CONCEALED PISTOL LICENSE RENEWAL; REGISTRATION FOR CONCEALED PISTOL LICENSEES

House Bill 5973

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Sheltrown

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 6-8-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5973 AS INTRODUCED 3-18-10

The bill would amend provisions in Public Act 372 of 1927 concerning concealed pistol license renewal and State Police approval of a basic pistol safety questionnaire.  It also repeals Section 2a of that act, MCL 28.422a. 

Renewal of concealed pistol licenses.  Under the bill, a person could apply to renew a concealed pistol license no earlier than six months before the current license expired.  If the license renewal was approved by the concealed weapons licensing board, the license would run from the date that the current license expired (or the date that the license renewal was approved, whichever was later) until the applicant's date of birth that was at least four years but not more than four years later.  (This second "four years" is likely intended to be "five years.") 

The bill retains the current requirement that to renew a concealed pistol license an applicant must certify that he or she has spent at least three hours reviewing concealed pistol training and least one hour on a firing range in the preceding six months.  A new set of fingerprints is not required unless the person's fingerprints are not already in the automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) database maintained by the State Police.

Basic pistol safety questionnaire.  The bill would eliminate a requirement that the State Police approve and distribute a basic pistol safety questionnaire.  The use of this questionnaire would be discontinued under House Bill 5972.  The State Police would still have to approve and distribute a basic pistol safety pamphlet to local police and sheriff departments, now described as "entities authorized to register pistols" under Section 2. 

Eliminate registration of pistols by CPL holders under Section 2a.  The bill would also repeal Section 2a of Public Act 372 of 1927, MCL 28.422a.  Among other things, that section exempts concealed pistol licensees from the licensure requirements of Section 2, MCL 28.422, describes the record that must be filled out when a concealed pistol licensee obtains a new pistol, and allows the State Police to promulgate rules.  Presumably, if this exemption and registration provision were deleted, concealed pistol holders would have to register their newly-acquired pistols under the process described in Section 2 (as it would be amended by House Bill 5972).  Unlike the current registration provision for CPL holders in Section 2a, the one created in House Bill 5972 does not require that a concealed pistol licensee's number be included on the record, does not require that a civil infraction for failing to register a pistol be reported to the concealed weapon licensing board, and does not give the State Police rulemaking authority. 

Tie-bar.  The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5972, meaning that unless that bill is also enacted, House Bill 5973 will not take effect.

MCL 28.422a, 28.425l, 28.429a, 28.429b, & 28.429c

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Jan Wisniewski

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.