SENATE BILL 201
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019
INTRODUCED BY
Michael Padilla
AN ACT
RELATING TO FIREARM TRANSFERS; ENACTING THE FIREARM TRANSFER ACT; REQUIRING A PROSPECTIVE RECIPIENT OF A FIREARM TO UNDERGO A BACKGROUND CHECK BY A FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEE; ALLOWING A REASONABLE FEE FOR SERVICES; PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION TO THE BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT; CREATING CIVIL LIABILITY AND PROVIDING IMMUNITY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS; PROHIBITING A REGISTRY OF FIREARM TRANSFERS OR OWNERSHIP; PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION TO THE INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT; CREATING CRIMES AND IMPOSING PENALTIES; REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO TRANSMIT INFORMATION FROM COURT PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE OR POSSESS A FIREARM TO THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM, INCLUDING CERTAIN MENTAL HEALTH ADJUDICATION INFORMATION; REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO REPORT INFORMATION REGARDING A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ADJUDICATED AS A MENTAL DEFECTIVE OR COMMITTED TO A MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FOR ENTRY INTO THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM; LIMITING INFORMATION REPORTED; PROVIDING PROCEDURES FOR THE PERSON WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE REPORT TO SEEK A REDETERMINATION OF MENTAL CONDITION AND RESTORATION OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE OR POSSESS ANY FIREARM OR AMMUNITION; SETTING STANDARDS FOR A COURT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE OR POSSESS ANY FIREARM OR AMMUNITION; REQUIRING THE COURT TO SEAL THE RECORD OF SUCH PROCEEDINGS; MAKING THE REPORT TRANSMITTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION CONFIDENTIAL; PERMITTING DISCLOSURE ONLY TO THE PERSON WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH REPORT OR THAT PERSON'S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE; LIMITING THE USE OF SUCH REPORT; PROVIDING THAT NO CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE BROUGHT FOR TRANSMISSION, FAILURE TO TRANSMIT, DELAY IN TRANSMITTING OR INACCURATE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN SUCH REPORT; PROVIDING A RIGHT TO INSPECT AND CORRECT RECORDS; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS TO PROMULGATE RULES; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT REPEAL.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 8 of this act may be cited as the "Firearm Transfer Act".
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] FIREARM TRANSFER CONDITIONS OVERVIEW.--A firearm shall not be transferred from one person to another person without a firearm transfer background check of the transferee that authorizes the transfer pursuant to Section 4 of the Firearm Transfer Act, unless the transaction or transferee meets the exception pursuant to Section 5 of that act.
SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Firearm Transfer Act:
A. "federal firearms licensee" means a person who is engaged in the business, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921, of selling, leasing or otherwise transferring a firearm and who is licensed by the United States attorney general pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 923;
B. "firearm" means a weapon that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; the frame or receiver of any such weapon; or a firearm muffler or firearm silencer. "Firearm" includes a handgun, rifle or shotgun; and
C. "transfer" means the sale, lease, delivery or other passing of possession or control of a firearm.
SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] BACKGROUND CHECK--NOTICE.--
A. A person who is not a federal firearms licensee shall not transfer or attempt to transfer a firearm to another person who is not a federal firearms licensee unless the transfer is conducted through the services of a federal firearms licensee. The federal firearms licensee shall conduct the federal firearm transfer background check required by federal law and complete the paperwork required for that check and may charge a reasonable fee to conduct the background check and complete the paperwork.
B. If the background check conducted pursuant to Subsection A of this section reveals that the transferee is prohibited from receiving a firearm, the federal firearms licensee shall inform the transferor and the transferee of that fact and the transfer shall not take place.
SECTION 5. [NEW MATERIAL] EXCEPTION FROM BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT.--The provisions of Section 4 of the Firearm Transfer Act requiring a background check do not apply to the transfer of an antique or relic firearm. For the purpose of this section, "antique or relic firearm" means a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system firearm manufactured in or before 1898, a replica of those firearms or a muzzle loading rifle, shotgun or pistol designed to use black powder or black powder substitute; but "antique or relic firearm" does not mean a firearm listed in this section that uses or can readily be converted to use fixed ammunition.
SECTION 6. [NEW MATERIAL] IMMUNITY--CIVIL LIABILITY.--
A. A transferor or federal firearms licensee who fulfills the provisions of Section 4 of the Firearm Transfer Act for the transfer of a firearm is immune from civil liability from the time of the transfer for any use of the firearm, unless the transferor or federal firearms licensee knows, or reasonably should know, that the transferee:
(1) is likely to commit an unlawful act involving the firearm; or
(2) intends to deliver the firearm to a third person who the transferor or federal firearms licensee knows, or reasonably should know, is prohibited from purchasing or receiving the firearm.
