HB939: Public schools; firearm safety education program.

HOUSE BILL NO. 939

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-204.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-204.1. Firearm safety education program.

Local school boards may provide firearm safety education programs for students in the elementary school grades and shall provide firearm safety education programs for students in high school grades. To assist local school boards electing to provide firearm safety education programs, the The Board of Education shall, in consultation with the Department of State Police, establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized program of firearm safety education for the elementary school grades to promote the protection and safety of children students enrolled in the public schools. The curriculum guidelines shall incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules upon which the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe GunSafe Program offered by the National Rifle Association is based. Local school boards electing to provide firearm Firearm safety education shall offer instruction pursuant to shall be consistent with the Board's curriculum guidelines and shall integrate firearm safety education into appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every elementary grade student completes the course of study in firearm safety education any family life education program offered by the school board. For any grade or school division for which a family life education program is not offered, such instruction shall be integrated into other subject areas or provided as a separate program and parents shall have the opportunity to opt their child out of participation in the firearm safety education program. Such firearm safety education program shall be taught by a school resource officer or other law-enforcement officer or by a United States Armed Forces instructor. No firearms shall be used in such firearm safety education program.