Amended  IN  Senate  March 16, 2020
Amended  IN  Senate  March 05, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 914

Introduced by Senator Portantino
(Coauthor: Senator Wiener)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Boerner Horvath)

February 03, 2020

An act to amend Sections 27505, 28210, 28215, 28220, 29610, 29615 and 29700 of, to amend the heading of Article 1 (commencing with Section 29610) of Chapter 1 of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6 of, to add Section 16685 to, and to repeal and add Section 27945 of, the Penal Code, relating to firearms.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 914, as amended, Portantino. Firearms: hunting exemptions.
Existing law prohibits the purchase or receipt of a firearm by, or the sale or transfer of a firearm to, any person who does not have a firearm safety certificate, as specified. Existing law also prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm by a licensed firearm dealer to a person under 21 years of age. Existing law exempts from these provisions the sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of a firearm, other than a handgun, to or by a person without a firearm safety certificate, but in possession of a valid, unexpired hunting license, as specified. Existing law also exempts the sale or transfer of a firearm, other than a handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle, to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license, as specified.
This bill would, for purposes of these provisions, define a valid and unexpired hunting license.
Existing law, subject to exceptions, imposes a 10-day waiting period for delivery of a firearm, during which time a background check is conducted by the Department of Justice to determine if the proposed recipient of the firearm is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
This bill would require the department, for sales of firearms to persons under 21 years of age who are eligible to purchase a firearm based upon their possession of a hunting license, to confirm the validity of the hunting license as part of the background check.
Existing law prohibits, except as exempted, the possession of a handgun by a minor. A violation of that prohibition is punishable as either a felony or a misdemeanor.
This bill would additionally prohibit, except as exempted, the possession of a firearm other than a handgun by a minor and make a violation of that prohibition punishable as a misdemeanor.
This bill would make other nonsubstantive conforming changes.
By creating a new crime, this bill would 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 16685 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

16685.
 As used in the part, a valid and unexpired “hunting license” means a hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 3031) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Fish and Game Code, for which the time period authorized for the taking of birds or mammals has commenced but not expired.

SEC. 2.

 Section 27505 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

27505.
 (a) No person, corporation, or firm shall sell, loan, or transfer a firearm to a minor, nor sell a handgun to an individual under 21 years of age.
(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to or affect the following circumstances:
(1) The sale of a handgun, if the handgun is an antique firearm and the sale is to a person at least 18 years of age.
(2) The loan of a firearm to a minor by the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if both of the following requirements are satisfied:
(A) The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purposes of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(B) The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(3) The loan of a firearm to a minor by a person who is not the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if all of the following requirements are satisfied:
(A) The minor is accompanied by the minor’s parent or legal guardian when the loan is made, or the minor has the written consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian, which is presented at the time of the loan, or earlier.
(B) The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purpose of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(C) The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(D) The duration of the loan does not, in any event, exceed 10 days.

SEC. 3.

 Section 27945 of the Penal Code is repealed.

SEC. 4.

 Section 27945 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

27945.
 Section 27545 does not apply to or affect the loan of a firearm to a minor in compliance with the applicable exemptions set forth in Section 27505.

SEC. 5.

 Section 28210 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

28210.
 (a) (1) Where the register is used, the purchaser of any firearm shall be required to present to the dealer clear evidence of the person’s identity and age.
(2) The dealer shall require the purchaser to sign the purchaser’s current legal name and affix the purchaser’s residence address and date of birth to the register in quadruplicate.
(3) For the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under 21 years of age pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 27510, the salesperson shall visually inspect the hunting license to confirm that it is valid and unexpired and shall record the license document number, GO ID, and dates valid.
(4) The salesperson shall sign the register in quadruplicate, as a witness to the signature and identification of the purchaser.
(b) Any person furnishing a fictitious name or address, knowingly furnishing any incorrect information, or knowingly omitting any information required to be provided for the register shall be punished as provided in Section 28250.
(c) (1) The original of the register shall be retained by the dealer in consecutive order.
(2) Each book of 50 originals shall become the permanent register of transactions, which shall be retained for not less than three years from the date of the last transaction.
(3) Upon presentation of proper identification, the permanent register of transactions shall be available for inspection by any peace officer, Department of Justice employee designated by the Attorney General, or agent of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Until January 1, 2014, no information shall be compiled therefrom regarding the purchasers or other transferees of firearms that are not handguns.
(d) On the date of the application to purchase, two copies of the original sheet of the register shall be placed in the mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed to the Department of Justice.
(e) (1) A photocopy of the register shall be provided to the purchaser by the dealer at the time of delivery of the firearm and after the dealer notes the date of delivery and the dealer’s signature indicating delivery of the firearm, and the purchaser acknowledges the receipt of the firearm.
(2) The requirements of this subdivision apply if a dealer is delivering a firearm pursuant to Section 27540 or Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050).
(f) If the transaction is a private party transfer conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050), a photocopy of the original shall be provided to the seller by the dealer at the time the register is signed by the seller. The dealer shall redact all of the purchaser’s personal information, as required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 28160 and subdivision (a) of Section 28165, from the seller’s copy, and the seller’s personal information from the purchaser’s copy.

