SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2757

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 21, 2018

      The Senate Budget Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2757 (1R).

      Assembly Bill No. 2757 (1R) requires all sales or other transfers of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun to be conducted through a State licensed retail dealer or Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). 

      The bill requires the retail dealer or FFL to complete a National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) on the recipient of the handgun, rifle or shotgun.  In addition, the dealer or FFL is required to submit to the Superintendent of State Police information identifying and confirming the background check and maintain a record of transactions.  These records are to be maintained at the address displayed on the dealer’s or FFL’s license for inspection by a law enforcement officer during reasonable hours.  The retail dealer or FFL is permitted to charge a fee for conducting the NICS check.

      Exceptions to the NICS check required by the bill include transactions between members of an immediate family, between law enforcement officers, between licensed collectors of firearms or ammunition as curios or relics, and temporary transfers to participate in certain training courses.   “Immediate family” is defined in the bill as a spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union couple, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, and grandchild, as related by blood or by law.

      Any record produced pursuant to the provisions of the bill is not to be considered a public record.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2374 (1R), as also reported by the committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.