Firearms: felons in possession of firearms.

Existing law makes it a felony for any person who has been convicted of a felony to own, purchase, receive, or have in his or her possession or under custody or control any firearm. Existing law generally prohibits a person who has been convicted of specified misdemeanors from owning, purchasing, receiving, possessing, or having under his or her custody or control a firearm within 10 years of the conviction. Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted by Proposition 47, as approved by the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, reduced certain felonies to misdemeanors. Proposition 47 allows a person who is currently serving a sentence for a conviction of a felony who would have been guilty of a misdemeanor under the proposition to petition for a recall of sentence and permits the court to recall the felony sentence and resentence the petitioner to a misdemeanor, as specified. Proposition 47 also allows a court to designate a felony conviction of a person who has completed his or her sentence as a misdemeanor upon application. This bill would make it a public offense for a person who has had his or her felony conviction recalled and has been resentenced to a misdemeanor, or who has had a felony designated as a misdemeanor, pursuant to the above provisions, to, within 10 years of the recall and resentencing or designation, own, purchase, receive, or have in possession or under custody or control any firearm. The bill would make a violation of this provision punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) , or by both that imprisonment and fine. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.