FIREARM SAFETY COURSE S.B. 664:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 664 (as introduced 11-09-23)
Committee: Natural Resources and Agriculture
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to require the Department of Education (MDE) to adopt and make available to schools a model program of firearm safety instruction in schools and prescribe the requirements of such instruction by June 1, 2025. A student who had completed the instruction would be considered to have completed the hunter safety course necessary to obtain a hunting license as a minor under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA).
By June 1, 2025, the MDE, in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), would have to adopt and make available to schools a model program of firearm safety instructions for students in grades six through 12. The instruction would have to be at least eight hours in duration and would have to comply with the requirements of the DNR's safe firearm handling course. The instruction also would have to be taught by an individual who was certified as a hunter education instructor by the DNR.
(Under NREPA, the DNR must provide a course for the instruction in the safe handling of firearms. Individuals who complete the course are issued a certificate of competency.)
The firearm safety instruction would have to include all the following topics:
-- Proper usage and handling of firearms.
-- Safe cleaning and maintenance of firearms.
-- Different types of firearms.
-- Safe hunting practices.
The bill would specify that a firearm or ammunition could not be brought into a school building as part of the instruction.
The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy could provide the firearm safety instruction as an optional extracurricular class for any pupil in grades six to 12 in the district or academy or as a part of an existing course for the purpose of teaching self-expression and enjoyment of recreational activity. The bill would allow a pupil to be excused from attending the instruction without penalty or loss of academic credit upon request from the pupil or the pupil's parent or legal guardian.
A pupil who completed the instruction would be considered to have completed the hunter safety course required to obtain a hunting license under Section 43520 of NREPA, which prescribes the requirements for a hunting license issued to a minor child or developmentally disabled adult, including a requirement of a certificate of completion of a hunter safety course.
Proposed MCL 380.1163a Legislative Analyst: Eleni Lionas
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the DNR. Costs to the DNR would primarily consist of administrative costs associated with developing a model program and providing hunter education instructors to teach these courses. The extent of the impact on the DNR would depend on the number of schools that chose to adopt these programs.
The bill would have a fiscal impact on the State and an indeterminate fiscal impact on school districts and public school academies. The MDE would experience additional costs to adopt models for firearm safety instruction. If a model were available for the MDE to adopt, then costs would be minimal; however, if the MDE had to develop the model completely, the cost could be greater than current appropriations.
Local school districts and public school academies that chose to offer firearm safety instruction could experience additional costs to hire staff to support the course. The bill would not require districts or public school academies to offer the course, so the choice to offer the course would be at the discretion of the local unit using available dollars.
Cory Savino, PhD
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.