Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
Filed: 4/4/2014
 
 


 




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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 590 




2 AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 590 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:


4 "Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
527-17.5 as follows:

6 (105 ILCS 5/27-17.5 new)
7 Sec. 27-17.5.  Firearm safety education program.
8 (a) School boards may provide firearm safety education 
9programs for students in the elementary school grades. To 
10assist school boards electing to provide firearm safety 
11education programs, the State Board of Education shall 
12establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized program of 
13firearm safety education in the public schools. The curriculum 
14guidelines shall incorporate, among other principles of 
15firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules upon which 
16the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program offered by the National Rifle 
 
 
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1Association of America is based. School boards electing to 
2provide firearm safety education programs shall offer 
3instruction pursuant to the State Board's curriculum 
4guidelines and shall integrate firearm safety education into 
5appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every 
6elementary school student completes the course of study in 
7firearm safety education.
8 (b) The curriculum guidelines established by the State 
9Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section shall 
10provide background information on gun use and the consequences 
11from the misuse of guns in our country and in this State. This 
12information is intended to enhance the instructor's 
13understanding of the context for facilitating the curriculum 
14lessons.
15 (c) The curriculum under this Section must be designed as a 
16single unit of instruction for each grade. In developing the 
17curriculum:
18  (1) Background information, lesson guidelines and 
19 plans, suggested scripts for teachers with discussion 
20 points, and student materials must be a part of each 
21 lesson.
22  (2) Lessons must be aligned with specific Illinois 
23 standards of learning for each grade.
24  (3) Instructors must be provided general suggestions 
25 for using teachable-moment opportunities. These 
26 suggestions may include expanding students' understanding 
 
 
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1 of the difference and similarities between real and toy 
2 guns, unintended consequences, and an introduction to the 
3 student code of conduct and gun offenses.
4  (4) The consequences of gun violence and personal 
5 responsibility for gun safety in the community must be 
6 introduced.
7  (5) In each lesson, a character (to be created by local 
8 youth) must be present as a safety mascot. This character 
9 must be used to reinforce the message that if a student 
10 sees a gun, "leave it alone, leave the area, and let an 
11 adult know".
12 School boards shall develop procedures for instructors to 
13assist students who may disclose sensitive information during a 
14lesson.
15 In addition to what to do if a student were to find a gun, 
16kindergarten through second-grade lessons shall assist 
17students in recognizing professionals who use guns for safety 
18reasons and individuals who safely use guns for sporting 
19activities and third through fifth-grade lessons shall 
20continue to focus on what to do if a student were to find a 
21gun.".