Boone County State's Attorney reports estate gift to animal services and prepares for Karina's Law implementation

Boone County State’s Attorney Tricia told the Committee of the Whole on May 1 that the office completed work on an estate gift that yielded about $5,500 for Animal Services and that the office is preparing to implement a new state law (referred to in the meeting as Karina’s Law) regarding firearms and orders of protection.

Tricia said the county’s office worked with Animal Services for about 18 months to complete an estate process that resulted in a $5,500 payment to the department. She said the office is fully staffed and that it will use summer interns, including several from Belvedere and one who will have limited courtroom authority under supervision.

On Karina’s Law, Tricia said the statute — effective the day of the meeting — governs procedures when officers serve orders of protection: officers must ask for identification and, when firearms are in the subject’s possession, seize and retain weapons; if firearms are not present at the time of service, the subject must report within 24 hours to turn items in. Tricia said the office and courts have conducted training for law enforcement and the judiciary, but she acknowledged unresolved practical issues: whether the measure is retroactive for existing orders and how smaller departments will store and manage seized firearms and associated evidence.

Board members raised concerns about storage capacity, chain-of-custody, staffing burdens, and the prospect that some orders of protection are temporary and later dismissed, which would require returning property. Tricia said the county will monitor implementation and report back in six months to a year and that legislators may revise the law depending on practical experience.

Ending: The report was informational; staff will continue training and track implementation challenges, particularly evidence storage and staffing for smaller departments.