SB44: Bill Text

LRB-1438/1

CMH:kjf:ph

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Senate BILL 44

February 5, 2009 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Harsdorf, Olsen, Schultz and Sullivan, cosponsored by Representatives Gunderson, Richards, Murtha, Kerkman, Vos, Fields, Lothian, Townsend, Stone, Bies, Ballweg, Kaufert, LeMahieu, Nygren, Petersen, Van Roy and Spanbauer. Referred to Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.

SB44,1,9 An Act to renumber and amend 51.20 (13) (cv) 1., 941.29 (9) and 968.20 (1r); to amend 51.20 (13) (cv) 2., 51.20 (13) (cv) 3., 51.20 (13) (cv) 4., 51.20 (16) (gm), 175.35 (1) (at), 941.29 (1) (e) and 941.29 (2) (d); and to create 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. a. and b., 51.20 (13) (cv) 1m., 51.30 (4) (b) 28., 51.45 (13) (i), 54.10 (3) (f), 55.12 (10), 175.35 (2g) (d), 941.29 (1) (em), 941.29 (9) (b), 968.20 (1r) (b), 968.20 (1r) (c), 968.20 (1r) (d) and 968.20 (1r) (e) of the statutes; relating to: adjudications for involuntary commitment, appointment of a guardian of the person, and protective placement or protective services, background checks for the purchase of handguns, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, if a person seeks to purchase a handgun from a licensed handgun dealer, the dealer must ask the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a background check on the person. In conducting the background check, DOJ searches DOJ records to determine whether the person is ineligible to possess a firearm under state law, but state law does not explicitly require DOJ to determine whether federal law bars the person from possessing a firearm based on criteria not covered by state law. This bill requires DOJ, when conducting a background check on a prospective handgun purchaser, to check whether the person has been the subject of a court order or finding that is based on a determination that the person's mental health would render the person ineligible under federal law to possess a firearm.

This bill requires courts to determine whether a person would be ineligible under federal law to possess a firearm during proceedings for involuntary commitment for persons found by the court to be mentally ill, drug dependent, or developmentally disabled and to be dangerous, during proceedings for appointment of a guardian of the person for an individual found by the court to be incompetent, and, if not previously determined, during proceedings under which a court orders protective placement or protective services (mental health proceeding). If the court determines that federal law prohibits the person from possessing a firearm, the court must order the person not to possess a firearm, order the seizure of any firearm the person owns, and inform the person that he or she would be committing a felony if he or she possessed a firearm. The court must then convey the disqualified status to DOJ which may use that information only during background checks conducted when the person seeks to purchase a handgun or under rules that DOJ promulgates in order to provide information to the national instant criminal background check system.

Specifically, to determine ineligibility under federal law at a mental health proceeding, a court must determine if the person has been "adjudicated as a mental defective" or "committed to a mental institution," as defined in federal law. Under federal law, "adjudicated as a mental defective" means a determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of a marked subnormal intelligence, or a mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease either is a danger to himself or herself or to others or lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his or her own affairs. This determination includes a finding of insanity by a court in a criminal case and persons found incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Federal law defines "committed to a mental institution" as a formal commitment of a person to a mental institution by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority. The term includes a commitment to a mental institution involuntarily, commitment for mental defectiveness or mental illness, and commitments for other reasons such as for drug use. The term does not include a person in an institution for observation or a voluntary admission to a mental institution.

If, at a mental health proceeding, the court finds a person ineligible under federal law to possess a firearm, the person may petition a court to cancel the order. A court must grant the petition if the court determines that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the petition would not be contrary to public interest. The court must then convey the change in status to DOJ so that DOJ may update the information provided during background checks for handgun purchases and the information provided to the national instant criminal background check system.