B. A transferor of a firearm to a person who does not fulfill the provisions of Section 4 of the Firearms Transfer Act is liable in a civil suit for any damages caused or proximately caused by the use or handling of the firearm.
SECTION 7. [NEW MATERIAL] UNLAWFULLY TRANSFERRING A FIREARM--PENALTY.--
A. A person commits the crime of unlawfully transferring a firearm if the person transfers or receives a firearm or attempts to transfer or receive a firearm without the firearm transfer background check required by Section 4 of the Firearm Transfer Act or if the person transfers or receives a firearm or attempts to transfer or receive a firearm after the background check reveals that the transferee is prohibited from receiving a firearm.
B. A person who commits the crime of unlawfully transferring a firearm is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
SECTION 8. [NEW MATERIAL] CONSTRUCTION OF FIREARM TRANSFER ACT--PUBLIC RECORDS INSPECTION.--
A. Nothing in the Firearm Transfer Act shall be construed to require or authorize an agency, officer or agent of the state or a political subdivision of the state to compile or maintain a registry, roster, list or other compilation of firearms transfers or firearms owners from any record required to be created or kept by the Firearm Transfer Act. This section shall not prohibit disclosure or access to a firearms transfer record for a criminal investigation.
B. No record created or maintained pursuant to the Firearm Transfer Act shall be subject to inspection or disclosure pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act.
SECTION 9. [NEW MATERIAL] REPORTING TO THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM.--
A. The administrative office of the courts shall obtain and electronically transmit information from court proceedings relating to eligibility to receive or possess a firearm pursuant to state or federal law to the federal bureau of investigation's national instant criminal background check system. The administrative office of the courts shall also be responsible for notifying, as soon as practicable, the federal bureau of investigation to update, correct, modify or remove information affecting a person's eligibility to receive or possess a firearm pursuant to state or federal law in the national instant criminal background check system.
B. The administrative office of the courts shall electronically transmit information to the federal bureau of investigation for entry into the national instant criminal background check system regarding each person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution and subject to the disabilities of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).
C. Upon entry of a court order, judgment or verdict
referred to in Subsection B of this section, the administrative
office of the courts shall forward only such information as
necessary to identify the person to the federal bureau of
investigation for the sole purpose of inclusion in the national
instant criminal background check system.
D. Consistent with federal law, a person reported to the federal bureau of investigation by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to Subsection B of this section may petition the court that originated the order, judgment or verdict that was reported to the federal bureau of investigation, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, for a redetermination of the person's mental condition for the purpose of restoring the person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition. A copy of the petition seeking a redetermination of mental condition shall be served upon the office of the attorney general and upon all parties to the proceeding resulting in a court order, judgment or verdict described in Subsection B of this section. The court's redetermination shall be de novo.
E. Upon completion of the hearing on the petition, the court shall grant the person's petition to restore the person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition if the court finds that the person will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that restoration of the person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition is not contrary to the public interest.
F. A record shall be kept of the proceeding to redetermine the person's mental condition for the purpose of restoring the person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition, but it shall be sealed and shall be disclosed only to a court or the parties in the event of an appeal. The petitioner may appeal a denial of the requested relief, and review on appeal shall be on the record.
G. A person may petition for restoration of that person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition under this section not more than once every two years and, in the case of a person who was committed to a mental institution, not before the person has been discharged from such commitment.
H. The administrative office of the courts shall promptly notify the federal bureau of investigation upon the entry of a court order restoring the person's right to receive or possess any firearm or ammunition.
I. Information transmitted by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and may only be disclosed to the person who is the subject of the report, or an authorized representative of the person who is the subject of the report, and shall not be used for any other purpose than inclusion in the national instant criminal background check system. No cause of action shall be brought for transmission, failure to transmit, delay in transmitting or inaccurate information contained in such report.
J. A person who is the subject of a report made by the administrative office of the courts under this section, or the person's authorized representative, has a right to inspect and correct information contained in such report.
K. The administrative office of the courts shall
promulgate rules relating to the inspection and correction of
information contained in such report and relating to reporting of corrected information by the office to the federal bureau of
investigation and such other rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 10. CONTINGENT REPEAL.--Sections 1 through 9 of this act are repealed on the effective date of a federal law:
A. requiring a background check for the transfer of a firearm, other than a firearm defined in 26 U.S.C. 5845(a), between two persons who are not federal firearms licensees and who reside in the same state, which requirement shall be certified by the secretary of public safety and sent to the director of the legislative council service and the New Mexico compilation commission; or
B. that expressly preempts the state from enforcing the provisions of Sections 1 through 9 of this act, which preemption shall be certified by the secretary of public safety to the director of the legislative council service and the New Mexico compilation commission.
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