SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 116
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs
Brief*
SB 116 would create law related to firearm safety
education programs conducted in public school districts.
The bill would allow local school boards (local board) to
provide firearm safety education programs. The State Board
of Education (State Board) would be directed to establish
curriculum guidelines for a standardized firearm safety
education program, which would be required to include
accident prevention.
The bill would provide that specific programs would be
used based on the grade level of students, as follows:
●Kindergarten through grade five guidelines would
be based on the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe program
(Eddie Eagle program) offered by the National Rifle
Association (NRA) or any successor program;
●Grades six through eight guidelines would be
based on either the Eddie Eagle program, or any
successor program, or the Hunter Education in Our
Schools program (Hunter Education), offered by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
(KDWP), or any successor program; and
●Grades nine through twelve guidelines would be
based on Hunter Education or any successor
program.
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org The bill would provide that if a local board elects to
provide firearm safety education, such instruction must be in
accordance with the guidelines established by the State
Board. Further, if a local board elects to provide firearm safety
education courses, such instruction would have to be offered
so as to ensure all students are provided the opportunity to
take the course.
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Senator Blasi.
[Note: Provisions of this bill are similar to 2021 Sub. for HB
2089 and 2022 SB 522.]
Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Representative Penn, Representative
Schmoe, representatives of the Kansas State Rifle
Association and National Rifle Association, and a private
citizen. The proponents stated the bill would standardize
firearm safety education across the state and could prevent
accidents involving children and firearms.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Congressional Sportsmen’s
Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Safari
Club International.
Opponent testimony was provided by a high school
student and a private citizen, stating the effectiveness of the
Eddie Eagle program at preventing gun accidents involving
children is unclear.
Written-only opponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Kansas National Education
2- 116 Association, Kansas Parent Teacher Association, and State
Board of Education and five private citizens.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by a
representative of the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Department of Education indicates
enactment of the bill would require the creation of a
Standards Development Committee, which would meet
multiple times over the course of a year to develop the
required standards. Costs for the process would include
development and review of materials, transportation
reimbursement for some in-person meetings, and other
development costs at an estimated cost of $70,000, all from
the State General Fund. The Department notes that local
school districts would incur costs to train teachers and
purchase new curriculum materials; however, the cost of
these materials would not be known until the standards are
developed. Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not
reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
K-12 education; firearms; firearms safety education; curriculum guidelines; State
Board of Education
3- 116