HLS 23RS-859 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 446
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIGUEZ
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
WEAPONS/HANDGUNS: Provides relative to online handgun education course
curriculum
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1379.3.3(B), (D)(1) and (6), and (F)(2) and to enact R.S.
3 40:1379.3.3(D)(9), relative to firearms; to provide relative to an online education
4 course; to provide relative to course topics; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 40:1379.3.3(B), (D)(1) and (6), and (F)(2) are hereby amended and
7reenacted and R.S. 40:1379.3.3(D)(9) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1379.3.3. Louisiana Firearm Safety Awareness Act
9 * * *
10 B. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police,
11 shall provide a two-hour two hour and fifteen-minute online handgun education
12 course at no cost to Louisiana residents.
13 * * *
14 D. The online handgun education course shall include instruction on all of
15 the following topics:
16 (1) Handgun basics and nomenclature, including handling procedures for a
17 revolver and a semiautomatic pistol.
18 * * *
19 (6) Accident prevention, including safe storage of firearms.
20 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-859 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 446
1 (9) Suicide prevention, with an emphasis on the impact of firearm-related
2 suicides involving veterans and current service members of the United States Armed
3 Forces.
4 * * *
5 F.
6 * * *
7 (2) In accordance with Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the Department of
8 Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall divide the topics provided
9 in Subsection D of this Section into eight nine video segments that shall broadcast
10 for no less than fifteen minutes per segment.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 446 Original 2023 Regular Session Miguez
Abstract: Provides for additional topics to be covered in the online handgun education
course that is provided to La. residents.
Present law provides that the DPS&C, office of state police, shall provide a two-hour online
handgun education course at no cost to La. residents.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the length of the online course to be two hours.
Proposed law amends present law to change the length of the online course from two hours
to two hours and 15 minutes.
Present law provides that the online handgun education course shall cover all of the
following topics:
(1)Handgun basics and nomenclature.
(2)Firearm-free zones.
(3)Use of deadly force.
(4)Interactions with law enforcement officers.
(5)Conflict resolution.
(6)Accident prevention.
(7)Unauthorized access prevention.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-859 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 446
(8)Safe handling of a handgun.
Proposed law retains present law, but amends the topic of "handgun basics and
nomenclature" to include handling procedures for a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol.
Proposed law further combines the topic of "safe storage of firearms" with the topic of
"accident prevention".
Proposed law further adds the topic of "suicide prevention, with an emphasis on the impact
of firearm-related suicides involving veterans and current service members of the U.S.
Armed Forces" to the course.
Present law provides that the DPS&C, office of state police, shall divide the topics provided
in present law into eight video segments that shall broadcast for no less than 15 minutes per
segment.
Proposed law amends present law to change the number of video segments from eight to
nine, but still provides that the video segments that shall broadcast for no less than 15
minutes per segment.
(Amends R.S. 40:1379.3.3(B), (D)(1) and (6), and (F)(2); Adds R.S. 40:1379.3.3(D)(9))
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.