BILL REQ. #:  S-0921.2 

Read first time 02/01/2007.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to hunter and firearm safety education; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) School districts are encouraged to offer as an elective a one-term course in firearm safety that shall be designated as the Washington hunter and firearm safety program course.
     (2) A student shall be deemed to have satisfactorily completed the Washington hunter and firearm safety program course by demonstrating that he or she has the ability to discharge a firearm safely.
     (3) The Washington hunter and firearm safety program course shall be developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in conjunction with the department of fish and wildlife, the Washington state patrol, and private firearms organizations. The program course may include materials provided by private youth organizations.
     (4) At a minimum, the program course shall include:
     (a) Instruction on the rules of firearm safety;
     (b) Instruction on the basic operation of firearms;
     (c) Instruction on the history of firearms;
     (d) Instruction on the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom;
     (e) Instruction on the right to keep and bear arms under Second Amendment to the United States Constitution;
     (f) Instruction on the use of clay targets; and
     (g) Practice time at a shooting range.
     (5) School districts shall arrange for adequate use of shooting range time by students in the Washington hunter and firearm safety program course and any established shooting range.
     (6) Students who satisfactorily complete the Washington hunter and firearm safety program course shall receive a certificate of accomplishment.
     (7) Instructors shall be certified by the department of fish and wildlife. By providing this training, certified hunter education instructors shall receive credit for hunter education instruction towards their annual teaching requirement.
     (8) This section shall not be construed to limit or expand the liability of any person under other provision of law.