BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2536
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 3, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Carole Migden, Chairwoman
AB 2536 (Scott) - As Amended: April 13, 2000
Policy Committee: Public
SafetyVote: 7-0
Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to:
1)Conduct an educational campaign regarding changes in recent
gun laws that targets law enforcement, gun dealers and the
public.
2)Conduct an injury prevention public information campaign.
3)Contract with the University of California, Davis (UCD),
Violence Prevention Research Program to evaluate the
implementation of recent gun laws.
FISCAL EFFECT
Reappropriates the unspent balance - $900,000 - originally
appropriated for the SKS Sporter Rifle Buy-Back Program to the
DOJ for the programs created by this bill.
COMMENT
1)Rationale . According to the author, the increase in recent gun
law changes has created a need for a public awareness campaign
to ensure that law enforcement, gun dealers, and the public
are aware of the many changes.
2)The SKS Sporter Rifle Buy-Back Program was created by AB 48
(Wright, 1998), and grants criminal immunity to a person who
possessed or transferred an SKS semi-automatic rifle in
California between January 1, 1992 and December 19, 1997. AB
AB 2536
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48 required persons to relinquish these weapons prior to
January 1, 2000 or be subject wobbler. The DOJ purchased the
weapons with funds from a $1.3 million budget appropriation
for such purchases.
3)The UCD Violence Prevention Research Program addresses
causation and prevention of violence. Its major areas of
emphasis are the prediction of criminal behavior, the
effectiveness of waiting period/background check programs for
prospective gun buyers, and the determinants of gun violence.
4)Reappropriation Guidelines . Funding a new program with a
reappropriation from another program is generally not
preferred budget practice. The Legislature and the Department
of Finance, prefer reverting unexpended funds and providing
new appropriations for new programs, once specific budget
needs for the program have been established.
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916)319-2081