Amendment ID: S2265-22

Amendment 22

Community Safekeeping for Suicide Prevention

Mr. Keenan moves to amend the bill by inserting the following new section:-

SECTION XX: There is hereby established a task force to consist of: the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security or a designee; the commissioner of public health or a designee; 1 person selected by the Gun Owners’ Action League, Inc.; 1 person selected by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; 1 person selected by the committee for public counsel services; 1 person selected by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, Inc.; and 1 person appointed by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association.

The task force shall study and report on suitable and feasible options for the safekeeping of a distressed person’s firearms, in a location away from the household, by his or her relations or community nongovernmental organizations including, but not limited to, legal protections for: (1) private citizens acting as good samaritans, who are of direct relation to the distressed person by family or affection; (2) turn-in and temporary storage of a distressed person’s firearm by a licensed gun store or gun club; (3) and turn-in and temporary storage of a distressed person’s firearm by any other type of organization or facility under registration as a firearms safe harbor.

The task force shall be provided with quarters in the state house or elsewhere and may: (i) expend for expenses and for expert, legal, clerical and other assistance such sums as may be appropriated therefor; (ii) travel within the commonwealth; and (iii) hold hearings. Private or executive meetings of the task force shall be open to the public unless a majority of the members of the task force shall vote otherwise. A notice of each such meeting shall be filed with the clerk of either branch, and the notice or a copy thereof shall be publicly posted in the office of such clerk at least 24 hours prior to such meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

The task force shall report the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation, if

any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the report with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate on or before July 31, 2015. The clerks of the house of representatives and senate shall forward the report to the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and the chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse.