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Committee advances bill to centralize firearm-return background checks at Department of Safety
Summary
The Finance Division I work session advanced HB 506 on an OTP recommendation after Department of Safety staff told lawmakers the bill would centralize background-check decisions for the return of seized firearms while local law enforcement would continue to hold the physical firearms.
The Finance Division I work session advanced HB 506 on an OTP recommendation after a brief review of the bill's scope and impacts.
Supporters told the committee the bill would require the Department of Safety to handle background-check determinations that currently are handled inconsistently across jurisdictions when firearms are ordered seized and later eligible for return. Lieutenant Mary Catabriga of the Department of Safety said the department's Records Information Services would perform the background-check review for return-of-firearm questions while local police and sheriff's offices would continue to hold and, where applicable, physically release firearms.
The measure prompted questions about which cases currently flow to state systems and which do not. Catabriga clarified that the department already processes background checks for criminal cases and that HB 506 would route the civil cases (for example, those arising from protective orders) through the state records unit as well. Catabriga emphasized the department does not generally store or take custody of firearms except when the State Police themselves seized them; local law-enforcement agencies would continue to keep physical possession.
A committee member asked whether the bill would force courts to waive a return delay or background-check request; staff and Catabriga explained the bill expedites return when the relevant order expires and narrows the role of courts to whether they request a background check. If a background check is requested, Department of Safety would make the ultimate determination to clear a return.
Committee members described the fiscal note as minimal and suggested the bill corrects inconsistent practices across jurisdictions. A committee member moved an OTP motion for HB 506; the motion passed on a roll call vote reported as 7-0. The committee closed the HB 506 hearing and thanked Department of Safety staff for attending.
The committee recorded no additional amendments at the work session; the committee vote forwarded the bill for further consideration under the committee's established process.
Votes at a glance HB 506 — Motion: OTP (recommend passage). Committee vote: 7-0 (motion carried).
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article appear in official committee records and include Lieutenant Mary Catabriga, Records Information Services, Department of Safety.
