AB 667

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law creates the Prohibited Armed Persons File, sometimes called the Armed Prohibited Persons System, for the purpose of cross-referencing persons who have ownership or possession of a firearm, as indicated by a record in the Consolidated Firearms Information System, with a list of persons who are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. Existing law requires the Department of Justice, upon the entry of specified information into the Automated Criminal History System, including, among other things, any conviction for a felony, determine if the person has an entry in the Consolidated Firearms Information System indicating possession or ownership of a firearm, as specified. Existing law requires the department, if the person has an entry in the Consolidated Firearms Information System, to then add specified information about the person to the Prohibited Armed Persons File. This bill would rename the Prohibited Armed Persons File as the Armed Prohibited Persons System. The bill would additionally require the department to add a person's information to the Armed Prohibited Persons System if they are the subject of specified gun violence restraining orders and possess a firearm. Existing law requires the Attorney General to provide investigative assistance to local law enforcement agencies to better ensure the investigation of individuals who are armed and prohibited from possessing a firearm. This bill would require the Department of Justice to provide all investigative notes, reports, and related materials on individuals listed in the Armed Prohibited Persons System to local law enforcement agencies, and to develop and implement, by January 1, 2023, an electronic database system that enables local law enforcement real-time access to that information. Existing law requires any purchase or transfer of ammunition through a vendor and, commencing July 1, 2022, any purchase or transfer of a precursor part through a vendor, to be approved by the Department of Justice, and requires the department to deny approval if the purchaser or transferee is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. This bill would require the department to immediately notify the sheriff of the county in which the purchase or transfer was attempted, when a purchase or transfer is denied for that reason. Existing law requires the Department of Justice, no later than April 1 each year, to send a report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature containing specified information including, among other things, the total number of individuals in the Armed Prohibited Persons System, the number of cases which are active and pending, and information regarding task forces or collaboration with local law enforcement on reducing the file. This bill would, instead of requiring information regarding task forces or collaboration with local law enforcement, require that report to include a summary of efforts of local law enforcement on reducing the file or backlog, with a comparison of statistics between department, local law enforcement, and joint task force efforts. The bill would require, no later than February 1 each year, specified local law enforcement agencies to report specified information to the department, including, among other things, the total number of individuals within their jurisdiction in the Armed Prohibited Persons System and the number of cases which are active and pending. This bill would additionally make conforming changes and delete obsolete provisions.