<-1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," further providing for the Office of
6Safe Schools.

<-7Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 
8act relating to the public school system, including certain 
9provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 
10schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 
11laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study, 
12providing for firearm safety education program.

13The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14hereby enacts as follows:

<-15Section 1. Section 1302-A(b) of the act of March 10, 1949
16(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
17amended by adding a paragraph to read:

18Section 1302-A. Office for Safe Schools.--* * *

19(b) The office shall have the power and duty to implement
20the following:

21* * *

22(1.1) To assist the board of any school entity that may
 

1elect to provide firearm safety education programs for students 
2in the elementary school grades. To assist school entities 
3electing to provide firearm safety education programs by 
4establishing curriculum guidelines for a standardized program of 
5firearm safety education for the elementary school grades to 
6promote the protection and safety of children enrolled in public 
7schools. The curriculum guidelines shall incorporate, among 
8other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and 
9rules upon which the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program offered by the 
10National Rifle Association is based. School entities electing to 
11provide firearm safety education shall offer instruction 
12pursuant to the office's curriculum guidelines and shall 
13integrate firearm safety education into appropriate subject 
14areas, if feasible, to ensure that every elementary grade 
15student completes the course of study in firearm safety 
16education.

17* * *

18Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.

<-19Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 
20as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a 
21section to read:

22Section 1554. Firearm Safety Education Program.--(a) To
23assist school entities that voluntarily elect to provide firearm
24safety education programs for students in kindergarten through
25grade eight the department shall, in consultation with its
26Office for Safe Schools and the Pennsylvania State Police,
27develop curriculum guidelines for a standardized program of
28firearm safety education for the students in kindergarten
29through grade eight to promote the protection and safety of
30children enrolled in public schools. The curriculum guidelines

1shall incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety,
2accident prevention and rules upon which the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe
3Program offered by the National Rifle Association is based.

4(b) School entities voluntarily electing to provide firearm
5safety education shall offer instruction pursuant to the
6department's curriculum guidelines.

7(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
8shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

9"Department." The Department of Education of the
10Commonwealth.

11"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
12charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
13intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

14Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.