AB 518

Under this bill, a person who owns a firearm that is stolen or missing must

report the theft or loss to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of discovering

the theft or loss. A person who violates this requirement is guilty of a misdemeanor.

If the violation is the person's first violation, he or she is subject to a fine of up to

$1,000 or a sentence of imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both. If the violation is the

person's second or subsequent violation, he or she is subject to a fine of up to $10,000

or a sentence of imprisonment of up to nine months, or both. A person who falsely

reports a stolen or lost firearm is guilty of obstructing an officer and is subject to a

fine of up to $10,000 or a sentence of imprisonment of up to nine months, or both.

Under current law, a person who commercially transfers or sells a firearm to

another person must provide the other person a written warning that he or she may

be fined or imprisoned for leaving a loaded firearm within the easy access of a child

if the child improperly possesses, discharges, or exhibits the firearm. This bill

requires the seller or transferor to provide the other person a written notice of the

requirement, created in this bill, to report a theft or loss of a firearm within 48 hours

of discovering it. A seller or transferor who violates this requirement is subject to

a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.