For further information see the state and local 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:

SB44, s. 1 Section 1. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. (intro.) and amended to read:

SB44,3,10 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. (intro.) If the court makes the disposition under par. (a) 3., 4., 4m., or 5. and the court determines, based on evidence presented on the issue of the subject individual's dangerousness, that there is a substantial probability that the individual may use a firearm to cause physical harm to himself or herself or endanger public safety, the court shall prohibit the individual from possessing order the individual not to possess a firearm, order the seizure of any firearm owned by the individual, and inform the individual of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29. if the court determines any of the following:

SB44, s. 2 Section 2. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are created to read:

SB44,3,14 51.20 (13) (cv) 1. a. Based on evidence presented on the issue of the individual's dangerousness, there is a substantial probability that the individual may use a firearm to cause physical harm to himself or herself or endanger public safety.

SB44,3,16 b. Under 18 USC 922 (g) (4), the individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

SB44, s. 3 Section 3. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,3,21 51.20 (13) (cv) 1m. a. If a court orders an individual under subd. 1. not to possess a firearm based on a determination under subd. 1. b., the individual may petition that court or the court in the county where the individual resides to cancel the order.

SB44,4,5 b. The court considering the petition under subd. 1m. a. shall grant the petition if the court determines that the circumstances regarding the disposition under par. (a) 3., 4., 4m., or 5. and the individual's record and reputation indicate that the individual is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the petition would not be contrary to public interest.

SB44,4,8 c. If the court grants the petition under subd. 1m. b., the court shall cancel the order under subd. 1. and order the return of any firearm ordered seized under subd. 1. on the basis of a determination under subd. 1. b.

SB44, s. 4 Section 4. 51.20 (13) (cv) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,4,18 51.20 (13) (cv) 2. A prohibition on An order prohibiting the possession of a firearm under subd. 1. based on a determination under subd. 1. a. shall remain in effect until the commitment order and any subsequent consecutive commitment orders expire and the court determines, based on evidence presented on the issue of the subject individual's dangerousness, that there is no longer a substantial probability that the individual may use a firearm to cause physical harm to himself or herself or endanger public safety. If the court makes this determination, it shall cancel the prohibition order and order the return of any firearm ordered seized under subd. 1. on the basis of a determination under subd. 1. a.

SB44, s. 5 Section 5. 51.20 (13) (cv) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,4,24 51.20 (13) (cv) 3. In lieu of ordering the seizure under subd. 1., the court may designate a person to store the firearm until the prohibition order under subd. 1. based on the determination under subd. 1. a. has been canceled under subd. 2. or sub. (16) (gm) or until the order under subd. 1. based on the determination under subd. 1. b. has been canceled under subd. 1m. c.

SB44, s. 6 Section 6. 51.20 (13) (cv) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,5,14 51.20 (13) (cv) 4. If the court prohibits orders a subject individual from possessing not to possess a firearm under subd. 1. or based on a determination under subd. 1. a. or b., cancels a prohibition under subd. 2. or sub. (16) (gm) an order issued under subd. 2. 1. based on a determination under subd. 1. a., or cancels under subd. 1m. c. an order issued under subd. 1. based on a determination under subd. 1. b., the court clerk shall notify the department of justice of that fact and provide any information identifying the subject individual that is necessary to permit an accurate involuntary commitment history record search, or an accurate firearms restrictions record search, under s. 175.35 (2g) (c). No other information from the subject individual's court records may be disclosed to the department of justice except by order of the court. The department of justice may disclose information provided under this subdivision only as part of an involuntary commitment history record search, or a firearms restrictions record search, under s. 175.35 (2g) (c) or under rules the department of justice promulgates under s. 175.35 (2g) (d).

SB44, s. 7 Section 7. 51.20 (16) (gm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,6,3 51.20 (16) (gm) Upon a request under par. (a), a court may cancel the prohibition order not to possess a firearm issued under sub. (13) (cv) 1. based on a determination under sub. (13) (cv) 1. a. if the court determines, based on evidence presented on the issue of the subject individual's dangerousness, that there no longer is a substantial probability that the individual may use a firearm to cause physical harm to himself or herself or endanger public safety. If a court cancels a prohibition an order issued under sub. (13) (cv) 1. based on a determination under sub. (13) (cv) 1. a. under this paragraph, the court clerk shall notify the department of justice of that fact and provide any information identifying the subject individual that is necessary to permit an accurate involuntary commitment record search , or a firearms restrictions record search, under s. 175.35 (2g) (c). No other information from the subject individual's court records may be disclosed to the department of justice except by order of the court.

