Safety Instruction in Schools Act
Draft Disclaimer
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Summary
This policy requires each local education agency (LEA) and public charter school to provide students with age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction on firearm safety. Requires an LEA to provide instruction in a classroom setting, through the viewing of a video, or through the review of online materials. The instruction must teach students the safe storage of firearms, school safety relating to firearms, how to avoid injury if a student finds a firearm, to never touch a found firearm, and to immediately notify an adult of the location of a found firearm. All instruction must be viewpoint neutral and not include the presence of live ammunition, live fire, or live firearms.Model Policy
WHEREAS, the education of our children is a highly regarded responsibility shared by the people; and
WHEREAS, the children of [name of state] are treasured and worthy of our utmost protection; and
WHEREAS, firearm training and safe storage measures are a necessary component of public safety; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the General Assembly that such measures be taught to our school children; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF [name of state]:
Section 1.
(a) The departments of education and safety, in consultation with the [state wildlife commission or agency], shall determine the earliest grade in which it is appropriate for students to begin receiving instruction on firearm safety. In determining the earliest appropriate grade for instruction on firearm safety, the departments shall study all relevant data and risk factors, including the earliest age at which incidents of injury involving firearms are reported and the earliest age at which children are susceptible to harm from found firearms.
(b) Beginning with the [ACADEMIC YEAR], each LEA and public charter school shall annually provide students with age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction on firearm safety. The instruction must begin with the earliest appropriate grade, as determined by the departments under subsection (a), and must continue in each subsequent grade through grade twelve (12).
(c) The instruction required under subsection (b) must:
- Teach students:
- i. Safe storage of firearms;
- ii. School safety relating to firearms;
- iii. How to avoid injury if the student finds a firearm;
- iv. To never touch a found firearm; and
- v. To immediately notify an adult of the location of a found firearm;
- Be viewpoint neutral on political topics, such as gun rights, gun violence, and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution; and
- Not include the use or presence of live ammunition, live fire, or live firearms.
(d)
- The departments of education and safety, in consultation with the [state wildlife commission or agency], shall develop or approve a curriculum or program of instruction on firearm safety that meets the requirements of this section and that LEAs and public charter schools are required to implement for purposes of providing the instruction required under subsection (b). The departments shall not approve a curriculum or program of instruction if the curriculum, program of instruction, or any of the instructional materials used as part of the curriculum or program of instruction bear a brand or organizational affiliation.
- The instruction required under subsection (b) may be provided in a classroom setting, through the viewing of a video, or through the review of online resources or materials, as determined by the department of education.
- Each LEA and public charter school shall determine how best to incorporate the instruction required under subsection (b) into the school year at such times that the greatest number of students will be exposed to the curriculum.
Section 2.
(a) Instruction on firearm safety required under this law must be credited toward the annual school safety training required by the state level safety team’s template for district-wide school safety plans and building-level school safety plans for all students, teachers, and other school personnel who receive or provide the instruction.
Section 3. Effective Date
This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.