25 LC 61 0144S
House Bill 451 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Cannon of the 172
nd
, Rhodes of the 124
th
, Erwin of the 32
nd
, Dubnik of
the 29
th
, and Corbett of the 174
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"2
so as to provide that local boards of education shall be authorized to provide instruction in3
hunting safety in grades six through 12; to provide for the adoption of content standards by4
the State Board of Education; to provide that local boards of education may establish a5
curriculum in hunting safety; to provide for instructor requirements; to provide legislative6
findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
The General Assembly finds that hunter education courses provide young and beginning10
hunters with the information that they need to understand the purposes of hunting, general11
hunting practices, the conservation ethic shared by sportsmen and women, an appreciation12
for the wildlife of this state, and much more. Providing a hunting safety course in the public13
schools of this state is a great way to train and recruit the next generation of sportsmen and14
women, teach youth about the benefits of hunting and fishing, and build support for15
sportsmen and women led wildlife conservation.16
H. B. 451 (SUB)
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SECTION 2.
17
Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,18
relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended19
by revising Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:20
"20-2-308.21
(a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, each local board of education shall be
22
authorized to provide instruction in hunting safety in grades six through 12, which23
instruction may be incorporated into an existing course of study.24
(b) No later than April 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall adopt content standards25
for such instruction in hunting safety.26
(c) Each local board of education shall be authorized to establish a curriculum for27
instruction in hunting safety, which curriculum shall be based on the hunter education28
courses offered by the Department of Natural Resources.29
(d) Instruction in hunting safety offered pursuant to this Code section shall be taught by30
an individual who is certified as a hunter education instructor by the Department of Natural31
Resources. Reserved."32
SECTION 3.33
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.34
H. B. 451 (SUB)
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