SB 70

  • Virginia Senate Bill
  • 2020 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Senate Nov 22, 2019
  • Passed Senate Jan 16, 2020
  • Passed House Feb 26, 2020
  • Signed by Governor Apr 10, 2020

Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.

Abstract

Firearm sales; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm sale and directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to establish a process for transferors to obtain such a background check from licensed firearms dealers. A person who sells a firearm to another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that a purchaser who receives a firearm from another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that the Department shall have three business days to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred. This bill incorporates SB 12 and is identical to HB 2.

Firearm sales; criminal history record informationchecks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm saleand directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to establisha process for transferors to obtain such a check from licensed firearmsdealers. A person who sells a firearm to another person without obtainingthe required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.The bill also provides that a purchaser who receives a firearm fromanother person without obtaining the required background check isguilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill removes the provision thatmakes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees atfirearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that the Departmentshall have three business days to complete a criminal history recordinformation check before a firearm may be transferred. This bill incorporatesSB 12.

Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm transfer and directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to establish a process for transferors to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferor who sells a firearm to another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides that a transferee who receives a firearm from another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts transfers (i) between immediate family members; (ii) that occur by operation of law; (iii) by the executor or administrator of an estate or by the trustee of a testamentary trust; (iv) at firearms shows in accordance with law; (v) that are part of a buy-back or give-back program; (vi) of antique firearms; (vii) that occur at a shooting range, shooting gallery, or any other area designed for the purpose of target shooting or for use during target practice, a firearms safety or training course or class, a shooting competition, or any similar lawful activity; or (viii) that are temporary transfers that (a) occur within the continuous presence of the owner of the firearm or (b) are necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that the Department shall have three business days to complete a criminal history record information check before a firearm may be transferred.  

Bill Sponsors (6)

Votes


Actions


Apr 10, 2020

Office of the Governor

Approved by Governor-Chapter 1112 (effective 7/1/20)

Mar 20, 2020

Office of the Governor

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020

Senate

Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB70ER)

Mar 19, 2020

House

Signed by Speaker

Mar 18, 2020

Senate

Enrolled

Senate

Signed by President

Mar 07, 2020

Senate

Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N)

Mar 05, 2020

Virginia General Assembly

Amended by conference committee

House

VOTE: Adoption (54-Y 46-N)

House

Conference report agreed to by House (54-Y 46-N)

House

Conferees appointed by House

Mar 04, 2020

Senate

Conferees appointed by Senate

Senate

Senate acceded to request (27-Y 13-N)

Mar 03, 2020

House

House insisted on substitute

House

House requested conference committee

Mar 02, 2020

Senate

House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N)

Feb 28, 2020

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB70H1)

Senate

Passed by for the day

Feb 26, 2020

House

Committee substitute agreed to 20108843D-H1

House

VOTE: Passage (54-Y 46-N)

House

Passed House with substitute (54-Y 46-N)

House

Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB70H1

House

Read third time

Feb 25, 2020

House

Read second time

Feb 21, 2020

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB70H1)

House

Committee substitute printed 20108843D-H1

House

Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 9-N)

Feb 13, 2020

House

Placed on Calendar

House

Referred to Committee on Public Safety

House

Read first time

Jan 16, 2020

Senate

Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 16-N)

Senate

Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N)

Senate

Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB70S1)

Jan 15, 2020

Senate

Reading of substitute waived

Senate

Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB70S1

Senate

Title replaced 20105589D-S1

Senate

Committee substitute agreed to (36-Y 4-N)

Senate

Read second time

Jan 14, 2020

Senate

Constitutional readings dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB70S1)

Jan 13, 2020

Senate

Incorporates SB12 (Saslaw)

Senate

Committee substitute printed 20105589D-S1

Senate

Reported from Judiciary with substitute (9-Y 5-N)

Jan 08, 2020

Senate

Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name

Nov 27, 2019

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB70)

Nov 22, 2019

Senate

Referred to Committee on the Judiciary

Senate

Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101549D

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
Impact statement from VCSC (SB70) HTML
Impact statement from VCSC (SB70S1) HTML
Impact statement from VCSC (SB70H1) HTML
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB70ER) HTML
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1112) HTML

Related Documents

Document Format
Amendment: SB70AC HTML

Sources

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