Bill > HB2521

This bill amends existing law to adjust the fee charged by the Washington State Patrol for firearms background checks, requiring that the fee be set at an amount reasonably calculated to cover the direct and indirect costs of administering the program, replacing a previous provision that capped the fee at eighteen dollars and specified it should cover annual operating and maintenance costs. The bill also includes an expiration date for one section of the law, May 1, 2027, and an effective date for another section, May 1, 2027, indicating a transition in how the background check program is managed or funded. The core function of the Washington State Patrol's firearms background check program, which serves as a central point for dealers to conduct checks required by state and federal law, remains unchanged, including its automated system, the types of records checked, and the process for notifying dealers of the outcome of a check.