HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4613        FILED ON: 11/30/2012

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

George N. Peterson, Jr.

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act associated with incurred fines for delayed firearm license renewals.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4613        FILED ON: 11/30/2012

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Twelve

_______________

An Act associated with incurred fines for delayed firearm license renewals.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to ensure that the citizens of the Commonwealth do not incur fines associated with delayed firearm license renewals , therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 129B of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking paragraph (9) in its entirety lines and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(9) A firearm identification card shall be valid unless revoked or suspended. 

SECTION 2.  Section 131 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (i) in lines 231 to 245, inclusive, the words “A license to carry or possess firearms shall be valid, unless revoked or suspended, for a period of not more than 6 years from the date of issue and shall expire on the anniversary of the licensee's date of birth occurring not less than 5 years but not more than 6 years from the date of issue, except that if the licensee applied for renewal before the license expired, the license shall remain valid for a period of 90 days beyond the stated expiration date on the license, unless the application for renewal is denied if the licensee is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States on the expiration date of his license, the license shall remain valid until the licensee is released from active duty and for a period of not less than 90 days following such release. Any renewal thereof shall expire on the anniversary of the licensee's date of birth occurring not less than 5 years but not more than 6 years from the effective date of such license. Any license issued to an applicant born on February 29 shall expire on March 1.” and inserting in place thereof the following:-  A license to carry or possess firearms shall be valid unless revoked or suspended.

SECTION 3.  Section 131 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (i), in lines 271 to 274, the words, “Any person over the age of 70 and any law enforcement officer applying for a license to carry firearms through his employing agency shall be exempt from the requirement of paying a renewal fee for a Class A or Class B license to carry.”