By: McLaughlin H.B. No. 3587       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to firearm safety instruction in public schools and   certain private schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 28.0123 to read as follows.          Sec. 28.0123.  FIREARM SAFETY INSTRUCTION.  (a)  The State   Board of Education by rule shall require instruction in firearm   safety for students in grades 6 through 12.          (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school   shall provide instruction in firearm safety to students in grades 6   through 12 in a manner consistent with the requirements of this   section and State Board of Education rules adopted under this   section.  The instruction may be provided as a part of any course.     Each student enrolled in the district or school shall receive the   instruction at least once before the student's high school   graduation.          (c)  The instruction required under this section:                (1)  must:                      (A)  be based on a firearms accident prevention   program that has been in operation for at least 30 years;                      (B)  be designed to help parents, law enforcement,   community groups, and educators navigate firearm safety with   students in an age-appropriate manner;                      (C)  be developed by a task force that includes   educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban   housing safety officials, clinical psychologists, law enforcement   officials, and firearm safety experts from a national rifle   association; and                      (D)  provide instruction on simple, easy to   remember steps for a student to follow if the student encounters a   firearm; and                (2)  may not:                      (A)  include instruction on firearm operation or   qualifications for the carry or use of a firearm;                      (B)include instruction related to hunting; or                      (C)  use operational firearms as part of the   instruction.          (d)  The instruction required under this section must be   provided by:                (1)  an instructor who is certified by a recognized   national or state association, including:                      (A)  a firearm association;                      (B)  a civilian marksmanship program; or                      (C)  any private institution, academy, or   organization that provides firearms training as described by this   section; or                (2)  an active or retired law enforcement officer, as   defined by Section 411.441, Government Code.          (e)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school   shall excuse a student from instruction under this section without   subjecting the student to any disciplinary action, academic   penalty, or other sanction if:                (1)  the student's parent or legal guardian submits a   written request that the student be excused from the instruction;   or                (2)  for a student enrolled in the district's or   school's special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29,   the student's admissions, review, and dismissal committee   determines that the instruction is not appropriate for the student.          (f)  At least two weeks before the date on which a school   district or open-enrollment charter school plans to provide   instruction under this section, the district or school shall   provide written notice to the parent or legal guardian of each   student enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in the district or school of   the intent to provide instruction under this section.  The notice   must include:                (1)  a summary of the basic content of the instruction   to be provided to the student; and                (2)  a statement of the parent's or legal guardian's   right to remove the student from any part of the instruction as   provided by Subsection (e)(1).          (g)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may   accept donations from any source for equipment or services, other   than operational firearms, for use in providing the instruction   required under this section.          (h)  This section applies to a private school that receives   state money related to the provision of education or educational   services to a student who is eligible under Section 25.001 for   admission to a public school.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.