Bill Text: CA AB1674 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Firearms: transfers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2016-08-01 - Consideration of Governor's veto pending. [AB1674 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1674-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1674 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE JUNE 30, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JUNE 30, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 22, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Santiago
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonta, Chiu, Gipson, Levine, McCarty,
and Ting)
(Coauthor: Senator Leno)
JANUARY 19, 2016
An act to amend Sections 26835, 27535, 27540, and 27590 of the
Penal Code, relating to firearms.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1674, Santiago. Firearms: transfers.
Existing law, subject to exceptions, prohibits a person from
making more than one application to purchase a handgun within any
30-day period. Violation of that prohibition is a crime. Existing law
exempts from that prohibition a firearms transaction where neither
of the parties is a firearms dealer if the transaction is completed
through a dealer. Existing law prohibits a firearms dealer from
delivering a handgun to a person whenever the dealer is notified by
the Department of Justice that within the preceding 30-day period the
purchaser has made another application to purchase a handgun that
does not fall within an exception to the 30-day prohibition. A
violation of that delivery prohibition by the dealer is a crime.
This bill would make the 30-day prohibition and the dealer
delivery prohibition described above applicable to all types of
firearms. The bill would delete the private party transaction
exemption to the 30-day prohibition and instead would exempt from
that prohibition the transfer of a firearm conducted through a
licensed firearms dealer if the firearm is being transferred by
bequest or intestate succession, the purchase of a firearm that is
not a handgun or a finished frame or receiver by a licensed hunter,
and the purchase of a firearm from a nonprofit entity conducting an
auction or similar event, as specified. The bill would make
additional conforming changes and technical, nonsubstantive changes.
By expanding the scope of existing crimes, this bill would impose
a state-mandated local program.
This bill would incorporate changes to Sections 26835 and 27535 of
the Penal Code proposed by both this bill and SB 894, which would
become operative only if both bills are enacted and become effective
on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered last.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 26835 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
26835. A licensee shall post conspicuously within the licensed
premises the following warnings in block letters not less than one
inch in height:
(a) "IF YOU KEEP A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OBTAINS IT AND
USES IT, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH, OR CARRIES IT TO A PUBLIC
PLACE, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY UNLESS YOU
STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER OR LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A
LOCKING DEVICE, TO KEEP IT FROM TEMPORARILY FUNCTIONING."
(b) "IF YOU KEEP A PISTOL, REVOLVER, OR OTHER FIREARM CAPABLE OF
BEING CONCEALED UPON THE PERSON, WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE GAINS ACCESS
TO THE FIREARM, AND CARRIES IT OFF-PREMISES, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR, UNLESS YOU STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR
LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A LOCKING DEVICE, TO KEEP IT FROM TEMPORARILY
FUNCTIONING."
(c) "IF YOU KEEP ANY FIREARM WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE GAINS ACCESS
TO THE FIREARM, AND CARRIES IT OFF-PREMISES TO A SCHOOL OR
SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENT, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR, INCLUDING
A FINE OF UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000), UNLESS YOU STORED
THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A
LOCKING DEVICE."
(d) "IF YOU NEGLIGENTLY STORE OR LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN ANY
PREMISES UNDER YOUR CUSTODY OR CONTROL, WHERE A PERSON UNDER 18
YEARS OF AGE IS LIKELY TO ACCESS IT, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR, INCLUDING A FINE OF UP TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000),
UNLESS YOU STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR LOCKED THE
FIREARM WITH A LOCKING DEVICE."
(e) "DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING
FIREARMS, OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD, A
SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM, AND OTHER
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. WASH
HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE."
(f) "FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT IF YOU DO NOT TAKE PHYSICAL
POSSESSION OF THE FIREARM THAT YOU ARE ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP OF WITHIN
30 DAYS AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE INITIAL BACKGROUND CHECK PAPERWORK,
THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS A SECOND
TIME IN ORDER TO TAKE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THAT FIREARM."
