2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25100725D

SENATE BILL NO. 1204

Offered January 8, 2025

Prefiled January 8, 2025

A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-300.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to hunter education program personnel.

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Patron—Mulchi

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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 29.1-300.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29.1-300.2. Hunter education program.

The Department shall provide for a course of instruction in hunter safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship, and for this purpose may cooperate with any reputable association or organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of hunter safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship.

The Board shall establish at least one full-time hunter education coordinator position for each of the Department's administrative regions. Each coordinator will be assigned to a conservation police officer district and have the responsibility for providing hunter education training throughout the administrative region.

The Board shall staff the hunter education program with appropriate personnel to ensure that hunter education, training, workshops, and volunteer management are carried out across the Commonwealth.

The Department may designate as a hunter safety instructor any person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the courses required by this article. A person so appointed shall give such course of instruction, and, upon completion thereof, shall issue to the person instructed a certificate of competency as provided by the Board in hunter safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship.

The Board shall prescribe a minimum level of skill and knowledge to be required of all hunter safety instructors, and may limit the number of students per instructor in all required classes.

The Board may revoke the certificate of any instructor when, in the opinion of the Board, it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to do so.

The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations in order to administer and enforce the provisions of §§ 29.1-300.1, 29.1-300.2, and 29.1-300.3.