MS HB312

State Board of Education shall make hunter safety education part of the public school curriculum beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, in coordination with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Participation is voluntary and may be offered to students in grades 6-12 either during the school day or as an end-of-day program.

School district superintendents have sole discretion to implement the program based on student interest and instructor availability.

Course instruction shall cover firearm safety, proper hunting use, hunter ethics, wildlife identification, wildlife conservation, water safety, first aid, and tree stand safety.

Instructors must be certified by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and use department-provided teaching materials; effective July 1, 2017.