NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Feldman DATE TYPED: 03/04/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Child Access Prevention Act SB 132
ANALYST: Chabot


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
NFI



Duplicates HB 240



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Administrative Office of the District Attorneys (AODA)

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Corrections Department

Criminal and Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Juvenile Parole Board

Public Defender Department (PDD)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



If a person who owns, possesses, or stores a handgun fails to safeguard the handgun and a child less than eighteen years of age gains possession of or uses the handgun to cause injury to himself or another person, the individual who failed to safeguard the handgun is guilty of a misdemeanor, a fourth-degree felony, or a third-degree felony as defined in Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978 and Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.



Significant Issues



According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, an estimated 1,500 children nationwide are treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional firearms injuries. The bill would make the gun owner responsible for firearms not adequately safeguarded. Eleven exemptions are provided if a child: