SB159: Bill Text

LRB-1710/1

CMH:kjf:rs

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 159

May 14, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Harris Dodd, Hansen, Carpenter, C. Larson, Ringhand, Risser and L. Taylor, cosponsored by Representatives Berceau, Barnes, Goyke, Johnson, Sargent, Billings, Bowen, Genrich, Hebl, Hesselbein, Kahl, Kessler, Kolste, Meyers, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Spreitzer, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Young, Zamarripa and Zepnick. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

SB159,1,11 An Act to repeal 175.35 (1) (b); to renumber 175.35 (2) (a), (b), (c) and (d) and 175.35 (2j); to renumber and amend 175.35 (2) (intro.) and 175.35 (2i); to amend 20.455 (2) (gr), 175.35 (title), 175.35 (1) (at), 175.35 (2g) (a), 175.35 (2g) (b), 175.35 (2g) (c) 4. c., 175.35 (2k) (ar) 2., 175.35 (2k) (c) 2. a., 175.35 (2k) (c) 2. b., 175.35 (2k) (g), 175.35 (2k) (h), 175.35 (2L), 175.35 (2t) (a), (b) and (c), 175.60 (7) (d), 175.60 (15) (b) 4. b., 938.208 (1) (b), 938.34 (4m) (b) 2., 938.341, 941.237 (1) (d), 941.296 (1) (b), 968.20 (3) (b), 971.17 (1g) and 973.176 (1); and to create 175.33, 175.35 (2) (bm), 175.35 (2) (cm) (intro.), 175.35 (2i) (b) 2., 175.35 (2j) (b), 941.29 (1) (dm), 941.29 (1) (dn), 941.29 (1) (do), 941.29 (2) (dm), 941.29 (2) (dn) and 941.29 (2) (do) of the statutes; relating to: sales and transfers of firearms and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law provides that various conditions, including a background check of a prospective purchaser, must be met before a federally licensed firearms dealer may transfer a handgun after a sale. This bill generally prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm unless the sale or transfer occurs through a federally licensed firearms dealer and involves a background check of the prospective transferee. Under this bill, the following are excepted from that prohibition: a sale or transfer to a firearms dealer, a sale or transfer for which the waiting period for the purchase of a handgun under current law does not apply, a transfer that is by gift, bequest, or inheritance to a family member, or a transfer that is intended to be temporary and that has a purpose that is not illegal. A person who is convicted of violating the prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, may be imprisoned for not more than nine months, and may not possess a firearm for a period of two years.

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:

SB159,1 Section 1. 20.455 (2) (gr) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,2,5 20.455 (2) (gr) Handgun Firearm purchaser record check fee; checks for licenses or certifications to carry concealed weapons. All moneys received as fee payments under ss. 175.35 (2i) (a), 175.49 (5m), and 175.60 (7) (c) and (d), (13), and (15) (b) 4. a. and b. to provide services under ss. 175.35, 175.49, and 175.60.

SB159,2 Section 2. 175.33 of the statutes is created to read:

SB159,2,7 175.33 Transfer of firearms. (1) In this section:

SB159,2,9 (a) "Family member" means a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or grandchild. The relationship may be by blood, marriage, or adoption.

SB159,2,10 (b) "Firearms dealer" has the meaning given in s. 175.35 (1) (ar).

SB159,2,12 (2) No person may sell or transfer ownership of a firearm, or purchase or obtain ownership of a firearm, unless one of the following applies:

SB159,2,13 (a) The seller or transferor is a firearms dealer.

SB159,2,15 (b) The seller or transferor makes the sale or transfer to or through a firearms dealer and obtains a receipt under s. 175.35 (2j) (b).

SB159,3,2 (c) The sale or transfer of ownership of the firearm is one of the transfers listed under s. 175.35 (2t).

SB159,3,5 (d) The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm to a family member by gift, bequest, or inheritance, the transferee is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, and the transferee is at least 18 years of age.

SB159,3,9 (e) The transferor is transferring ownership of the firearm with the intent that the transfer be temporary, neither the transferor nor the transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29, and the purpose of the transfer is not prohibited by law.

SB159,3,13 (3) Any person who intentionally violates sub. (2) is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 9 months. The person is also prohibited under s. 941.29 from possessing a firearm for a period of 2 years.

SB159,3 Section 3. 175.35 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,3,15 175.35 (title) Waiting period for purchase of handguns firearms.

