Bill > HB1776

This bill addresses the inconvenience and potential economic losses caused by the temporary unavailability of the Secure Automated Firearms E-Check (SAFE) background check system in November 2024. The bill mandates that the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program provide reimbursement for background check fees to two groups: individual firearm purchasers who paid fees during the system's downtime and licensed firearms dealers who covered background check fees for their customers. The reimbursement will apply specifically to fees charged under RCW 43.43.580 during the period when the SAFE system was unable to access the administrative office of the courts data system, effectively preventing complete background checks. The state patrol is authorized to process these reimbursements using funds from the state firearms background check system account. The legislative intent behind this bill is to provide financial relief to both individual consumers and licensed dealers who were adversely affected by the temporary system failure.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1776&Year=2025&Initiative=false