Bill > A2374

Introduced Session

This bill would require the Attorney General to establish a Statewide gun buyback program that allows citizens of this State to voluntarily and anonymously surrender firearms and weapons in their possession in exchange for a monetary reward. The form of the reward, such as cash or debit card, would be determined by the Attorney General. Under the Statewide gun buyback program established in the bill, the Attorney General is required to hold at least nine gun buyback programs a year throughout the State. At least three gun buyback programs each are to be held in the northern region, central region, and southern region of the State. At least one program in each region is to be held in an urban area with a high crime rate. The Attorney General is to obtain the crime rates of the various municipalities by consulting the most recent issue of the Uniform Crime Report, which is published by the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill directs the Attorney General to partner with local law enforcement agencies and community organizations in coordinating gun buyback events when possible. The gun buyback program established in the bill would be funded by: forfeiture funds received by the Attorney General as instrumentalities of crime; private donations from corporations, small businesses, and individuals; and any other monies that may become available to the Attorney General. The bill would also provide a corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credit for private donations to the program, equal to 25% of the fair market value of the taxpayers qualified contribution to the gun buyback program, not to exceed a cumulative total of $2 million in any calendar year. According to the sponsor, this bill is intended to enhance the public safety by reducing the number of firearms in circulation.

Committee Categories

Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*,  Linda Greenstein (D)*,  Lou Greenwald (D)*,  John McKeon (D)*,  Vincent Prieto (D)*,  Benjie Wimberly (D)*,  Peter Barnes (D),  Craig Coughlin (D),  Timothy Eustace (D),  Reed Gusciora (D),  Jamel Holley (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Angelica Jimenez (D),  Nancy Pinkin (D),  Teresa Ruiz (D),  Brian Stack (D),  John Wisniewski (D),  Andrew Zwicker (D), 

Senate Budget and Appropriations Hearing (19:00 1/5/2018 S3264/A4280, S3351/ A4880, A597, A2991 & A4079 are pending refer) (on 01/05/2018)