Bill > H2102

This bill establishes a firearms and mental health fitness information registry within the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) to track individuals who may pose a risk due to mental health concerns and firearm possession. Licensed mental health professionals, physicians, physician assistants, and nurses are required to report to the DCJIS if they have reasonable cause to believe an individual should not possess a firearm due to mental health issues, with these reports being confidential and not public records, and the reporting individuals protected from liability for good faith reports. This information will be stored in a central computerized database, accessible by local licensing authorities and the colonel of state police for firearm permit applications, and by a newly created firearms and mental health fitness review board. This board, composed of residents with expertise in mental health, law enforcement, and firearms ownership, will review denials of firearm identification cards or licenses to carry that are based on these mental health reports, with applicants having the right to appeal adverse rulings to the board and subsequently to court. The bill also amends existing laws to include these mental health reports as a reason for denying firearm permits and to mandate that applicants denied for this reason must first seek review from the new fitness review board.