Bill > A5503

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish an Internet-based "Do Not Sell" registry to prohibit the sale of firearms to any person residing in this State who has voluntarily requested to be included in the registry. Under the bill, a person would be permitted to voluntarily enter his or her name on the registry and be prohibited from purchasing a firearm. The person's information would be included among the criteria prohibiting a person from purchasing a firearm when a criminal history record background check is conducted. The bill requires the superintendent to ensure that the Internet-based registry verifies the identity of a registered person, prevents unauthorized disclosures of personal information, and informs registered persons of the implications of being included in the registry. Under the bill, a person would be permitted to submit email addresses of personal contacts. The bill requires the registry to be programmed to notify and advise via email the personal contacts that the registered person has included in the registry. The registry also would notify the same personal contacts via email if the registered person subsequently requests to be removed from the registry. The bill allows a person who voluntarily registers to subsequently request through the Internet-based registry to have his or her information removed from the registry. The superintendent would be prohibited from removing the information until 21 days after the person's request. Following the request, the superintendent would be required to destroy all records of the registration, associated transactions, and the request for removal of that individual's name from the registry. Information regarding a person's registration would not be deemed a public record pursuant to the open public records act. The bill requires the Attorney General to prepare and disseminate educational information regarding the "Do Not Sell" registry to each psychiatric facility in the State which would be made available to the public. Under the bill, it would be a crime of the third degree to transfer a firearm to a registered person with knowledge that the person receiving the firearm is included in the registry. In addition, it would be a crime of the third degree to knowingly register another person's information in the registry without that person's consent. A crime of the third degree is punishable by fine of up to $15,000, a term of imprisonment between three and five years, or both.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Michele Matsikoudis (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee (on 05/25/2023)

Official Document