to pay a teacher’s full salary and benefits if a teacher is absent from work due to a personal injury caused by a violent assault on the teacher during the teacher’s employment activities. The LEA must pay the teacher’s full salary and benefits until the teacher is released by a physician to return to work or is permanently and totally disabled from returning to work. A teacher is required to apply for workman’s compensation or similar benefits if eligible. The LEA must pay the difference between the teacher’s full salary and the workman’s compensation, or similar benefits received. A leave of absence due to violent assault may not be charged against a teacher’s sick leave, personal leave, or professional leave. The LEA is not required to pay the full salary and benefits of a teacher assaulted during employment activities for more than one year.