SB159,4 Section 4. 175.35 (1) (at) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,4,7 175.35 (1) (at) "Firearms restrictions record search" means a search of department of justice records to determine whether a person seeking to purchase a handgun firearm is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 941.29. "Firearms restrictions record search" includes a criminal history record search, a search to determine whether a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1., 2007 stats., a search in the national instant criminal background check system to determine whether a person has been ordered not to possess a firearm under s. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1., 51.45 (13) (i) 1., 54.10 (3) (f) 1., or 55.12 (10) (a), a search to determine whether the person is subject to an injunction under s. 813.12 or 813.122, or a tribal injunction, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (e), issued by a court established by any federally recognized Wisconsin Indian tribe or band, except the Menominee Indian tribe of Wisconsin, that includes notice to the respondent that he or she is subject to the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29 and that has been filed with the circuit court under s. 806.247 (3), and a search to determine whether the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under s. 813.123 (5m) or 813.125 (4m).

SB159,5 Section 5. 175.35 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

SB159,6 Section 6. 175.35 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 175.35 (2) (am) and amended to read:

SB159,4,13 175.35 (2) (am) When a firearms dealer sells or transfers a handgun firearm, he or she may not transfer possession of that handgun firearm to any other person until all of the following have occurred: requirements under par. (cm) have been met.

SB159,7 Section 7. 175.35 (2) (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the statutes are renumbered 175.35 (2) (cm) 1., 2., 3. and 4.

SB159,8 Section 8. 175.35 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB159,4,23 175.35 (2) (bm) When a person sells a firearm or transfers ownership of a firearm through a firearms dealer, the person may not transfer possession of that firearm to any person other than the firearms dealer, and the firearms dealer may not transfer or authorize the transfer of possession of that firearm to any person, until all of the requirements of par. (cm) have been met. This paragraph does not apply if a person sells a firearm, or transfers ownership of a firearm, to a firearms dealer.

SB159,9 Section 9. 175.35 (2) (cm) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB159,5,2 175.35 (2) (cm) (intro.) All of the following must occur before a sale or transfer of a firearm occurs under par. (am) or (bm):

SB159,10 Section 10. 175.35 (2g) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,5,6 175.35 (2g) (a) The department of justice shall promulgate rules prescribing procedures for use under sub. (2) (cm) 1. for a transferee to provide and a firearms dealer to inspect identification containing a photograph of the transferee.

SB159,11 Section 11. 175.35 (2g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,5,13 175.35 (2g) (b) The department of justice shall promulgate rules prescribing a notification form for use under sub. (2) (cm) 2. requiring the transferee to provide his or her name, date of birth, gender, race, and social security number and other identification necessary to permit an accurate firearms restrictions record search under par. (c) 3. and the required notification under par. (c) 4. The department of justice shall make the forms available at locations throughout the state.

SB159,12 Section 12. 175.35 (2g) (c) 4. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,5,21 175.35 (2g) (c) 4. c. If the search indicates a felony charge without a recorded disposition, the deadline under sub. (2) (d) (cm) 4. is extended to the end of the 3rd complete working day commencing after the day on which the finding is made. The department shall notify the firearms dealer of the extension as soon as practicable. During the extended period, the department shall make every reasonable effort to determine the disposition of the charge and notify the firearms dealer of the results as soon as practicable.

SB159,13 Section 13. 175.35 (2i) of the statutes is renumbered 175.35 (2i) (a) and amended to read:

SB159,6,3 175.35 (2i) (a) The department shall charge a firearms dealer a $10 fee for each firearms restrictions record search that the firearms dealer requests under sub. (2) (c) (cm) 3.

SB159,6,4 (b) 1. The firearms dealer may collect the fee under par. (a) from the transferee.

SB159,6,7 (c) The department may refuse to conduct firearms restrictions record searches for any firearms dealer who fails to pay any fee under this subsection par. (a) within 30 days after billing by the department.

SB159,14 Section 14. 175.35 (2i) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB159,6,11 175.35 (2i) (b) 2. If the transfer is made under sub. (2) (bm), the firearms dealer may collect from the transferor the fee under par. (a) and any additional amount to cover any costs he or she incurs in processing the transfer.

SB159,15 Section 15. 175.35 (2j) of the statutes is renumbered 175.35 (2j) (a).

SB159,16 Section 16. 175.35 (2j) (b) of the statutes is created to read: