BILL ANALYSIS Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary 52 (Scott) Hearing Date: 5/21/01 Amended: 5/1/01 Consultant: Karen French Policy Vote: Public Safety 4-1 ____________________________________________________________ ___ BILL SUMMARY: SB 52, effective January 1, 2003 repeals the Basic Firearms Safety and Certificate (BFSC) program administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and replaces it with a handgun safety licensing program subject to appropriation in the Budget Act of 2001 for the 2001-02 fiscal year. Fiscal Impact (in thousands) Major Provisions 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Fund DOJ Licensing Admin. CJIS* $883 $619 $161Special** Firearms Division $641 $897 $656Special** DOJ Revenue $250 $535 $952Special** Funding shortfall ($1,274) ($982) --Special** *Criminal Justice Information Services-maintain and administer database. **BFSC reserve and License Fee Revenue. STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. According to budget information provided by the Department of Justice, costs for the program would be funded in 2001-02 from a mix of sources (BFSC revenue - $250,000; DROS reserve--$850,000; General Fund loan--$424,000) and in 2002-03 (License fee revenue - $231,454; BFSC revenue -- $304,000; General Fund loan -- $983,000). By fiscal year 2003-04, the program would be generating sufficient revenue to pay for costs and to generate a surplus of $135,000, which would be used to begin retiring the General Fund loan. Existing law generally requires that sale, loan or transfer of a firearm (handguns, rifles and shotguns) in California must be conducted through a state-licensed firearms dealer or through a local sheriff's department in counties of less than 200,000 population. A 10-day waiting period, background check and handgun safety certificate for handgun transfers are required prior to delivery of the firearm. In order to obtain a certificate, the person must complete a course or pass a written test. SB 52 (Scott) page 2 This bill adds to the requirements of current law in several areas: Requires license renewal with background checks resulting in periodic background checks for persons who otherwise would trigger such a check only upon purchase of a firearm. Applies licensing requirements to additional categories of transfers of property. Requires passage of a written test and safe handling demonstration, including fully discharging a firearm. Requires submission of a thumbprint. Requires DOJ to expand the current database to include all of the information submitted by each applicant and to make that information available to law enforcement. This bill is substantially similar to AB 273 (Scott) of 2000, which died in the Assembly on concurrence at the end of last year's session.