Bill > S1262

This bill establishes a special commission to study the primary prevention of gun violence, meaning the measures taken to stop gun violence before it happens. This commission will review and recommend programs and interventions aimed at reducing gun violence and promoting peace within the state, with a focus on areas like school education about gun violence and its social context, addressing gun trafficking and straw purchasing (where someone buys a gun for another person who cannot legally own one), fostering better relationships between law enforcement and communities, improving services for families affected by gun violence, enhancing post-prison rehabilitation, and reducing inequalities in gun violence prevention. The commission will be comprised of various experts, including those in public health and mental health, representatives from relevant government departments like Public Health, Mental Health, the Attorney General's office, Correction, and Public Safety, as well as victim and prisoner advocates, mental health advocates, legislative committee chairs focused on public health and mental health, and community members impacted by gun violence. These departments and commissions will be required to share data on crimes, accidents, and suicides, broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, to help inform the commission's recommendations. The commission will operate for three years and will submit a final report detailing gun violence data, recommendations for prevention programs, and any proposed legislative or regulatory changes to reduce gun violence.