BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                          AB 295
                                                          Page  1

Date of Hearing:   May 19, 1999

              ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                    Carole Migden, Chairwoman

         AB 295 (Corbett) - As Amended: April 28, 1999 

Policy Committee:                              Public  
SafetyVote:  5-2

Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local  
Program:YesReimbursable:          No

  SUMMARY  :

This bill makes a series of changes to laws regulating gun  
shows. Specifically, this bill:

1)Requires gun show promoters to obtain a promoter's license,  
  valid for two years, from the Department of Justice (DOJ),  
  requires DOJ to adopt regulations to administer the license  
  program, and to recover costs of the program by fees charged  
  to license applicants.

2)Requires each gun show to have a specified security plan,  
  including putting a peace officer specially trained by DOJ in  
  charge of security and requires DOJ as part of the license  
  program to provide special training for officers regarding the  
  local, state and federal laws relating to gun shows.

3)Requires the promoter, no less than 30 days before the show,  
  to notify local enforcement, DOJ, and the Bureau of Alcohol,  
  Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) of the date, time and location of  
  the show.

4)Requires the promoter to notify law enforcement regarding  
  details of the show and requires the promoter to submit a  
  written security plan to local law enforcement and, if law  
  enforcement approves the plan, requires local law enforcement  
  to contract with the promoter to provide security and requires  
  the promoter to reimburse local law enforcement for the cost  
  of services. 

5)Makes a knowing violation of this bill a misdemeanor,  
  punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and ineligibility for a  








                                                         AB 295
                                                          Page  2

  gun show promoter license for two years.

  FISCAL EFFECT  :

Unknown significant costs to the DOJ, fully offset by fees  
charged to gun show promoters. The DOJ is endeavoring to  
determine what level of reimbursement may be required.

Unknown significant costs to local law enforcement for providing  
gun show security. These costs would be fully reimbursed by gun  
show promoters.

  COMMENTS  :

  1)Rationale.  Proponents, the author and the Attorney General,  
  contend that gun shows are often the source of questionable  
  gun activity, including straw transactions, which put guns in  
  the hands of minors and persons prohibited from possessing  
  guns. 

  2)Current law  prohibits any person from promoting gun shows  
  without a certificate of eligibility (COE) from DOJ. A knowing  
  violation of the requirement to possess a valid COE to promote  
  a gun show is a misdemeanor punishable by losing COE  
  eligibility for one year. 




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