HB706 (2005) Detail

Relative to the cost of storage of firearms which are voluntarily surrendered to local law enforcement agencies.


HB 706-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2005 SESSION

05-0005

09/10

HOUSE BILL 706-FN

AN ACT relative to the cost of storage of firearms which are voluntarily surrendered to local law enforcement agencies.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ferland, Sull 5; Rep. Welch, Rock 8

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill permits local law enforcement agencies to charge a fee for the cost of storage of firearms which are voluntarily surrendered to the agencies.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05-0005

09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

AN ACT relative to the cost of storage of firearms which are voluntarily surrendered to local law enforcement agencies.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Voluntarily Surrendered Firearms; Local Law Enforcement Agencies; Storage Costs. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 25 the following new section:

159:25-a Storage Costs; Local Law Enforcement Agencies. A local law enforcement agency may charge a defendant, owner, or custodian of a firearm a fee to cover the cost of storage of the firearm when it is voluntarily surrendered to the agency.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2006.

LBAO

05-0005

2/1/05

HB 706-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the cost of storage of firearms which are voluntarily surrendered to local law enforcement agencies.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Safety and Municipal Association state county and local revenue and county and local expenditures may increase by an indeterminable amount in FY 2006 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Safety indicates this legislation intends to permit local law enforcement agencies to charge a fee for the cost of storage of firearms that are voluntarily surrendered to the agencies. There will be no fiscal impact on the state. Assuming that the definition of local law enforcement agencies includes the county sheriffs, then there will be a fiscal impact on both counties and local governments, however, the Department cannot determine how many firearms will be surrendered or how much the fees will be each year.

    The Municipal Association states that without significant research with a variety of police departments they do not have any information about how often firearms are surrendered voluntarily or how many municipalities would charge for such storage. Presumably, it could mean additional revenue for some police departments if they took advantage of such an option, but the Municipal Association does not have the specific financial information to share.