SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3468

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 21, 2024

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3468.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires firearm wholesale or retail dealers to provide disclosure of a customer’s responsibility to report stolen or lost firearms and advise customers that it is unlawful to purchase a firearm with the intent to unlawfully sell it to any other person.

     Under the provisions of this bill, all firearm wholesale and retail dealers are required to provide customers with a disclosure, upon the retail sale or transfer of any firearm, printed in block letters not less than one-fourth of an inch in height.  This bill requires that the disclosure be signed by the purchaser or transferee.  In addition, the firearm wholesale or retail dealer is required to provide the purchaser or transferee with a copy of this written disclosure.  Under the provisions of this bill, a firearm wholesale and retail dealer is required to collect and maintain a copy of each disclosure that is signed by a purchaser or transferee for a period of not less than 15 years.  Furthermore, firearm wholesale and retail dealers are required to conspicuously post the same disclosure at each purchase counter.

     Specifically, the disclosure advises customers of their responsibility to report a lost or stolen firearm within 36 hours to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality where the loss or theft occurred or to the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a local police force.  In addition, the disclosure advises customers that it is illegal to purchase a firearm with the intent to unlawfully sell that firearm to someone who does not have the necessary firearm license or permit.

     Any firearm wholesale or retail dealer who violates the provisions of this bill will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for any subsequent offense.  The civil penalty will be collected pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction.  Officials authorized by law or ordinance, or law enforcement officers, can issue summonses for violations.  All penalties collected will be forwarded to the Office of Attorney General to be used for gun violence prevention efforts.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that the disclosure is to provide that it is illegal to purchase a firearm with the intent to unlawfully sell it to any other person; as introduced, the disclosure provided that is it illegal to sell it to a person who does not have the necessary firearm license or permit.  Additionally, the amendments make a technical change.