HB3825 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3825

Introduced , by Rep. Allen Skillicorn

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Firearm Safety Curriculum Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each school district may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on firearm safety and accident prevention for all students in the first grade; specifies what the course must include. Provides that each student who attends the course must be tested on the curriculum after completion of the course and must be given educational materials to take home to his or her parent or guardian. Provides that if a school district offers the course, it must provide written or electronic notice of the course to each parent or guardian of a student in first grade no later than 7 days before the course is scheduled to occur. Provides that a parent or guardian may elect, through written or electronic communication, to have his or her child not attend the course. Effective July 1, 2020.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Firearm Safety Curriculum Act.

Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "school district" means any school district or charter school governed by the School Code.

Section 10. Firearm safety and accident prevention course.

(a) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each school district may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on firearm safety and accident prevention for all students in the first grade. The unit of instruction may be offered each school year and, if offered, must be at least 30 minutes in duration. The course may be offered during recess to enable students who are not participating in the course to leave the classroom.

(b) If a school district offers a unit of instruction under this Section, the course must be taught by an instructor certified under Section 80 of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and licensed under Article 21B of the School Code. The unit of instruction must include all of the following:

(1) The proper steps a student must take upon encountering an unsecured firearm.

(2) The differences between video game violence and real-life violence.

(3) The dangers of confusing toy guns and real guns.

(4) An anti-bullying component that emphasizes de-escalation and adult intervention.

Instruction for the course must be nonpolitical and may not encourage or discourage possession or ownership of firearms. At no time may any real firearm or live ammunition be used or possessed during the course. Each student who attends the course must be tested on the curriculum after completion of the course. A student who attends the course must be given educational materials to take home to his or her parent or guardian. The educational materials must address the importance of repeatedly thinking about firearm safety and accident prevention and safe storage practices for firearms in the home.

(c) A school district that offers a unit of instruction under this Section must provide written or electronic notice of the course to each parent or guardian of a student in first grade no later than 7 days before the course is scheduled to occur. A parent or guardian may elect, through written or electronic communication, to have his or her child not attend the course and may request a copy of the educational materials provided to students who attend the course under subsection (b).

Section 90. Rules. The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.