By: Guillen, Cain, Harris of Anderson, H.B. No. 2976

Hefner, Manuel, et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an elective course on firearms safety for public high school students and the designation of August as Firearm Safety Awareness Month.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0121 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0121. FIREARMS SAFETY ELECTIVE COURSE. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that offers a high school program may offer to students in high school an elective course on firearms safety based on the curriculum guidelines developed under Subsection (c). The course must meet the requirements for a one-half elective credit under Section 28.025.

(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not allow a student to enroll in an elective course offered by the district or school under Subsection (a) unless the district or school first obtains the written consent of the parent or person standing in parental relation to the student.

(c) The State Board of Education shall develop curriculum guidelines for the elective course on firearms safety. The curriculum guidelines must:

(1) focus on accident prevention;

(2) promote the safety and protection of students;

(3) emphasize how students should respond when encountering a firearm; and

(4) include the information contained in the firearms safety portion of a hunter education course under Section 62.014, Parks and Wildlife Code.

(d) The State Board of Education shall develop a virtual course on firearms safety that meets the requirements of an elective course under Subsection (a) for a school district or open-enrollment charter school to offer to high school students.

(e) The State Board of Education shall make the virtual course on firearms safety developed under Subsection (d) available to:

(1) the agency;

(2) the Parks and Wildlife Department; and

(3) the Department of Public Safety.

(f) Each entity described by Subsection (e) shall make the virtual course on firearms safety available to the public free of charge through the entity's Internet website.

SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 662, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 662.116 to read as follows:

Sec. 662.116. FIREARM SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH. (a) August is Firearm Safety Awareness Month to increase awareness of firearm safety and encourage community residents and leaders to discuss the safe and responsible ownership, storage, and use of firearms for recreational and defensive purposes and to promote voluntary and collaborative methods that improve public safety.

(b) Firearm Safety Awareness Month may be regularly observed through appropriate activities and programs in communities to increase awareness of and instruction on the responsible use of firearms. A firearms accident prevention program may include animated videos, activity books, and other instructional materials for community residents of all ages.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the State Board of Education shall:

(1) develop the curriculum guidelines required under Section 28.0121(c), Education Code, as added by this Act; and

(2) develop the virtual course on firearms safety required under Section 28.0121(d), Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. Section 28.0121, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.