H.E.A. 1651, P.L. 289
Effective: July 1, 2019; §§2, 6, 11 effective May 6, 2019
- Defines “dangerous” [§§2, 6]
- Provides that a judicial finding of dangerousness may be used to initiate temporary commitment proceedings.
- Provides that a dangerous person is not a proper person for the purpose of: (1) applying for; or (2) receiving; a license to carry a handgun.
- Provides that a dangerous person who knowingly or intentionally: (1) rents; (2) purchases; (3) receives transfer of; (4) owns; or (5) possesses; a firearm commits dangerous possession of a firearm, a Class A misdemeanor.
- Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally: (1) rents; (2) transfers; (3) sells; or (4) offers forsale; a firearm to a person that a court has found to be dangerous or prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm commits dangerous transfer of a firearm, a Level 5 felony.
- Requires a law enforcement officer (officer) who seizes a firearm from a person believed to be dangerous without a warrant to provide an affidavit to a court with jurisdiction over the person at issue: (1) not later than 48 hours after the seizure or attempted seizure of the firearm; and (2) for each seizure or attempted seizure of a firearm from the person.
- Requires a court to order the retention of a seized firearm by a law enforcement agency if the court: (1) finds; or (2) has previously found; the person to be dangerous. [11]
- Requires a court to determine if a person is dangerous by conducting a hearing. [11]
- Provides that if a court finds that an individual is not dangerous or no longer dangerous, the court shall order the law enforcement agency having custody of the firearm confiscated, recovered, or seized from the individual to return the firearm to the individual as quickly as practicable, but not later than five days after the court’s order.
- Provides that a dangerous person may petition a court for a court order vacating the person’s designation as a dangerous individual 180 days after being found dangerous by a circuit or superior court. If the individual petitions for return of the firearm within one year after the order, the individual must prove they are no longer dangerous. If the individual petitions more than one year after the order, the State must prove the individual is still dangerous.
- Defines “responsible third party”. Requires a responsible third party to: (1) safely and responsibly care for and store a firearm that is entrusted to the third party; and (2) prevent dangerous persons from accessing any firearm entrusted to the third party.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1651