House Bill 1577

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER A COURSE IN HUNTER SAFETY AS A COMPONENT OF ITS CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 12; TO PRESCRIBE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF OPERABLE WEAPONS AND LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE COURSE; TO AUTHORIZE PARENTS TO OPT OUT A STUDENT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE COURSE; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, each school district may offer a course on hunter safety as a component of its curriculum during the day, or as part of an after-school program for students in Grades 7 through 12. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, may prepare and make available to school boards resources on hunter safety that may be used as guidelines for the development of courses authorized under this section.

(2) The hunter safety course must be designed to expose students to firearm safety and to provide, at a minimum, instruction in:

(a) The capabilities of firearms;

(b) Respecting and handling firearms responsibly; and (c) Managing and controlling firearms.

(3) The hunter safety course must be taught by a well trained individual who is credentialed to provide instruction in the safe handling of firearms. The school district may arrange for any employee of the district or alternatively, an individual who is not employed by the district, to teach the hunter safety course, provided that the person administering the instruction holds certification or another credential that evidences the person's training to provide firearms safety instruction.

(4) The hunter safety course required under this section may not be construed to authorize a student, school district employee, firearms safety instructor or any other person who is not otherwise permitted by law or school board policy to carry a weapon on school property or possess a firearm on school property. In training students to handle firearms properly, operable weapons and live ammunition may not be used. Access by any person to the inoperable weapons and ammunition used in the course must be limited to those times that students are in class under the supervision of both the firearms safety instructor and physical education teacher.

(5) No less than one (1) week before the course required under this section is scheduled to be taught, the school district must provide written notice to the parents of those students. The notice must inform the parents that a hunter safety course, including training in the proper handling of firearms, will be taught to students as part of the physical education class. The notice must advise parents of the right and the appropriate process to review the materials to be used in the course. Upon the request of any parent, the school must excuse the parent's child from the hunter safety course without detriment to the student.

SECTION 2. Section 49-7-20, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-20. (1) It is unlawful for any person born on or after January 1, 1972, to procure any Mississippi hunting license, except a resident apprentice hunting license and a resident combination small game hunting and fishing license, unless the person has been issued certification of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the department.

(2) It is unlawful for any person to issue any Mississippi hunting license, except a resident apprentice hunting license and resident combination small game hunting and fishing license, to any person born on or after January 1, 1972, unless the purchaser has provided valid certification of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the department.

(3) It is unlawful for any person to fraudulently obtain a hunter education certification.

(4) The department may revoke any hunting license or hunter education certification upon determination that the holder was not entitled to issuance or obtained the license or certification by any fraudulent means.

(5) It is unlawful for any person born on or after January 1, 1972, to hunt with a resident combination small game hunting and fishing license, unless the person has been issued certification of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the department.

(6) The hunter education course required for purposes of licensure shall be deemed to be satisfied by any student who enrolls in and successfully completes a school-based hunter safety course provided in accordance with Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.