MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Education; Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Representatives Touchstone, Sykes, Miles, Barnett
AN ACT TO INCLUDE HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION AS PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM; TO LIMIT THE COURSE ATTENDANCE TO STUDENTS IN THE SIXTH THROUGH TWELFTH GRADES; TO REQUIRE THE COURSE TO BE TAUGHT BY A PERSON CERTIFIED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER TO OFFER HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION IN A SCHOOL SHALL BE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall make hunter safety education a part of the curriculum of instruction in Mississippi public schools. The State Department of Education shall work with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to ensure that the hunter safety education program will satisfy any requirements necessary to be approved by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the issuance of hunter education certificates to students.
(2) Participation in the hunter safety education program shall be voluntary and may be offered to students in any of the grade levels sixth through twelfth as part of the general curriculum offered to students or at the end of the school day.
(3) The school district superintendent may implement the hunter safety education program in each school in their district at which, in the sole judgment of the superintendent, sufficient student interest in course enrollment justifies the course offering and an appropriately certified instructor is available.
(4) The hunter safety education program shall include instruction relating to:
(a) The protection of lives and property against loss or damage as a result of the improper use of firearms;
(b) The proper use of firearms in hunting, sport competition and the care and safety of firearms in the home;
(c) Hunter ethics and responsibility;
(d) Wildlife identification;
(e) Wildlife conservation;
(f) Water safety;
(g) First aid; and
(h) Tree stand safety.
(5) The hunter safety education program shall be conducted by an instructor certified by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and shall use teaching materials furnished by the department.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.