[Approved by Governor October 11, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State October 11, 2013.]
SB 127, Gaines. Firearms: mentally disordered persons.
Existing law prohibits a person from possessing a firearm or deadly weapon for a period of 6 months when the person has communicated a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim or victims to a licensed psychotherapist. Existing law requires the licensed psychotherapist to immediately report the identity of the person to a local law enforcement agency, and requires the local law enforcement agency to immediately notify the Department of Justice.
This bill would instead require the licensed psychotherapist to make the report to local law enforcement within 24 hours, in a manner prescribed by the department. The bill would require the local law enforcement agency receiving the report to notify the department electronically within 24 hours, in a manner prescribed by the department.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 8105 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
(a) The Department of Justice shall request each public and private mental hospital, sanitarium, and institution to submit to the department that information that the department deems necessary to identify those persons who are within subdivision (a) of Section 8100, in order to carry out its duties in relation to firearms, destructive devices, and explosives.
(b) Upon request of the Department of Justice pursuant to subdivision (a), each public and private mental hospital, sanitarium, and institution shall submit to the department that information which the department deems necessary to identify those persons who are within subdivision (a) of Section 8100, in order to carry out its duties in relation to firearms, destructive devices, and explosives.
(c) A licensed psychotherapist shall report to a local law enforcement agency, within 24 hours, in a manner prescribed by the Department of Justice, the identity of a person subject to subdivision (b) of Section 8100. Upon receipt of the report, the local law enforcement agency, on a form prescribed by the Department of Justice, shall notify the department electronically, within 24 hours, in a manner prescribed by the department, of the person who is subject to subdivision (b) of Section 8100.
(d) All information provided to the Department of Justice pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential, separate, and apart from all other records maintained by the department. The information provided to the Department of Justice pursuant to this section shall be used only for any of the following purposes:
(1) By the department to determine eligibility of a person to acquire, carry, or possess firearms, destructive devices, or explosives.
(2) For the purposes of the court proceedings described in subdivision (b) of Section 8100, to determine the eligibility of the person who is bringing the petition pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 8100.
(3) To determine the eligibility of a person to acquire, carry, or possess firearms, destructive devices, or explosives who is the subject of a criminal investigation, if a part of the criminal investigation involves the acquisition, carrying, or possession of firearms, explosives, or destructive devices by that person.
(e) Reports shall not be required or requested under this section where the same person has been previously reported pursuant to Section 8103 or 8104.
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