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Alabama Representative Prince Chestnut sponsored a bill  that would allow school boards to offer life skills as a course for middle school and high school students.

Chestnut sponsored House Bill 259 as an elective course and life skills curriculum that would include: Personal finance literacy, automobile leasing, savings, emergency funds, purchases, how to build a credit score, money management and wealth building.

Other matters include: honesty, respecting authority and the property of others,  taking personal responsibility for obligations to family and community; direction on interaction with law enforcement and  court officials.

HB259 has also historical information: Personal rights, including state election laws and procedures, voter registration requirements, election  process, acquiring and casting an absentee ballot, party  structures, and the responsibilities of citizen participation on government and elections; and a study of the United States  Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Chestnut, who represents District 67, said learning skills is important. “These are skills that can make a difference in young people’s lives as these are skills that they will have to learn and use for the rest of their lives,” Chestnut said.

“With the recent issues in society, we need to better equip our young people to succeed. When they succeed, we are all better as a society and the future.”