20102684D
SENATE BILL NO. 129
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled December 17, 2019
A BILL to amend and reenact §22.1-204.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; firearm safety education program.
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Patron-- Norment
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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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 shall provide firearm safety education programs for students in the elementary school all 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 Criminal Justice Services, 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 Program offered by the National Rifle Association is based. Local school boards electing to provide firearm safety education shall offer a minimum of two hours of instruction pursuant to that is 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. 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.