1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education; requiring firearm safety instruction in school;proposing
1.3 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [120B.231] FIREARMS SAFETY INSTRUCTION.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Firearms safety instruction. (a) By June 1, 2025, the commissioner of
1.7 education, in consultation with the commissioner of natural resources, must make available
1.8 to school districts and charter schools a model program of firearm safety instruction for
1.9 students in grades 6 through 12. 4 through 12.
1.10 (b) The program must include at least 8 hours of instruction, must comply with the
1.11 requirements of the firearms safety course provided by the Department of Natural Resources
1.12 under section 97B.015, and must be taught by an individual who is certified as a qualified
1.13 person from the Enforcement Division of the Department of Natural Resources.
1.14 (c) The firearm safety instruction must include but is not limited to the following topics:
1.15 (1) proper use and handling of firearms;
1.16 (2) safe cleaning and maintenance of firearms;
1.17 (3) different types of firearms; and
1.18 (4) safe hunting practices.
1.19 Subd. 2.Firearms and ammunition prohibited. Firearms or ammunition must not be
1.20 brought into any school building as part of firearm safety instruction.
2.1 Subd. 3.Course offering. The board of a school district or board of directors of a charter
2.2 school may offer the firearm safety instruction as an optional extracurricular course for any
2.3 student in grades 6 through 12 4 through 12enrolled in the school district or charter school, or may
2.4 provide the firearm safety instruction as part of an existing school course for the purpose
2.5 of teaching self-expression and enjoyment of recreational activity.
2.6 Subd. 4.Excusal from instruction. Upon request from a student or a student's parent
2.7 or legal guardian, the student must be excused, without penalty or loss of academic credit,
2.8 from attending the firearm safety instruction.
2.9 Subd. 5.Course completion and certification. A student who completes a firearm
2.10 safety instruction course through a school is considered to have completed the firearms
2.11 safety and wildlife identification course under section 97B.015, subdivision 1, and to have
2.12 met the requirements to obtain a firearms safety certificate under section 97B.015, subdivision
2.13 5.