(g) "NO PERSON SHALL MAKE AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE MORE THAN ONE
FIREARM WITHIN ANY 30-DAY PERIOD AND NO DELIVERY SHALL BE MADE TO
ANY PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE MORE THAN ONE
FIREARM WITHIN ANY 30-DAY PERIOD."
SEC. 1.5. Section 26835 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
26835. A licensee shall post conspicuously within the licensed
premises the following warnings in block letters not less than one
inch in height:
(a) "IF YOU KEEP A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OBTAINS IT AND
USES IT, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH, OR CARRIES IT TO A PUBLIC
PLACE, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY UNLESS YOU
STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER OR LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A
LOCKING DEVICE, TO KEEP IT FROM TEMPORARILY FUNCTIONING."
(b) "IF YOU KEEP A PISTOL, REVOLVER, OR OTHER FIREARM CAPABLE OF
BEING CONCEALED UPON THE PERSON, WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE GAINS ACCESS
TO THE FIREARM, AND CARRIES IT OFF-PREMISES, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR, UNLESS YOU STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR
LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A LOCKING DEVICE, TO KEEP IT FROM TEMPORARILY
FUNCTIONING."
(c) "IF YOU KEEP ANY FIREARM WITHIN ANY PREMISES UNDER YOUR
CUSTODY OR CONTROL, AND A PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE GAINS ACCESS
TO THE FIREARM, AND CARRIES IT OFF-PREMISES TO A SCHOOL OR
SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENT, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR, INCLUDING
A FINE OF UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000), UNLESS YOU STORED
THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR LOCKED THE FIREARM WITH A
LOCKING DEVICE."
(d) "IF YOU NEGLIGENTLY STORE OR LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN ANY
PREMISES UNDER YOUR CUSTODY OR CONTROL, WHERE A PERSON UNDER 18
YEARS OF AGE IS LIKELY TO ACCESS IT, YOU MAY BE GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR, INCLUDING A FINE OF UP TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000),
UNLESS YOU STORED THE FIREARM IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, OR LOCKED THE
FIREARM WITH A LOCKING DEVICE."
(e) "DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING
FIREARMS, OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD, A
SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM, AND OTHER
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. WASH
HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE."
(f) "FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT IF YOU DO NOT TAKE PHYSICAL
POSSESSION OF THE FIREARM THAT YOU ARE ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP OF WITHIN
30 DAYS AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE INITIAL BACKGROUND CHECK PAPERWORK,
THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS A SECOND
TIME IN ORDER TO TAKE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THAT FIREARM."
(g) "NO PERSON SHALL MAKE AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE MORE THAN ONE
FIREARM WITHIN ANY 30-DAY PERIOD AND NO DELIVERY SHALL BE MADE TO
ANY PERSON WHO HAS MADE AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE MORE THAN ONE
FIREARM WITHIN ANY 30-DAY PERIOD."
(h) "IF A FIREARM YOU OWN OR POSSESS IS LOST OR STOLEN, YOU MUST
REPORT THE LOSS OR THEFT TO A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHERE THE
LOSS OR THEFT OCCURRED WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE TIME YOU KNEW OR
REASONABLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE FIREARM HAD BEEN LOST OR
STOLEN."
SEC. 2. Section 27535 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
27535. (a) A person shall not make an application to purchase
more than one firearm within any 30-day period.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Any law enforcement agency.
(2) Any agency duly authorized to perform law enforcement duties.
(3) Any state or local correctional facility.
(4) Any private security company licensed to do business in
California.
(5) Any person who is properly identified as a full-time paid
peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section
830) of Title 3 of Part 2, and who is authorized to, and does, carry
a firearm during the course and scope of employment as a peace
officer.
(6) Any motion picture, television, or video production company or
entertainment or theatrical company whose production by its nature
involves the use of a firearm.
(7) Any person who may, pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with
Section 27600), Article 3 (commencing with Section 27650), or Article
4 (commencing with Section 27700), claim an exemption from the
waiting period set forth in Section 27540.
