AB843: Bill Text

This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to develop a curriculum for a comprehensive firearm education course for high school pupils. The bill requires the state superintendent to jointly develop the curriculum with the Department of Natural Resources, a law enforcement agency, and an organization that specializes in firearm safety or that certifies firearm instructors.

The bill allows a school board or operator of an independent charter school to offer high school pupils a comprehensive firearm education course consistent with the curriculum the state superintendent develops or a hunter safety course modeled on DNR's hunter education program. Under the bill, if the school board or operator offers such a course, the course must be taught or supervised by an individual who demonstrates proof of training in firearm safety.

The bill specifies that a school board that elects not to offer a firearm education or hunter safety course must adopt a resolution making that election.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB843,1 Section 1. 115.28 (66) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,2,9 115.28 (66) Comprehensive firearm education. In consultation with the department of natural resources, a law enforcement agency, and an organization that specializes in firearm safety or that certifies firearm instructors, jointly develop a curriculum for a comprehensive firearm education course for pupils enrolled in the high school grades. The state superintendent shall ensure that the curriculum is developed no later than July 1, 2023. The state superintendent shall ensure that the curriculum incorporates the history, science, and mathematics of firearms, together with all of the following:

AB843,2,11 (a) The different types and mechanics of firearms and the different types of ammunition.

AB843,2,12 (b) Principles of firearm safety, including all of the following:

AB843,2,13 1. The location of safety devices on different types of firearms.

AB843,2,15 2. How to engage a safety device on a firearm and how to know whether a safety device on a firearm is engaged.

AB843,2,16 3. How to safely load and unload a firearm.

AB843,2,17 4. How to safely carry a firearm.

AB843,2,18 5. How to safely transport a firearm.

AB843,2 Section 2. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,3,2 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. If the contract is for the operation of a charter school that includes the high school grades, a requirement that the charter school offer the firearm education or hunter safety course required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. a., so far as applicable, unless the charter school governing board elects not to do so. The contract shall require a charter school that offers a course under this subd. 2. m. to retain an adult who satisfies the proof of training requirement under s. 175.60 (7) (e) to provide or supervise the course instruction.

AB843,3 Section 3. 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,3,10 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. If the contract is for the operation of a charter school that includes the high school grades, a requirement that the charter school offer the firearm education or hunter safety course required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. a., so far as applicable, unless the charter school governing board elects not to do so. The contract shall require a charter school that offers a course under this subd. 2. m. to retain an adult who satisfies the proof of training requirement under s. 175.60 (7) (e) to provide or supervise the course instruction.

AB843,4 Section 4. 119.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB843,3,24 119.04 (1) Subchapters IV, V, and VII of ch. 115, ch. 121, and ss. 66.0235 (3) (c), 66.0603 (1m) to (3), 115.01 (1) and (2), 115.28, 115.31, 115.33, 115.34, 115.343, 115.345, 115.363, 115.364, 115.365 (3), 115.366, 115.367, 115.38 (2), 115.415, 115.445, 118.001 to 118.04, 118.045, 118.06, 118.07, 118.075, 118.076, 118.10, 118.12, 118.125 to 118.14, 118.145 (4), 118.15, 118.153, 118.16, 118.162, 118.163, 118.164, 118.18, 118.19, 118.196, 118.20, 118.223, 118.225, 118.24 (1), (2) (c) to (f), (6), (8), and (10), 118.245, 118.25, 118.255, 118.258, 118.291, 118.292, 118.293, 118.30 to 118.43, 118.46, 118.50, 118.51, 118.52, 118.53, 118.55, 118.56, 120.12 (2m), (4m), (5), and (15) to (27), (29), 120.125, 120.13 (1), (2) (b) to (g), (3), (14), (17) to (19), (26), (34), (35), (37), (37m), and (38), 120.137, 120.14, 120.20, 120.21 (3), and 120.25 are applicable to a 1st class city school district and board but not, unless explicitly provided in this chapter or in the terms of a contract, to the commissioner or to any school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program.

AB843,5 Section 5. 120.12 (29) of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,4,4 120.12 (29) Firearm education. If the school board offers a course in firearm education or hunter safety under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. a., retain an adult who satisfies the proof of training requirement under s. 175.60 (7) (e) to provide or supervise the course instruction.

AB843,6 Section 6. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

AB843,4,12 121.02 (1) (L) 9. a. Except as provided in subd. 9. b., in the high school grades, offer a comprehensive firearm education course that is consistent with the curriculum developed under s. 115.28 (66) or a hunter safety course that is modeled on the course of instruction under the hunter education program under s. 29.591. If the school board awards high school credit to a pupil who successfully completes a course offered under this subd. 9. a., the school board may not award credit to the pupil under s. 120.13 (30).

AB843,4,16 b. If the school board elects not to offer a course under subd. 9. a., adopt a resolution making that election. Any election by a school board under this subd. 9. b. requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the school board.

AB843,7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB843,4,19 (1) School boards. The treatment of ss. 120.12 (29) and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. first applies to courses offered in the 2023-24 school year.

AB843,4,22 (2) Independent charter schools. The treatment of ss. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. and 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. first applies to a contract that is entered into, renewed, or modified on the effective date of this subsection.

AB843,4,23 (End)