Adopted by House 3-6-08
SB9 H FIN AM
The Committee on Finance moves to amend the bill on page two,
following the enacting section, by striking out the remainder of
the bill and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"
§18-2-8a. Hunter safety orientation program.
(a) The Legislature finds that:
(1) Firearms and hunting are important parts of West
Virginia's history, culture and economy;
(2) Unfortunately, the use of firearms while hunting or at any
other time can be dangerous when the firearms are not handled in a
careful and safe manner; and
(3) Therefore, the opportunity of participating in a hunter
safety orientation program should be offered to students in certain
grades.
(b) The State Board of Education may shall, with the advice of
the State Superintendent of Schools and the Director of the
Division of Natural Resources, promulgate a rule in accordance with
the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this
code prescribe an for the implementation of a hunter safety
orientation program for use in the public schools of this state.
in the safety of firearms. The rule shall include at least the
following provisions:
(1) The hunter safety orientation program shall deal with may
be offered to students in any of the grade levels sixth through
twelfth grades
over a two-week period during the school year as
part of physical education classes, or as part of the general
curriculum offered to students in any of these grade levels, or at
the end of the school day;
(2) The hunter safety orientation program is voluntary to
students and any student may choose not to participate in the
program. If a student chooses not to participate in the program,
he or she shall participate in another education activity;
(3) The hunter safety orientation program shall include
instruction relating to:
(A) The protection of lives and property against loss or
damage as a result of the improper use of firearms.; and
(B) The orientation program shall also include instruction
about The proper use of firearms in hunting, sport competition and
the care and safety of firearms in the home; and
(4) The hunter safety orientation program may utilize use
materials prepared by any national nonprofit membership
organization which has as one of its purposes the training of
people in marksmanship and the safe handling and use of firearms;
and
(5) The hunter safety orientation program
shall be conducted
by an instructor certified by the Division of Natural Resources or who has other training necessary to conduct
the program as
determined by the state board.
(c) The county superintendent may arrange for such implement
the hunter safety orientation program in the safety of firearms and
its use in accordance with the rule required by this section in
each school in the county that includes any of grades six through
twelve at which, in the sole judgement of the superintendent,
sufficient student interest in program enrollment justifies the
program offering and an appropriately certified instructor is
available.
(d) The Division of Natural Resources shall issue a
certificate of training, required by section thirty-a, article two,
chapter twenty of this code, to any student who completes the
hunter safety orientation program.
"