Amendment ID: S2572-39-R1

Redraft Amendment 39

Illegal firearm tracking and tracing task force

Messrs. Gomez, O'Connor and Feeney, Ms. Edwards and Messrs. Moore and Pacheco move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 1 the following section:-     

“SECTION 1A. Said chapter 6A is hereby further amended by inserting after section 18AA the following section:-

Section 18BB. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of public safety and security shall establish a task force focused on the trafficking of illegal firearms. The task force shall consist of: the secretary of public safety and security or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the attorney general or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security or their designees; 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police Association; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association; and 1 member appointed by the governor, who shall reside in a gateway municipality, as defined in section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws.

(b) The task force shall: (i) track the prevalence and distribution of illegal firearms in the commonwealth; (ii) track the means by which illegal firearms are entering the commonwealth; (iii) study where illegal firearms are used most frequently in violent crimes and suicides; (iv) recommend improvements for how state and local law enforcement agencies can better track and trace the illegal trafficking of firearms; and (v) recommend best practices for the enforcement of statutes regarding the illegal trafficking of firearms.

(c) The task force shall submit an annual report, along with any legislative and regulatory recommendations, to the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the secretary of public safety and security and the attorney general.”.