The proposed bill would amend current statutes by adding a new section, 15-714.02, to the Arizona Revised Statutes, which mandates that starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all school districts and charter schools must provide annual, age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This instruction would focus on accident prevention and personal safety awareness, including topics such as safe firearm storage, appropriate actions if a student encounters a firearm, and discussions about the risks of unsafe handling or unauthorized access to firearms. The instruction must be objective and not promote or discourage firearm ownership or any political stance.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the instruction cannot include live firearms, ammunition, demonstrations involving firearms, or moral judgments about firearm possession. It allows for various methods of instruction, such as classroom-based lessons, assembly presentations, or digital materials approved by the Department of Education. The Department of Education is tasked with coordinating the development of instructional materials with the Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, ensuring that these materials are developmentally appropriate, fact-based, and focused on safety. The bill also requires that all instructional materials be available for parental review and clarifies that the new requirements do not regulate firearm possession or ownership.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-714.02
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-714.02