Senate Counsel, Research
and Fiscal Analysis
Minnesota Senate Bldg.
95 University Avenue W. Suite 3300
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-4791
Alexis C. Stangl
Director
   Senate   
State of Minnesota
 
 
 
 
 
S.F. No. 520 - Voluntary Surrender of Firearms; Centralized Registry
 
Author: Senator Ron Latz
 
Prepared By: Kenneth P. Backhus, Senate Counsel (651/296-4396)
 
Date: February 20, 2013



 

Section 1 requires mental health professionals, physicians, and nurses to provide patients with the information sheet required in section 3. The sheet must describe the process by which the patient may voluntarily request placement of the patient’s information in the registry to be denied a firearms permit and be prohibited from purchasing firearms, and inform the patient that the patient may voluntarily surrender to law enforcement some or all of the patient’s firearms.

Section 2 requires the commissioner of human services to provide the identities of adults who have voluntarily placed their names in the registry of persons who wish to be denied a firearms permit and be prohibited from purchasing firearms to law enforcement via electronic data transfer for purposes of a background check related to firearms or explosives.

Section 3 requires the commissioner of human services to establish and maintain an electronic central registry of adults who voluntarily submit a request to be denied a firearms permit and be prohibited from purchasing firearms. Specifies duties of the commissioner. Provides that data collected under this section are private data.

Section 4 requires police chiefs and sheriffs to accept the voluntary surrender of firearms and ammunition from persons who are in the voluntary registry under section 3. These surrenders are voluntary acts, and may be reversed at the request of the person. Requires the chief or sheriff to develop and implement policies to provide for the secure storage and safekeeping of items surrendered. A person surrendering firearms and/or ammunition is not eligible to have those items returned until the person’s name is removed from the registry. Requires police chiefs and sheriffs to perform a background check before returning surrendered items. Provides that information related to surrender of items under this section are private data. Provides immunity for damages for police chiefs and sheriffs acting in good faith and with reasonable prudence.

Section 5 provides that persons listed in the registry under section 3 are prohibited from purchasing any firearms or ammunition during the duration of the listing.

Sections 6 to 11 amend the various firearms permit laws to require that the applicant allow a check of whether the person’s name is in the registry described in section 3, and requires that the registry be checked.

Section 12 provides the bill's effective date.

 

KPB/tg

 
Check on the status of this bill
 
Back to Senate Counsel and Research Bill Summaries page
 

 
This page is maintained by the Office of Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis for the Minnesota Senate.
 
Last review or update: 02/20/2013
 
If you see any errors on this page, please e-mail us at webmaster@senate.mn