BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 539
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 8, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 539 (Pan) - As Amended:  April 29, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  6-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows a person who is temporarily prohibited from  
          possessing a gun to transfer guns to a licensed gun dealer  
          during the period of prohibition, as specified. This bill also:   


          1)Requires a dealer who stores a gun to notify the Department of  
            Justice (DOJ) when the dealer takes possession of the gun and  
            when the owner takes the gun back. 

          2)Authorizes a dealer to charge a fee to cover storage costs.   

          3)Adds to the Judicial Council notice requirement regarding  
            persons prohibited from possessing a gun as a result of a  
            protective order, that the prohibited person may transfer the  
            weapon to a licensed gun dealer for the duration of the  
            protective order.

          4)Adds to the DOJ notice requirement regarding a court action  
            that prohibits a person from possessing a gun, that the  
            prohibited person may transfer the gun to a licensed dealer. 

          5)Makes conforming changes. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Moderate one-time special fund costs to DOJ for minor data  
            systems upgrades, in the range of $300,000, with related  
            ongoing costs in the range of $50,000, and minor costs for  
            adding information to an existing notice. These costs would be  
            covered by existing Dealer Record of Sales fees.








                                                                  AB 539
                                                                  Page  2


          2)Minor costs to the Judicial Council for adding information to  
            an existing notice.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.  According to the author, "AB 539 allows individuals  
            that are temporarily placed on the prohibited persons list to  
            have their firearms stored at a federally licensed firearms  
            dealer. When an individual is placed on the prohibited persons  
            list temporarily, their options for surrendering firearms are  
            limited and often permanent. This bill allows the gun owner to  
            recollect their lawfully owned firearm after the period of  
            time on the prohibited persons list has expired, and it allows  
            public safety officials to know where that firearm has been  
            placed during the period that the individual is on the list."
           
          2)There is no registered opposition to this measure  . 


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081