LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 509

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 5, 2022

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Increases from 18 to 21 age at which person is eligible to receive firearms purchaser identification.

Type of Impact:

Annual State and local expenditure and revenue decreases.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Law and Public Safety; Municipal Police Departments.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3 

 

State Revenue Decrease

                                 Indeterminate

 

State Expenditure Decrease

                                 Indeterminate

 

Local Revenue Decrease

                                 Indeterminate

 

Local Expenditure Decrease

                                 Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates this bill would result in an indeterminate decrease in State and local revenue from firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) application fees. The OLS also anticipates an annual expenditure savings to the Division of State Police (DSP) and municipal police departments resulting from the decreased number of applications from 18- to 20-year old individuals. The OLS does not have an estimate of the number of New Jersey residents who may no longer qualify for an FPIC under the bill’s provisions.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill increases from 18 to 21 the age at which a person is eligible to receive an FPIC, which is used to purchase long guns.

      Under current law, a person 18 years of age and older may obtain an FPIC and a handgun purchaser is required to be at least 21 years of age.

      Under the bill’s provisions, a person under the age of 21 would be allowed to possess a handgun, rifle, or shotgun under certain circumstances.  The bill permits active duty military or a person serving in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of this State to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card while under the age of 21. The bill also preserves current law allowing minors to obtain a youth hunting license and apprentice firearm hunting license.

      Persons between the ages of 18 and 20 who obtained a firearms purchaser identification card prior to the bill’s effective date would also be permitted to maintain the card and continue to purchase and possess shotguns and rifles.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates this bill would result in an indeterminate decrease in State and local revenue from FPIC application fees. The OLS also anticipates an annual expenditure savings to the State Bureau of Identification in the DSP and municipal police departments resulting from the decreased number of applications from 18- to 20-year old individuals. The OLS does not have an estimate of the number of New Jersey residents who may no longer qualify for an FPIC under the bill’s provisions.

 

      State and Local Revenue Decrease: The OLS estimates an indeterminate decrease in State and local revenue from FPIC application fees, due to an increase in the age requirement for firearm owners to obtain an FPIC. The FPIC requires is a one-time fee of $5 per person, which is valid for the individual’s lifetime.

 

      State and Local Expenditure Savings: The bill’s provisions increasing the purchase age from 18 to 21 will result in a decrease in FPIC applications. The absence of FPIC applications will result in an annual expenditure savings to the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and local law enforcement agencies resulting from the decreased number of applications to process from 18- to 20-year old individuals. 

      Currently, the Chief of Police in the applicants residing municipality, or the Superintendent of the Division of State Police in a municipality receiving DSP rural patrol, would receive the FPIC applications and would be responsible for the processing of those FPIC applications. These applications involve fingerprinting, mental health records search, checking references, and a criminal history records check. The OLS does not have an estimate of number of residents in New Jersey who may no longer qualify for an FPIC under the provisions of this bill.

 

Section:

Law and Public Safety

Analyst:

Kristin Brunner Santos

Lead Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).