Senator Woodward, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced HB22-1168. The bill allows a local education provider (LEP) to offer a hunter education course as an elective to seventh grade students, as long as the LEP:

• enters into an agreement with an individual or entity to provide the course at no cost to the LEP or to the enrolled students; and
• receives gifts, grants, or private donations in an amount sufficient enough to pay any costs that arise from providing the course.

A hunter education course must satisfy the same requirements as courses certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in the Department of Natural Resources, and must be conducted by a CPW-certified instructor. The course need not include hands-on activities, but if hands-on activities are offered, students must receive parental permission to participate. The CPW may accept completion of a hunter education course at an LEP toward meeting the requirement to obtain a certificate of hunter education.

Dianna Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment A.

Senator Fields spoke about amendments L.006 (Attachment C), L.007 (Attachment D), and L.008 (Attachment E).