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An Act To Allow a School Administrative Unit To Implement a Firearm Safety Education Program for Elementary School Students
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §405, sub-§3, ¶U, as amended by PL 2005, c. 611, §1, is further amended to read:
 
U. Review the organization of school administrative units statewide to identify current cooperative agreements between school administrative units. Cooperative agreements may include, but are not limited to: purchasing or contract agreements; administrative functions; shared staff and staff training; and technology initiatives. Based on the review, and in consultation with the department, the state board may recommend that school administrative units develop and carry out a plan for a cooperative agreement with one or more other school administrative units. "Cooperative agreement" may include agreements between school administrative units and career and technical education regions and career and technical education centers; and
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §405, sub-§3, ¶V, as amended by PL 2005, c. 611, §2, is further amended to read:
 
V. Study school administrative unit configuration statewide.; and
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §405, sub-§3, ¶W  is enacted to read:
 
W.  Develop guidelines for a standardized program of firearm safety education for elementary students that a school board may adopt in accordance with section 4713. The guidelines must incorporate principles of firearm safety, including but not limited to principles related to accident prevention, principles developed by a national organization that provides a firearm safety program and principles developed by a national organization that provides a crime prevention training program.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §4713  is enacted to read:
§ 4713. Optional firearm safety education program for elementary students
A school board may adopt and implement a firearm safety education program for elementary students in conformance with guidelines developed by the state board pursuant to section 405, subsection 3, paragraph W. A firearm safety education program adopted pursuant to this section must be integrated into appropriate subject areas in a manner that ensures that every elementary student in the school administrative unit completes the firearm safety education program.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State Board of Education to develop guidelines for a standardized program of firearm safety education for elementary students and provides that school boards may adopt a firearm safety education program in conformance with the guidelines.