Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 4/4/2014

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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 590
2 AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 590 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
4 "Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
527-17.5 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/27-17.5 new)
7 Sec. 27-17.5. Firearm safety education program.
8 (a) School boards may provide firearm safety education
9programs for students in the elementary school grades. To
10assist school boards electing to provide firearm safety
11education programs, the State Board of Education shall
12establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized program of
13firearm safety education in the public schools. The curriculum
14guidelines shall incorporate, among other principles of
15firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules upon which
16the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program offered by the National Rifle

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1Association of America is based. School boards electing to
2provide firearm safety education programs shall offer
3instruction pursuant to the State Board's curriculum
4guidelines and shall integrate firearm safety education into
5appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every
6elementary school student completes the course of study in
7firearm safety education.
8 (b) The curriculum guidelines established by the State
9Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section shall
10provide background information on gun use and the consequences
11from the misuse of guns in our country and in this State. This
12information is intended to enhance the instructor's
13understanding of the context for facilitating the curriculum
14lessons.
15 (c) The curriculum under this Section must be designed as a
16single unit of instruction for each grade. In developing the
17curriculum:
18 (1) Background information, lesson guidelines and
19 plans, suggested scripts for teachers with discussion
20 points, and student materials must be a part of each
21 lesson.
22 (2) Lessons must be aligned with specific Illinois
23 standards of learning for each grade.
24 (3) Instructors must be provided general suggestions
25 for using teachable-moment opportunities. These
26 suggestions may include expanding students' understanding

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1 of the difference and similarities between real and toy
2 guns, unintended consequences, and an introduction to the
3 student code of conduct and gun offenses.
4 (4) The consequences of gun violence and personal
5 responsibility for gun safety in the community must be
6 introduced.
7 (5) In each lesson, a character (to be created by local
8 youth) must be present as a safety mascot. This character
9 must be used to reinforce the message that if a student
10 sees a gun, "leave it alone, leave the area, and let an
11 adult know".
12 School boards shall develop procedures for instructors to
13assist students who may disclose sensitive information during a
14lesson.
15 In addition to what to do if a student were to find a gun,
16kindergarten through second-grade lessons shall assist
17students in recognizing professionals who use guns for safety
18reasons and individuals who safely use guns for sporting
19activities and third through fifth-grade lessons shall
20continue to focus on what to do if a student were to find a
21gun.".