Bill > SB610

This bill modifies existing California Penal Code sections related to obtaining a license to carry a concealed firearm. It clarifies that for new applicants, the required firearm training course should not exceed 16 hours and must cover firearm safety and the law regarding firearm use, though licensing authorities can uniformly require a longer, certified community college course up to 24 hours. For renewals, the training must be at least four hours, also covering safety and law, and trainers certified by the licensing authority are exempt from renewal training. Importantly, applicants will not have to pay for training courses until after the licensing authority determines if they meet the "good cause" requirement for a license, a determination that will now be communicated in writing to the applicant, informing them to proceed with training if good cause is found or denying the license with a stated reason if it is not. The bill also adjusts fee structures for processing applications and renewals, capping certain local fees and specifying that additional psychological testing for renewals is only allowed if there's compelling evidence. Finally, it maintains the 90-day timeframe for licensing authorities to approve or deny a license application, or 30 days after receiving a criminal background check, whichever is later, and requires denial notices to specify the unmet requirement.