Bills

AB 3199: Firearms: transfers.

  • Session Year: 2017-2018
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2018-04-05
Version:

Existing law requires the transfer of a firearm to be conducted through a licensed dealer. Existing law also requires a licensed dealer processing the transfer of a firearm to conduct a background check of the recipient, to hold the firearm for a designated waiting period before releasing the firearm, and to require the recipient to possess a safety certificate and demonstrate safe handling of the firearm. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor.

Existing law exempts certain firearms transactions that occur as part of a charitable auction, as specified, from these requirements.

This bill would repeal these exemptions for charitable auctions and would instead authorize a charitable organization, as specified, to conduct no more than 3 auctions, raffles, or similar events per year in which firearms, other than handguns, may be auctioned, raffled, or otherwise sold, and would require those firearms to be transferred to a licensed dealer to process the transfer pursuant to all legal requirements, including a background check and waiting period.

The bill would also revise existing provisions referencing charitable auctions and similar events to additionally include charitable raffles, as specified.

By increasing the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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.

Existing law prohibits any lottery, as defined, including a raffle, except as specified. A violation of this prohibition is a misdemeanor.The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to permit private, nonprofit organizations to conduct raffles as a funding mechanism to support beneficial and charitable works if, among other conditions, at least 90% of the gross receipts from the raffle go directly to beneficial or charitable purposes in California.Existing statutory law authorizes raffles conducted by eligible organizations for beneficial or charitable purposes, if they are conducted in accordance with certain requirements.This bill would prohibit an authorized raffle from having a firearm, as defined, as a prize. A violation of this prohibition would render such a raffle nonexempt and therefore violate the prohibition on lotteries, the violation of which is a misdemeanor.By narrowing the exemption to prohibited lotteries and expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.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.
Authors shown for version:
Amended Assembly (4/5/2018)

Bill Author