Education: curriculum; firearm safety instruction; provide for. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1163a.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Bellino and 13 co-sponsors

Michigan schools may offer a voluntary, model 10-hour firearm safety program for grades 6–12, taught by a DNR-certified hunter education instructor, with no firearms in class.

referred to Committee on Government Operations

#education:curriculum #weapons:firearms

Purpose

Require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to adopt and make available to schools a model firearm safety instruction program for secondary students, and to set baseline requirements for that instruction. The program is intended to promote responsible firearms handling, hunting safety, and awareness of State firearm laws.

Key provisions

MDE requirement: By June 1, 2025, MDE (with DNR consultation) must adopt and make available a model firearm safety program for students in grades 6–12 (MCL 380.1163a).

Minimum duration and standards: Instruction must be at least 10 hours in duration, comply with the DNR’s safe firearm handling course requirements, and be taught by an individual certified by the DNR as a hunter education instructor.

Required topics (at minimum):

Proper usage and handling of firearms
Safe cleaning and maintenance of firearms
Different types of firearms
Safe hunting practices
Proper storage of firearms and ammunition

Firearms/ammunition prohibition: Firearms and ammunition may not be brought into a school building as part of the instruction.

Local implementation: A school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy board may offer the instruction as an optional extracurricular class or as part of an existing course. Participation is voluntary.

Excusal: A pupil must be excused, without penalty or loss of academic credit, from attending the instruction upon request by the pupil or the pupil’s parent/legal guardian.

Hunter education equivalency: A pupil who completes the instruction is considered to have completed the hunter safety course required for a minor to obtain a hunting license under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA, §43520).

Who is affected

State agencies: MDE (responsible for adopting the model) and DNR (consultation, curriculum alignment, and instructor certification).

Local education agencies: School districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies that choose to offer the optional program (may incur staffing or program costs).

Students and families: Eligible students (grades 6–12) may choose to participate; completion counts toward minor hunting-license hunter education requirements.

Hunter education program: Potential increased demand on DNR instructor resources and administrative coordination.

Fiscal and implementation notes

Fiscal impact is indeterminate. Nonpartisan analyses identify a minor negative cost to DNR (administration and instructor support) and possible state-level costs to MDE if MDE must develop the model from scratch. Local districts that elect to offer the course may incur additional costs (staffing, scheduling). The bill does not mandate local adoption — offering the course is discretionary.

Legal references

Proposed new section: MCL 380.1163a (Revised School Code)

Cross-reference: DNR safe firearm handling course requirements (NREPA §324.43543) and minor hunting license requirements (NREPA §324.43520).

If you want, I can:
- Extract the full statutory draft language; or
- Produce a one-page explainer for school administrators outlining steps to adopt and offer the model program.

Bill