SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILLS 237 & 283
53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017
AN ACT
RELATING TO CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSES; DEFINING "RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER"; CLARIFYING LICENSE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CURRENT, RETIRED OR RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND MOUNTED PATROL MEMBERS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 29-19-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 255, Section 2) is amended to read:
"29-19-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Concealed Handgun Carry Act:
A. "applicant" means a person seeking a license to carry a concealed handgun;
B. "caliber" means the diameter of the bore of a handgun;
C. "category" means whether a handgun is semiautomatic or not semiautomatic;
D. "concealed handgun" means a loaded handgun that is not visible to the ordinary observations of a reasonable person;
E. "department" means the department of public safety;
F. "handgun" means a firearm that will, is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosion and the barrel length of which, not including a revolving, detachable or magazine breech, does not exceed twelve inches; [and]
G. "licensee" means a person holding a valid concealed handgun license issued to [him] the person by the department; and
H. "reserve law enforcement officer" means a
volunteer, temporary or part-time employee of a state or
local law enforcement agency who is accepted by that agency as
a reserve law enforcement officer after receiving a background
check and completing a basic law enforcement training program
certified by the director of the New Mexico law enforcement
academy."
SECTION 2. Section 29-19-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 255, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:
"29-19-5. APPLICATION FORM--SCREENING OF APPLICANTS--FEE--LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.--
A. Effective July 1, 2003, applications for concealed handgun licenses shall be made readily available at locations designated by the department. Applications for concealed handgun licenses shall be completed, under penalty of perjury, on a form designed and provided by the department and shall include:
(1) the applicant's name, current address, date of birth, place of birth, social security number, height, weight, gender, hair color, eye color and driver's license number or other state-issued identification number;
(2) a statement that the applicant is aware of, understands and is in compliance with the requirements for licensure set forth in the Concealed Handgun Carry Act;
(3) a statement that the applicant has been furnished a copy of the Concealed Handgun Carry Act and is knowledgeable of its provisions; and
(4) a conspicuous warning that the application form is executed under penalty of perjury and that a materially false answer or the submission of a materially false document to the department may result in denial or revocation of a concealed handgun license and may subject the applicant to criminal prosecution for perjury as provided in Section 30-25-1 NMSA 1978.
B. Except as provided in Section 29-19-14 NMSA 1978, the applicant shall submit to the department:
(1) a completed application form;
(2) a nonrefundable application fee in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100);
(3) two full sets of fingerprints;
(4) a certified copy of a certificate of completion for a firearms training course approved by the department;
(5) two color photographs of the applicant;
(6) a certified copy of a birth certificate or proof of United States citizenship, if the applicant was not born in the United States; and
(7) proof of residency in New Mexico.
C. A law enforcement agency may fingerprint an applicant and may charge a reasonable fee.
D. Upon receipt of the items listed in Subsection B of this section, the department shall make a reasonable effort to determine if an applicant is qualified to receive a concealed handgun license. The department shall conduct an appropriate check of available records and shall forward the applicant's fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal background check. The department shall comply with the license-issuing requirements set forth in Section 29-19-7 NMSA 1978. However, the department shall suspend or revoke a license if the department receives information that would disqualify an applicant from receiving a concealed handgun license after the thirty-day time period has elapsed.
E. A state or local government agency shall comply with a request from the department pursuant to the Concealed Handgun Carry Act within thirty days of the request."
SECTION 3. Section 29-19-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 242, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:
"29-19-14. CURRENT, [AND] RETIRED AND RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND NEW MEXICO MOUNTED PATROL MEMBERS--APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.--
A. An application fee, a renewal fee and a firearms training course are not required [for] to be submitted by an applicant or licensee who is a:
(1) [a] current [or retired] certified law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act;
(2) retired certified law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act, if:
(a) the retired officer was a certified law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act for at least fifteen years prior to retirement;
(b) the retired officer has been retired for ten years or less; and
(c) the retired officer's retirement is in good standing as shown by a letter from the agency from which the officer retired; [or
(2) a] (3) current member of the New Mexico mounted patrol who has successfully completed a law enforcement academy basic law enforcement training program for New Mexico mounted patrol members pursuant to Section 29-6-4.1 NMSA 1978; or
(4) current reserve law enforcement officer
who provides to the department a certification from a law
enforcement agency that the officer is a volunteer with or
employee of that agency.
B. A current, retired or reserve law enforcement officer or New Mexico mounted patrol member shall submit to the department with the officer's or member's application two full sets of fingerprints and a color photograph of the [law enforcement] officer or [New Mexico mounted patrol] member. The department shall conduct an appropriate check of available records and shall forward the applicant's fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal background check.
[C. A retired law enforcement officer is not required to submit an application fee or a renewal fee if:
(1) the officer was a certified law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act for at least fifteen years prior to retirement; and
(2) the retirement is in good standing as shown by a letter from the agency from which the officer retired.
D. A retired law enforcement officer who has been retired ten years or less is not required to complete a firearms training course.
E.] C. A retired law enforcement officer who has been retired for more than ten years shall be required to complete a firearms training course. The officer shall be allowed to attend any local law enforcement agency's firearms qualification course; provided that the officer supplies the officer's own ammunition, handgun, targets and range equipment. A local law enforcement agency shall not be liable under the Tort Claims Act for providing a firearms training course to a retired law enforcement officer pursuant to this subsection.
[F.] D. A retired law enforcement officer's concealed handgun license shall have printed on the license "retired police officer" and shall be valid for a period of five years."
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