SB401: SB401 Education; local boards of education shall be required to provide instruction in firearm safety in kindergarten through grade 12; provide

26 LC 63 0026 Senate Bill 401 By: Senators Williams of the 25th, Hickman of the 4th, Burns of the 23rd, Albers of the 56th, Hodges of the 3rd and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"2 so as to provide that local boards of education shall be requir ed to provide instruction in3 firearm safety in kindergarten through grade 12; to provide tha t such instruction may be4 incorporated into a course of study in health and physical educ ation; to provide for the5 adoption of content standards by the State Board of Education; to provide that local boards6 of education may establish a curriculum in firearm safety; to provide requirements for such7 curriculum; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,11 relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended12 by revising Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:13 "20-2-308.14 (a) Beginning in the 2028-2029 school year, each local board of education shall provide15 age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction on firearm safety in kindergarten through16 S. B. 401 - 1 - 26 LC 63 0026 grade 12, which instruction may be incorporated into the course of study in health and17 physical education provided for in Code Section 20-2-142.18 (b) No later than January 1, 2028, the State Board of Educatio n shall adopt content19 standards for such instruction in firearm safety.20 (c) Each local board of education shall be authorized to estab lish a curriculum for21 instruction in firearm safety, which curriculum may be based on the firearm education22 courses offered by the Department of Natural Resources and shal l incorporate the23 following topics:24 (1) Safe storage of a firearm;25 (2) School safety relating to firearms; and26 (3) How to avoid injury if the student finds a firearm, including, but not limited to, never27 touching a found firearm and immediately notifying an adult of the location of a found28 firearm.29 (d) Instruction in firearm safety offered pursuant to this Code section shall not include the30 use or presence of live ammunition, live fire, or live firearms.31 (e) Instruction in firearm safety offered pursuant to this Code section shall be viewpoint32 neutral and shall not espouse personal political beliefs relating to firearms. Reserved."33 SECTION 2.34 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.35 S. B. 401 - 2 -