(8) Any person who is licensed as a collector pursuant to Chapter
44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States
Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, and has a current
certificate of eligibility issued by the Department of Justice
pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 26700) of Chapter 2.
(9) The exchange of a firearm where the dealer purchased that
firearm from the person seeking the exchange within the 30-day period
immediately preceding the date of exchange or replacement.
(10) The replacement of a firearm when the person's firearm was
lost or stolen, and the person reported that firearm lost or stolen
prior to the completion of the application to purchase to any local
law enforcement agency of the city, county, or city and county in
which the person resides.
(11) The return of any firearm to its owner.
(12) A community college that is certified by the Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training to present the law enforcement
academy basic course or other commission-certified law enforcement
training.
(13) A transaction completed through a licensed firearms dealer
pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050) if both of the
following conditions apply:
(A) The transferor is an executor or administrator of an estate.
(B) The transferee is a person acquiring ownership of the firearm
by bequest or intestate succession from the estate.
(14) The purchase of a firearm that is not a handgun or a finished
frame or receiver by a person who has been issued a valid hunting
license by the state.
(15) The purchase of a firearm that is not a handgun acquired at
an auction or similar event conducted by a nonprofit public benefit
or mutual benefit corporation to fund the activities of that
corporation or local chapters of that corporation.
SEC. 2.5. Section 27535 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
27535. (a) A person shall not make an application to purchase
more than one firearm within any 30-day period.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Any law enforcement agency.
(2) Any agency duly authorized to perform law enforcement duties.
(3) Any state or local correctional facility.
(4) Any private security company licensed to do business in
California.
(5) Any person who is properly identified as a full-time paid
peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section
830) of Title 3 of Part 2, and who is authorized to, and does, carry
a firearm during the course and scope of employment as a peace
officer.
(6) Any motion picture, television, or video production company or
entertainment or theatrical company whose production by its nature
involves the use of a firearm.
(7) Any person who may, pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with
Section 27600), Article 3 (commencing with Section 27650), or Article
4 (commencing with Section 27700), claim an exemption from the
waiting period set forth in Section 27540.
(8) Any person who is licensed as a collector pursuant to Chapter
44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States
Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, and has a current
certificate of eligibility issued by the Department of Justice
pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 26700) of Chapter 2.
(9) The exchange of a firearm where the dealer purchased that
firearm from the person seeking the exchange within the 30-day period
immediately preceding the date of exchange or replacement.
(10) The replacement of a firearm when the person's firearm was
lost or stolen, and the person reported that firearm lost or stolen
pursuant to Section 25250 prior to the completion of the application
to purchase the replacement firearm.
(11) The return of any firearm to its owner.
(12) A community college that is certified by the Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training to present the law enforcement
academy basic course or other commission-certified law enforcement
training.
(13) A transaction completed through a licensed firearms dealer
pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050) if both of the
following conditions apply:
(A) The transferor is an executor or administrator of an estate.
(B) The transferee is a person acquiring ownership of the firearm
by bequest or intestate succession from the estate.
(14) The purchase of a firearm that is not a handgun or a finished
frame or receiver by a person who has been issued a valid hunting
license by the state.
(15) The purchase of a firearm that is not a handgun acquired at
an auction or similar event conducted by a nonprofit public benefit
or mutual benefit corporation to fund the activities of that
corporation or local chapters of that corporation.
SEC. 3. Section 27540 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
27540. A dealer, whether or not acting pursuant to Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 28050), shall not deliver a firearm to a
person, as follows:
(a) Within 10 days of the application to purchase, or, after
notice by the department pursuant to Section 28220, within 10 days of
the submission to the department of any correction to the
application, or within 10 days of the submission to the department of
any fee required pursuant to Section 28225, whichever is later.
(b) Unless unloaded and securely wrapped or unloaded and in a
locked container.
(c) Unless the purchaser, transferee, or person being loaned the
firearm presents clear evidence of the person's identity and age to
the dealer.
(d) Whenever the dealer is notified by the Department of Justice
that the person is prohibited by state or federal law from
possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm.
