AB 876

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law, subject to exceptions, generally makes it an offense to manufacture or sell an unsafe handgun, as defined, and requires the Department of Justice to compile a roster listing all of the handguns that have been tested and determined not to be unsafe handguns. Existing law, beginning July 1, 2022, requires all handguns not already listed on the roster to be equipped with technology that transfers a microscopic array of characters from the handgun to the cartridge case when the handgun is fired, known as a microstamp. Existing law requires all firearms acquired by a law enforcement agency to be entered as an institutional weapon into the Automated Firearms System (AFS) via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) . This bill would require all handguns, with the exception of revolvers, as defined, purchased on or after July 1, 2023, that are owned, used, possessed, or otherwise carried by state, county, city, or other law enforcement officers while on duty to be microstamped within 90 days of purchase or acquisition. The bill would also require all handguns used by any state, county, city, or other law enforcement officer while on duty to be entered into AFS via CLETS within 90 days of acquisition. By requiring local law enforcement to comply with these provisions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law, subject to certain exceptions, generally makes it an offense to manufacture or sell an unsafe handgun, as defined, and requires the Department of Justice to compile a roster listing all of the handguns that have been tested and determined not to be unsafe handguns. Existing law establishes criteria for determining if a handgun is an unsafe handgun. Existing law, commencing July 1, 2022, requires that a handgun, to be included on the roster, be designed and equipped with microscopic characters used to identify the pistol, imprinted on the interior of the pistol and transferred to each cartridge case when the firearm is fired. This bill would, until July 1, 2022, reinstate a previous requirement that those microscopic characters be imprinted in 2 or more places on the interior of the pistol, provided that the department certifies that the technology used to create the imprint is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions. Existing law, commencing July 1, 2022, also precludes from inclusion on the list a firearm that is not already on the list if it does not have a chamber load indicator or magazine disconnect mechanism, as specified. This bill would preclude a firearm from the list if it doesn't have a chamber load indicator or magazine disconnect mechanism and wasn't on the roster as of 2006. The bill would make other nonsubstantive conforming changes. By expanding the number of firearms the sale or manufacture of which would be a 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.