Firearms: ammunition sales.

(1) Existing law, as amended by the Safety for All Act of 2016, an initiative statute approved by voters as Proposition 63 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, requires the sale of ammunition to be conducted by or processed through a licensed ammunition vendor. Existing law exempts from that requirement the sale, delivery, or transfer of ammunition to specified individuals, including a sworn peace officer or sworn federal law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of the officer's duties, and a representative of a law enforcement agency, with written authorization from the head of the agency, purchasing ammunition for the exclusive use of the agency. Existing law also exempts from that requirement the sale, delivery, or transfer of ammunition to a person who is federally licensed as a firearms dealer or collector of firearms, as specified. A violation of this requirement is a misdemeanor. Proposition 63 allows its provisions to be amended by a vote of 55% of the Legislature so long as the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. The bill would exempt from the above-described ammunition purchasing requirement a licensed private patrol operator or an agent or employee of the private patrol operator, a person registered as a security guard or security patrolperson who also holds a valid firearm permit issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs, who purchases or receives ammunition for use in the normal course and scope of employment, and a sheriff's or police security officer. The bill would also exempt from the above-described ammunition purchasing requirement a person employed by a public forensic laboratory who purchases, receives, or transfers ammunition for use in the normal course and scope of laboratory operations. The bill would also, for purposes of the written authorization for a law enforcement representative to purchase ammunition for an agency, identify individuals who are deemed to be the head of the agency under specified circumstances. The bill would specify the documentation that a vendor may accept as proof that a person is exempted as a federally licensed dealer or collector of firearms. The bill would prohibit a purchaser or other transferee from submitting invalid documentation for this purpose. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law, as added by the Safety for All Act of 2016, approved by voters as Proposition 63 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, also prohibits a resident of this state from bringing or transporting into the state any ammunition purchased or otherwise obtained from outside of this state unless that ammunition is first delivered to a licensed ammunition vendor, as specified. Existing law exempts specified individuals from this ammunition transport and delivery requirement, including a sworn peace officer or sworn federal law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of the officer's duties. A violation of this provision is an infraction for any first time offense, and either an infraction or a misdemeanor for a subsequent offense. Proposition 63 allows its provisions to be amended by a vote of 55% of the Legislature so long as the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. This bill would exempt from the above-described ammunition transport and delivery requirement a licensed private patrol operator or an agent or employee of the private patrol operator, a registered security guard or security patrolperson who also holds a valid firearm permit issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs, as specified. By exempting additional persons from the requirements set forth in the initiative statute, this bill would amend Proposition 63. (3) The bill would make other conforming and clarifying changes. (4) 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. (5) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.