(e) A handgun shall not be delivered unless the purchaser,
transferee, or person being loaned the handgun presents a handgun
safety certificate. Commencing January 1, 2015, any firearm,
including a handgun, shall not be delivered unless the purchaser,
transferee, or person being loaned the firearm presents a firearm
safety certificate to the dealer, except that, in the case of a
handgun, an unexpired handgun safety certificate may be presented.
(f) A firearm shall not be delivered whenever the dealer is
notified by the Department of Justice that within the preceding
30-day period the purchaser has made another application to purchase
a firearm and that the previous application to purchase did not
involve any of the entities or circumstances specified in subdivision
(b) of Section 27535.
SEC. 4. Section 27590 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
27590. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (e), a
violation of this article is a misdemeanor.
(b) If any of the following circumstances apply, a violation of
this article is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision
(h) of Section 1170 for two, three, or four years:
(1) If the violation is of subdivision (a) of Section 27500.
(2) If the defendant has a prior conviction of violating the
provisions, other than Section 27535, Section 27560 involving a
firearm that is not a handgun, or Section 27565 involving a firearm
that is not a handgun, of this article or former Section 12100 of
this code, as Section 12100 read at any time from when it was enacted
by Section 3 of Chapter 1386 of the Statutes of 1988 to when it was
repealed by Section 18 of Chapter 23 of the Statutes of 1994, or
Section 8101 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(3) If the defendant has a prior conviction of violating any
offense specified in Section 29905 or of a violation of Section 32625
or 33410, or of former Section 12560, as that section read at any
time from when it was enacted by Section 4 of Chapter 931 of the
Statutes of 1965 to when it was repealed by Section 14 of Chapter 9
of the Statutes of 1990, or of any provision listed in Section 16590.
(4) If the defendant is in a prohibited class described in Chapter
2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 29900) of Division 9, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code.
(5) A violation of this article by a person who actively
participates in a "criminal street gang" as defined in Section
186.22.
(6) A violation of Section 27510 involving the delivery of any
firearm to a person who the dealer knows, or should know, is a minor.
(c) If any of the following circumstances apply, a violation of
this article shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not
exceeding one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or
by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both
that fine and imprisonment:
(1) A violation of Section 27515, 27520, or subdivision (b) of
Section 27500.
(2) A violation of Section 27505 involving the sale, loan, or
transfer of a handgun to a minor.
(3) A violation of Section 27510 involving the delivery of a
handgun.
(4) A violation of subdivision (a), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of
Section 27540 involving a handgun.
(5) A violation of Section 27545 involving a handgun.
(6) A violation of Section 27550.
(7) A violation of Section 27585 involving a handgun.
(d) If both of the following circumstances apply, an additional
term of imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for
one, two, or three years shall be imposed in addition and consecutive
to the sentence prescribed:
(1) A violation of Section 27510 or subdivision (b) of Section
27500.
(2) The firearm transferred in violation of Section 27510 or
subdivision (b) of Section 27500 is used in the subsequent commission
of a felony for which a conviction is obtained and the prescribed
sentence is imposed.
(e) (1) A first violation of Section 27535 is an infraction
punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50).
(2) A second violation of Section 27535 is an infraction
punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
(3) A third or subsequent violation of Section 27535 is a
misdemeanor.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision each application to purchase
a firearm in violation of Section 27535 shall be deemed a separate
offense.
SEC. 5. Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
Section 26835 of the Penal Code proposed by both this bill and Senate
Bill 894. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are
enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, (2) each
bill amends Section 26835 of the Penal Code, and (3) this bill is
enacted after Senate Bill 894, in which case Section 1 of this bill
shall not become operative.
SEC. 6. Section 2.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
Section 27535 of the Penal Code proposed by both this bill and Senate
Bill 894. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are
enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, (2) each
bill amends Section 27535 of the Penal Code, and (3) this bill is
enacted after Senate Bill 894, in which case Section 2 of this bill
shall not become operative.
SEC. 7. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.
