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Committee approves sending SB 1034 to the Senate floor after debate over firearm storage in foster homes
Summary
Senate Bill 1034, which moves existing foster care licensing rules into statute and removes a requirement to store firearms and ammunition in separate locked locations, was recommended to the full Senate. Supporters described replacing the rule with training; opponents cited safe-storage evidence and a recorded no vote in committee.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1034 to the Senate floor with a "do pass" recommendation after hearing debate about firearm storage and foster-home requirements.
Sen. Brandon Shippey, sponsor of SB 1034, told the committee the bill transfers specific foster-care licensing provisions from administrative rule into statute without changing most existing requirements. "Essentially, these were rules that we had already approved. We're just moving this section over into statute," Shippey said. He said the change removes what he described as a prior requirement that foster parents lock firearms and ammunition in two separate locations and that the department plans to develop an educational video for foster parents as part of orientation and training.
Opponents and some committee members pressed for continued emphasis on safe storage. Senator Wintrow said research shows safe storage is the most effective way to prevent unintentional firearm injuries to children and signaled she would vote against the committee recommendation. "The best way to prevent a death, unintentional accidental, with a firearm with a child is to lock it up," Wintrow said. She cited findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System and described that many unintentional firearm deaths to children occur at houses or apartments.
Senator Harris moved the committee recommendation to send SB 1034 to the floor with a due-pass report; Senator Blaylock seconded. A substitute motion to send the bill to the fourteenth order for possible amendment was offered by Senator Puntro but died for lack of a second. The chair called for a voice vote and the bill was reported out of committee with a do-pass recommendation; Senator Wintrow announced she would cast a no vote during the committee action.
During the hearing Shippey said the department and the sponsor prefer to replace the specific lock-up requirement with education and trust between the department and foster providers. He said: "Previously there was no gun safety education. And education is really where it's at." Several senators noted the bill retains other basic safety requirements in statute, such as securing hazardous materials and ensuring household items are not accessible to children, and discussed modern quick-access safes and fingerprint locks as possible recommended storage options for foster families.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript provided; the committee chair indicated the measure will proceed to the Senate floor with the committee’s recommendation.
