Bill
SB 191
Requires NC public schools in grades 7 and 9 to deliver an age-appropriate gun safety presentation developed by CFSS, with parent opt-out and state funding.
Status & basic info
- Bill number: SB 191
- Title: CFSS Gun Prsnt. for Grade 7 and 9 Students
- Introduced: January 23, 2025
- Jurisdiction: North Carolina (2025 session)
- Current status (per provided info): Passed first reading; referenced to Budget/appropriation actions.
- Effective date in bill: July 1, 2025; applies beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.
Purpose / legislative intent
- Require the State’s Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) to develop an age‑appropriate, interactive presentation for early adolescents about guns and related risks, and require local public school units to deliver that presentation to all students in grades 7 and 9.
Key provisions
- CFSS duties (G.S. 143B-1209.59(c)(2b)):
- Develop and update, as needed, an interactive presentation addressing:
- Legal, medical, and emotional consequences of youth gun possession
- Substance abuse
- Gun violence
- Gun safety
- Provide training and supporting materials so local school administrative units (LEAs) and other public school units (on request) can deliver the presentation.
- Local school administrative unit duties (G.S. 115C-47 new subdivision):
- Provide the CFSS presentation to all students in grade 7 and grade 9.
- Notify parents at least 14 days before the scheduled presentation and give parents the opportunity to opt their child out of receiving it.
- Appropriation:
- Recurring appropriation of $900,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for FY 2025–2026 to support CFSS in providing training and materials for LEAs and other public school units.
Who is affected
- Students in grades 7 and 9 in public schools across the state (required to be offered the presentation; parents may opt out).
- Local school administrative units — must schedule the presentation, provide parental notice and process opt‑outs.
- Center for Safer Schools — must design, maintain, and deliver training/materials.
- Department of Public Instruction — receives the appropriation and administers funds to support CFSS.
Implementation & timeline
- CFSS develops materials and conducts training ahead of the 2026–2027 school year.
- LEAs must provide parental notice at least 14 days before each presentation and may implement opt‑outs.
- Funding provided beginning FY 2025–26 to establish/scale training and materials.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Positive: standardizes age‑targeted education on gun safety and the consequences of youth gun possession; may increase awareness among middle and early high school students and families.
- Operational: LEAs will need scheduling time in curriculum/health classes, staff time to administer presentations, and processes to manage parent opt‑outs.
- Fiscal: $900,000 recurring is appropriated to support CFSS training and materials (bill text allocates funds for FY 2025–26); additional local implementation costs (staff time, scheduling) are implied but not specified in the bill.
- Content/design considerations: materials are to be “interactive” and cover legal, medical, and emotional topics; CFSS must update as necessary.
References to bill text
- Adds G.S. 143B-1209.59(c)(2b) (CFSS duties) and a new subdivision to G.S. 115C-47 (LEA duty & parental notice/opt‑out). Appropriates $900,000 to DPI (FY 2025–26 recurring) and specifies effective/applicability dates.
If you want, I can:
- Draft short sample parent‑notice language and opt‑out form for LEAs.
- Outline an implementation checklist for a school to schedule and deliver the presentation.
- Identify potential curriculum slots (health, advisory, civics) where this might be delivered.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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