Bill > SB144

This bill amends three Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) related to the handling of confiscated firearms, focusing primarily on firearms used in criminal homicides. The bill requires that firearms used in homicides be destroyed by the law enforcement agency that has custody, rather than being sold or transferred. For other confiscated firearms, the Department of Kentucky State Police may now destroy firearms that are defaced, contaminated with hazardous materials, unsafe to discharge, or requested to be destroyed by an innocent owner. The bill mandates that local law enforcement agencies transfer most confiscated firearms to the Kentucky State Police within 90 days, with a specific provision that these firearms must not be intentionally damaged or modified before transfer, except for necessary forensic testing. Additionally, the bill requires all law enforcement agencies to develop a written policy and procedures manual for destroying firearms used in homicides by January 1, 2026. The overall goal appears to be establishing more consistent and responsible protocols for managing confiscated firearms, with a particular emphasis on removing firearms used in violent crimes from potential future use.