AB517: Bill Text

LRB-3567/2

MGG:kmg:pg

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 517

September 26, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Jeskewitz, Walker, F. Lasee, Urban, Nass, Owens, Stone, Suder and Duff. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB517,1,3 An Act to amend 165.825; and to create 29.024 (1m) of the statutes; relating to: requiring firearms-restrictions record searches of persons being issued licenses that authorize hunting with firearms.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires that, upon the request of the department of natural resources (DNR), the department of justice (DOJ) conduct a background check for any person who is issued a license that authorizes hunting with a firearm (hunting license). If the search shows that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state law, the bill requires that DNR revoke all of the person's current hunting licenses and deny the person any additional hunting licenses. The grounds under state law for prohibiting the possession of firearms include felony convictions and domestic or child abuse or harassment restraining orders and injunctions. The bill prohibits DOJ from collecting fees from DNR for these background checks.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB517, s. 1 Section 1. 29.024 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB517,2,2 29.024 (1m) Firearm restrictions. (a) In this subsection,"hunting license" means a license issued under this chapter that authorizes hunting with a firearm.

AB517,2,9 (b) The department of natural resources shall request that the department of justice conduct a firearms-restrictions record search with respect to each person who applies for a hunting license, and the department of justice shall conduct the search. If the search shows that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, the department of natural resources shall revoke any current hunting license issued to that person and deny any subsequent applications for hunting licenses that are submitted by that person.

AB517,2,11 (c) The department of justice may not impose fees for firearms-restrictions record searches conducted under par. (b).

AB517, s. 2 Section 2. 165.825 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB517,2,17 165.825 Information link; department of health and family services other departments. The department of justice shall cooperate with the departments of natural resources, regulation and licensing, and health and family services in developing and maintaining a computer linkup to provide access to the information obtained from a criminal history search.

AB517, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB517,2,20 (1) This act first applies to licenses that are issued on the effective date of this subsection.

AB517, s. 4 Section 4. Effective date.

AB517,2,23 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 13th month beginning after publication.

AB517,2,24 (End)