SEC. 6.

 Section 28215 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

28215.
 (a) (1) Where the electronic or telephonic transfer of applicant information is used, the purchaser shall be required to present to the dealer clear evidence of the person’s identity and age.
(2) The dealer shall require the purchaser to sign the purchaser’s current legal name to the record of electronic or telephonic transfer.
(3) The salesperson shall sign the record of electronic or telephonic transfer, as a witness to the signature and identification of the purchaser.
(4) For the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under 21 years of age pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 27510, the salesperson shall visually inspect the hunting license to confirm that it is valid and unexpired and shall record the license document number, GO ID, and dates valid.
(b) Any person furnishing a fictitious name or address, knowingly furnishing any incorrect information, or knowingly omitting any information required to be provided for the electronic or telephonic transfer shall be punished as provided in Section 28250.
(c) (1) The original of each record of electronic or telephonic transfer shall be retained by the dealer in consecutive order.
(2) Each original shall become the permanent record of the transaction, which shall be retained for not less than three years from the date of the last transaction.
(3) Upon presentation of proper identification, the permanent record of the transaction shall be provided for inspection by any peace officer, Department of Justice employee designated by the Attorney General, or agent of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
(d) On the date of the application to purchase, the record of applicant information shall be transmitted to the Department of Justice by electronic or telephonic transfer.
(e) (1) A copy of the record of electronic or telephonic transfer shall be provided to the purchaser by the dealer at the time of delivery of the firearm and after the dealer notes the date of delivery and the dealer’s signature indicating delivery of the firearm, and the purchaser acknowledges the receipt of the firearm.
(2) The requirements of this subdivision apply if a dealer is delivering a firearm pursuant to Section 27540 or Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050).
(f) If the transaction is a private party transfer conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050), a copy shall be provided to the seller by the dealer at the time the record of electronic or telephonic transfer is signed by the seller. The dealer shall redact all of the purchaser’s personal information, as required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 28160 and subdivision (a) of Section 28165, from the seller’s copy, and the seller’s personal information from the purchaser’s copy.

SEC. 7.

