SB 325

Under current law, an individual who applies for a license to carry a concealed

weapon must fulfill a training requirement, which can be done by completing a

specified course, including the following: a firearms safety or training course

conducted by a national or state organization that certifies firearms instructors; a

firearms safety or training course that is offered by a law enforcement agency; a

firearms safety or training course that is taught by an instructor who is certified by

a national or state organization or by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that is offered

by a technical college, a college, or a university, or a firearms training school; and a

firearms safety or training course that is offered to law enforcement officers or to

licensed private detective and security agencies. This bill prohibits DOJ from setting

an hourly minimum for the firearms safety or training course and, from requiring

the course to test the individual's comprehension and application of firearms safety

rules and safe firearms handling. The bill also prohibits DOJ from requiring, as a

condition for certification as an instructor of a firearms safety or training course, a

certain minimum length of training.

Current law requires an applicant for a license to submit a copy of a document,

or an affidavit from an instructor or organization that conducted the course or

program, that indicates that the applicant completed the course. This bill prohibits

DOJ from requiring the document or affidavit to include the length of the course, the

city or state in which the course was completed, and a statement signed by the

instructor that the course satisfies the training requirements for the license.

This bill is introduced as required by s. 227.26 (2) (f), stats., in support of the

action of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules in suspending

portions of Emergency Rule 1114, Wis. Adm. Code, an emergency rule of DOJ on

November 7, 2011. The suspended portions of the rule provided for specific

information on documentation required for an application for a license to carry a

concealed weapon, requirements for firearms safety or training courses that satisfy

the training requirements for a license to carry a concealed weapon, and specific

training requirements for instructors that teach firearms safety or training courses

that satisfy the requirements.