BILL NUMBER: AB 1961 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 668 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2000 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2000 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 24, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 21, 2000 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 8, 2000 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2000 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Machado (Principal coauthor: Senator Dunn) FEBRUARY 18, 2000 An act to amend Section 12200 of the Penal Code, relating to firearms. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1961, Machado. Machineguns: definition. Existing law prohibits a person, firm, or corporation from possessing, transporting, manufacturing, or selling a machinegun unless authorized to do so. A machinegun is defined to mean, in part, any weapon that shoots, or is designed to shoot, automatically, more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, and includes any frame receiver that can only be used with that weapon. This bill would expand the above definition of a machinegun to include any weapon that can readily be restored to shoot, automatically, more than one shot. This bill would also include in the above definition any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if those parts are in the possession and control of the person. By expanding the definition of a machinegun, this bill would expand the scope of a crime and 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. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 12200 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 12200. The term "machinegun" as used in this chapter means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can readily be restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person. The term also includes any weapon deemed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as readily convertible to a machinegun under Chapter 53 (commencing with Section 5801) of Title 26 of the United States Code. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.