 Section 28220 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

28220.
 (a) (1) Upon submission of firearm purchaser information, the Department of Justice shall examine its records, as well as those records that it is authorized to request from the State Department of State Hospitals pursuant to Section 8104 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, in order to determine if the purchaser is a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, or is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm.
(2) For the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under 21 years of age pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 27510, the Department of Justice shall verify the validity of the purchaser’s hunting license with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(b) The Department of Justice shall participate in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), as described in subsection (t) of Section 922 of Title 18 of the United States Code, and shall notify the dealer and the chief of the police department of the city or city and county in which the sale was made, or if the sale was made in a district in which there is no municipal police department, the sheriff of the county in which the sale was made, that the purchaser is a person prohibited from acquiring a firearm under federal law.
(c) If the department determines that the purchaser is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm or is a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, it shall immediately notify the dealer and the chief of the police department of the city or city and county in which the sale was made, or if the sale was made in a district in which there is no municipal police department, the sheriff of the county in which the sale was made, of that fact.
(d) If the department determines that the copies of the register submitted to it pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 28210 contain any blank spaces or inaccurate, illegible, or incomplete information, preventing identification of the purchaser or the handgun or other firearm to be purchased, or if any fee required pursuant to Section 28225 is not submitted by the dealer in conjunction with submission of copies of the register, the department may notify the dealer of that fact. Upon notification by the department, the dealer shall submit corrected copies of the register to the department, or shall submit any fee required pursuant to Section 28225, or both, as appropriate and, if notification by the department is received by the dealer at any time prior to delivery of the firearm to be purchased, the dealer shall withhold delivery until the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540.
(e) If the department determines that the information transmitted to it pursuant to Section 28215 contains inaccurate or incomplete information preventing identification of the purchaser or the handgun or other firearm to be purchased, or if the fee required pursuant to Section 28225 is not transmitted by the dealer in conjunction with transmission of the electronic or telephonic record, the department may notify the dealer of that fact. Upon notification by the department, the dealer shall transmit corrections to the record of electronic or telephonic transfer to the department, or shall transmit any fee required pursuant to Section 28225, or both, as appropriate, and if notification by the department is received by the dealer at any time prior to delivery of the firearm to be purchased, the dealer shall withhold delivery until the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540.
(f) (1) (A) The department shall immediately notify the dealer to delay the transfer of the firearm to the purchaser if the records of the department, or the records available to the department in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, indicate one of the following:
(i) The purchaser has been taken into custody and placed in a facility for mental health treatment or evaluation and may be a person described in Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and the department is unable to ascertain whether the purchaser is a person who is prohibited from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm, pursuant to Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, prior to the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540.
(ii) The purchaser has been arrested for, or charged with, a crime that would make them if convicted, a person who is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm, and the department is unable to ascertain whether the purchaser was convicted of that offense prior to the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540.
(iii) The purchaser may be a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, and the department is unable to ascertain whether the purchaser, in fact, is a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, prior to the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540.
(B) The dealer shall provide the purchaser with information about the manner in which he or she may contact the department may be contacted regarding the delay described in subparagraph (A).
(2) The department shall notify the purchaser by mail regarding the delay and explain the process by which the purchaser may obtain a copy of the criminal or mental health record the department has on file for the purchaser. Upon receipt of that criminal or mental health record, the purchaser shall report any inaccuracies or incompleteness to the department on an approved form.
(3) If the department ascertains the final disposition of the arrest or criminal charge, or the outcome of the mental health treatment or evaluation, or the purchaser’s eligibility to purchase a firearm, as described in paragraph (1), after the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540, but within 30 days of the dealer’s original submission of the purchaser information to the department pursuant to this section, the department shall do the following:
(A) If the purchaser is not a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, and is not prohibited by state or federal law, including, but not limited to, Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm, the department shall immediately notify the dealer of that fact and the dealer may then immediately transfer the firearm to the purchaser, upon the dealer’s recording on the register or record of electronic transfer the date that the firearm is transferred, the dealer signing the register or record of electronic transfer indicating delivery of the firearm to that purchaser, and the purchaser signing the register or record of electronic transfer acknowledging the receipt of the firearm on the date that the firearm is delivered to the purchaser.
(B) If the purchaser is a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 27535, or is prohibited by state or federal law, including, but not limited to, Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm, the department shall immediately notify the dealer and the chief of the police department in the city or city and county in which the sale was made, or if the sale was made in a district in which there is no municipal police department, the sheriff of the county in which the sale was made, of that fact in compliance with subdivision (c) of Section 28220.
(4) If the department is unable to ascertain the final disposition of the arrest or criminal charge, or the outcome of the mental health treatment or evaluation, or the purchaser’s eligibility to purchase a firearm, as described in paragraph (1), within 30 days of the dealer’s original submission of purchaser information to the department pursuant to this section, the department shall immediately notify the dealer and the dealer may then immediately transfer the firearm to the purchaser, upon the dealer’s recording on the register or record of electronic transfer the date that the firearm is transferred, the dealer signing the register or record of electronic transfer indicating delivery of the firearm to that purchaser, and the purchaser signing the register or record of electronic transfer acknowledging the receipt of the firearm on the date that the firearm is delivered to the purchaser.
(5) If the department is unable to ascertain the validity of a hunting license required pursuant to Section 27510, the department shall immediately notify the dealer to cancel the sale of the firearm. The department shall notify the purchaser by mail that the hunting license was not valid and unexpired or the Department of Fish and Wildlife was unable to verify the license based upon the information provided.
(g) Commencing July 1, 2017, upon receipt of information demonstrating that a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to federal or state law, the department shall submit the name, date of birth, and physical description of the person to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Index, Denied Persons Files. The information provided shall remain privileged and confidential, and shall not be disclosed, except for the purpose of enforcing federal or state firearms laws.

SEC. 8.

 The heading of Article 1 (commencing with Section 29610) of Chapter 1 of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
Article  1. Possession of Firearm

SEC. 9.

 Section 29610 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

29610.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 29615, a A minor shall not possess a handgun.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 29615, a A minor shall not possess a firearm other than a handgun.

SEC. 10.

 Section 29615 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

29615.
 Section 29610 shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(a) The minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves this use of a firearm.
(b) The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(c) The minor is at least 16 years of age, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(d) The minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, the minor is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by the parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

SEC. 11.

 Section 29700 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

29700.
 Every minor who violates this chapter shall be punished as follows:
(a) By imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 or in a county jail if one of the following applies:
(1) The minor has been found guilty previously of violating this chapter.
(2) The minor has been found guilty previously of an offense specified in Section 29905, 32625, or 33410, or an offense specified in any provision listed in Section 16590.
(3) The minor has been found guilty of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 29610.
(b) Violations of this chapter other than those violations specified in subdivision (a) shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.

SEC. 12.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B 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 XIII B of the California Constitution.