Budget Amendment ID: FY2014-S3-464

EPS 464

Firearm License Renewal Study

Mr. Knapik and Ms. Candaras and Messrs. Hedlund and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting, after section 144, the following new section:-

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the inspector general shall conduct an investigation and study of the Massachusetts firearm licensing system administered under the authority of the executive office of public safety and security firearms records bureau. The study shall be financed with funds from the Firearms Record Keeping Trust Fund, established in section 131, subsection (i) of chapter 140 and the Firearms Fingerprint Identity Verification Trust Fund, established in section 2LLL, chapter 29 of the General Laws.

The investigation shall identify the length of processing applications for Licenses to Carry Firearms and Firearm Identification Cards, the responsibility of oversight and authority of the state over the system, the process for recording denials and/or restrictions of licenses or cards, the notification of applicants specifically outlining the reasons for any such restrictions or denials, and appeals and compliance with all state and federal laws and mandates. The inspector general shall report any preliminary findings to the secretary of public safety and security, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight on or before October 30, 2013, and issue a final report on or before March 1, 2014. Said report shall be made available to the public through websites operated by the executive office of public safety and security and the legislature.