Firearms: surrenders to law enforcement.

Existing law requires specified nuisance weapons and firearms possessed by a person legally prohibited from possessing a firearm to be surrendered to a law enforcement agency, as specified. Existing law prescribes the disposition of these surrendered weapons, including the sale or destruction of the weapon, the retention of the weapon by a governmental entity, or in the case of a stolen weapon, the return of the weapon the lawful owner. This bill would additionally require a law enforcement agency, as described, to accept and dispose of any found, unwanted, or inherited firearm turned in by any person, and would prescribe the disposition of these weapons by destruction, retention by the agency, or, in the case of a stolen weapon, the return of the weapon to the lawful owner. The bill would additionally require the law enforcement agency to adopt a policy regarding accepting surrendered firearms and to post that policy and other specified information on its internet website. The bill would require the Department of Justice to develop information and guidelines regarding the surrendering of firearms and to post that information on its internet website. The bill would specify that a person surrendering a firearm pursuant to these provisions is exempt from specified requirements or provisions relating to the possession and transfer of a firearm. The bill would make other conforming changes. By creating new duties for local law enforcement agencies, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.