HB 2460 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for hunting and trapping education; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

PRINTER'S NO.   3274

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2460
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY KULIK, GOUGHNOUR, IRVIN, GILLEN, KEPHART, NEILSON,
        STEELE, PASHINSKI AND MEHAFFIE, APRIL 24, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, APRIL 27, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto deemed a reference to "area career and
 6      technical school," in terms and courses of study, providing
 7      for hunting and trapping education; and imposing duties on
 8      the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game
 9      Commission.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
13   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
14   section to read:
15      Section 1529.    Hunting and Trapping Education.--(a)   No later
16   than July 1, 2027, the commission, in consultation with the
17   department, shall develop and make available to each school
18   entity a model program of age-appropriate hunting and trapping
19   education, including firearm safety instruction, for students in
20   grades six through twelve.
21      (b)   The firearm safety instruction under the model program
 1   must:
 2      (1)    Comply with the firearm safety training requirements of
 3   the commission's basic hunter-trapper education course.
 4      (2)    Be taught by an individual who is a commission-certified
 5   hunter education instructor.
 6      (3)    Include the following topics:
 7      (i)    Proper usage and handling of firearms.
 8      (ii)    Safe cleaning and maintenance of firearms.
 9      (iii)    Different types of firearms.
10      (iv)    Safe hunting practices and techniques.
11      (v)    History of wildlife conservation and hunting.
12      (c)    Firearms or ammunition may not be brought into a school
13   building as part of the firearm safety instruction under the
14   model program.
15      (d)    A school entity may provide the firearm safety
16   instruction under the model program as:
17      (1)    an optional extracurricular class for students in grades
18   six through twelve in the school entity; or
19      (2)    part of an existing course for the purpose of teaching
20   self-expression and enjoyment of recreational activity.
21      (e)    Upon request by a parent or legal guardian of a student,
22   the student shall be excused, without penalty or loss of
23   academic credit, from attending the firearm safety instruction
24   under the model program.
25      (f)    A student who completes the firearm safety instruction
26   under the model program is deemed to have completed the
27   commission's basic hunter-trapper education course that is
28   required to obtain a hunting license under State law.
29      (g)    The commission, in consultation with the department,
30   shall prescribe procedures necessary to implement and administer

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 1   the model program.
 2      (h)    Any training hours offered by the commission for school
 3   entities that result in a school staff member becoming a
 4   certified hunter education instructor or for the purposes of
 5   administering any other program offered by the commission shall
 6   count towards continuing professional education under sections
 7   1205.1, 1205.2 and 1205.3.
 8      (i)    Any costs incurred by a school entity as a result of
 9   this section shall be reimbursed by the commission.
10      (j)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
11   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
12   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Commission."     The Pennsylvania Game Commission.
14      "Department."     The Department of Education of the
15   Commonwealth.
16      "Firearm."     As defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to
17   definitions).
18      "Hunting."     As defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102.
19      "Model program."    The model program developed under
20   subsection (a).
21      "School entity."    A school district, joint school district,
22   charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
23   intermediate unit, area career and technical school or parochial
24   school.
25      "Trapping."     As defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102.
26      Section 2.     This act shall take effect immediately.




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