S2634

An Act concerning the education of students on responsible gun ownership, supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established in the Department of Education a grant program to assist school districts in promoting responsible gun ownership through:

(1) the provision of firearms safety courses for high school students; and

(2) the establishment of student organizations for high school students interested in responsible gun ownership.

b. To be eligible for consideration of a grant award under the program, a school district shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner.

c. Grants under the program shall be awarded on a competitive basis. School districts that receive a grant under the program shall use the funds to promote responsible gun ownership to high school students through the provision of firearms safety courses and the establishment of student organizations for interested students.

d. Within three years after receiving a grant award under the program, a school district shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Education containing information on the use of the grant funds.

2. The Commissioner of Education shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than four years after the establishment of the grant program established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, information on the number of grant applicants, the number and amounts of the grant awards, information provided by school districts in the reports submitted pursuant to subsection d. of section 1 of this act, and any recommendations concerning the continuation or expansion of the grant program.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000, which shall be used to fund the grants awarded pursuant to section 1 of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in the Department of Education a grant
program to assist school districts in promoting responsible gun ownership through:

· the provision of firearms safety courses for high school students; and

· the establishment of student organizations for high school students interested in responsible gun ownership.

The bill provides that, to be eligible for consideration of a grant award under the program, a school district is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. Grants under the program will be awarded on a competitive basis. School districts that receive a grant under the program will be required to use the funds to promote responsible gun ownership to high school students through the provision of firearms safety courses and the establishment of student organizations for interested students.

The bill provides that, within three years after receiving a grant award under the program, a school district will be required to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education containing information on the use of the grant funds. The bill directs the commissioner to submit a report on the program to the Governor and the Legislature no later than four years after the establishment of the grant program.

The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000, to fund the grants awarded through the program.