Requires training on how to identify illegal purchasers of firearms for all retailers, dealers and sellers of firearms in New York state; directs the state police to implement such program; makes related provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A559
SPONSOR: Magnarelli TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to certain
required training for all retailers, dealers and sellers of firearms in
New York state
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires all firearms dealers and their employees to undergo training to
help spot illegal or potentially unstable purchasers.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds new subdivision 3 to § 898-b of the General Business
Law. It requires all retailers, dealers and sellers of firearms in New
York and their employees or agents receive training on how to identify
illegal purchasers of firearms. Additionally, such training shall
include elements to help trainees spot potential purchasers exhibiting
signs of mental illness, stress or anguish and/or may be a threat to
others. The New York State Police.shall develop and implement such
training program.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Mass shootings continue to plague our State and nation. Often the perpe-
trators of these shootings exhibit clear warning signs beforehand. They
also often obtain their firearms legally from licensed sellers. Sellers
of firearms and their employees in New York should be trained to spot
potential buyers who are either illegally attempting to obtain firearms
or are exhibiting signs of crisis. Much like bars and restaurants are
forbidden to serve a patron that is visibly intoxicated, firearms deal-
ers should not sell guns to people exhibiting obvious warning signs at
the time of purchase. This legislation would work in concert with other
recently enacted measures to deter sales to those at risk of committing
harm.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: A.10692
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
559
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to certain
required training for all retailers, dealers and sellers of firearms
in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 898-b of the general business law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3 3. All retailers, dealers and sellers of firearms in New York state
4 and their employees or agents shall be required to receive training on
5 how to identify illegal purchasers of firearms. Additionally, such
6 training shall include elements to help trainees spot potential purchas-
7 ers exhibiting signs of mental illness, stress or anguish and/or may be
8 a threat to others. The New York state police shall develop and imple-
9 ment such training program.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
11 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
12 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
13 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
14 completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00367-01-3