SB44, s. 8 Section 8. 51.30 (4) (b) 28. of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,6,6 51.30 (4) (b) 28. To the department of justice, under the requirements of ss. 51.20 (13) (cv) 4. and 51.45 (13) (i) 4.

SB44, s. 9 Section 9. 51.45 (13) (i) of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,6,12 51.45 (13) (i) 1. If a court orders commitment of a person under this subsection, the court shall determine if, under 18 USC 922 (g) (4), the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm. If the person is prohibited, the court shall order the person not to possess a firearm, order the seizure of any firearm owned by the person, and inform the person of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29.

SB44,6,15 2. a. If a court orders a person under subd. 1. not to possess a firearm, the person may petition that court or the court in the county where the person resides to cancel the order.

SB44,6,20 b. The court considering the petition under subd. 2. a. shall grant the petition if the court determines that the circumstances regarding the commitment under this subsection and the person's record and reputation indicate that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the petition would not be contrary to public interest.

SB44,6,23 c. If the court grants the petition under subd. 2. b., the court shall cancel the order under subd. 1. and order the return of any firearm ordered seized under subd. 1.

SB44,7,3 3. In lieu of ordering the seizure under subd. 1., the court may designate a person to store the firearm until the order under subd. 1. is canceled under subd. 2. c.

SB44,7,12 4. If the court orders under subd. 1. a person not to possess a firearm or cancels under subd. 2. c. an order issued under subd. 1., the court clerk shall notify the department of justice of the order or cancellation and provide any information identifying the person that is necessary to permit an accurate firearms restrictions record search under s. 175.35 (2g) (c). No other information from the person's court records may be disclosed to the department of justice except by order of the court. The department of justice may disclose information provided under this subdivision only as part of a firearms restrictions record search under s. 175.35 (2g) (c) or under rules the department of justice promulgates under s. 175.35 (2g) (d).

SB44, s. 10 Section 10. 54.10 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,7,19 54.10 (3) (f) 1. If the court appoints a guardian of the person under this subsection, the court shall determine if, under 18 USC 922 (g) (4), the individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm. If the individual is prohibited, the court shall order the individual not to possess a firearm, order the seizure of any firearm owned by the individual, and inform the individual of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29.

SB44,7,22 2. a. If a court orders under subd. 1. an individual not to possess a firearm, the individual may petition that court or the court in the county where the individual resides to cancel the order.

SB44,8,2 b. The court considering the petition under subd. 2. a. shall grant the petition if the court determines that the circumstances regarding the appointment of a guardian under this subsection and the individual's record and reputation indicate that the individual is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the petition would not be contrary to public interest.

SB44,8,5 c. If the court grants the petition under subd. 2. b., the court shall cancel the order under subd. 1. and order the return of any firearm ordered seized under subd. 1.

SB44,8,8 3. In lieu of ordering the seizure under subd. 1., the court may designate a person to store the firearm until the order under subd. 1. is canceled under subd. 2. c.

SB44,8,18 4. If the court orders under subd. 1. an individual not to possess a firearm or cancels under subd. 2. c. an order issued under subd. 1., the court clerk shall notify the department of justice of the order or cancellation and provide any information identifying the individual that is necessary to permit an accurate firearms restrictions record search under s. 175.35 (2g) (c). No other information from the individual's court records may be disclosed to the department of justice except by order of the court. The department of justice may disclose information provided under this subdivision only as part of a firearms restrictions record search under s. 175.35 (2g) (c) or under rules the department of justice promulgates under s. 175.35 (2g) (d).

SB44, s. 11 Section 11. 55.12 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,9,2 55.12 (10) (a) If a court orders protective services or protective placement of an individual under this section and if an order has not been made under s. 54.10 (3) (f) for the individual, the court shall determine if, under 18 USC 922 (g) (4), the individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm. If the individual is prohibited, the court shall order the individual not to possess a firearm, order the seizure of any firearm owned by the individual, and inform the individual of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29.