Senate Bill 1810

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1810

    By Senator Harris





    24-1044-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to firearms-related licenses;

  3         amending ss. 493.6111, 493.6113, F.S.;

  4         extending the licensure period for certain

  5         licenses; amending s. 790.06, F.S.; extending

  6         the licensure period for concealed weapons

  7         licenses; requiring persons who conduct or

  8         instruct certain gun safety and licensure

  9         courses to maintain records; providing an

10         effective date.

11

12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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14         Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 493.6111, Florida

15  Statutes, is amended to read:

16         493.6111  License; contents; identification card.--

17         (2)  Licenses shall be valid for a period of 2 years,

18  except for Class "A," Class "B," Class "AB," Class "R," and

19  branch agency licenses, which shall be valid for a period of 3

20  years.

21         Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 493.6113, Florida

22  Statutes, is amended to read:

23         493.6113  Renewal application for licensure.--

24         (1)  A license granted under the provisions of this

25  chapter shall be renewed biennially by the department, except

26  for Class "A," Class "B," Class "AB," Class "R," and branch

27  agency licenses, which shall be renewed every 3 years.

28         Section 3.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 790.06,

29  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

30         790.06  License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.--

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1810
    24-1044-98




  1         (1)  The Department of State is authorized to issue

  2  licenses to carry concealed weapons or concealed firearms to

  3  persons qualified as provided in this section.  Each such

  4  license must bear a color photograph of the licensee.  For the

  5  purposes of this section, concealed weapons or concealed

  6  firearms are defined as a handgun, electronic weapon or

  7  device, tear gas gun, knife, or billie, but the term does not

  8  include a machine gun as defined in s. 790.001(9).  Such

  9  licenses shall be valid throughout the state for a period of 5

10  3 years from the date of issuance.  Any person in compliance

11  with the terms of such license may carry a concealed weapon or

12  concealed firearm notwithstanding the provisions of s. 790.01.

13  The licensee must carry the license, together with valid

14  identification, at all times in which the licensee is in

15  actual possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and must

16  display both the license and proper identification upon demand

17  by a law enforcement officer. Violations of the provisions of

18  this subsection shall constitute a noncriminal violation with

19  a penalty of $25, payable to the clerk of the court.

20         (2)  The Department of State shall issue a license if

21  the applicant:

22         (a)  Is a resident of the United States or is a

23  consular security official of a foreign government that

24  maintains diplomatic relations and treaties of commerce,

25  friendship, and navigation with the United States and is

26  certified as such by the foreign government and by the

27  appropriate embassy in this country;

28         (b)  Is 21 years of age or older;

29         (c)  Does not suffer from a physical infirmity which

30  prevents the safe handling of a weapon or firearm;

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1810
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  1         (d)  Is not ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to

  2  s. 790.23 by virtue of having been convicted of a felony;

  3         (e)  Has not been committed for the abuse of a

  4  controlled substance or been found guilty of a crime under the

  5  provisions of chapter 893 or similar laws of any other state

  6  relating to controlled substances within a 3-year period

  7  immediately preceding the date on which the application is

  8  submitted;

  9         (f)  Does not chronically and habitually use alcoholic

10  beverages or other substances to the extent that his or her

11  normal faculties are impaired. It shall be presumed that an

12  applicant chronically and habitually uses alcoholic beverages

13  or other substances to the extent that his or her normal

14  faculties are impaired if the applicant has been committed

15  under chapter 397 or under the provisions of former chapter

16  396 or has been convicted under s. 790.151 or has been deemed

17  a habitual offender under s. 856.011(3), or has had two or

18  more convictions under s. 316.193 or similar laws of any other

19  state, within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date

20  on which the application is submitted;

21         (g)  Desires a legal means to carry a concealed weapon

22  or firearm for lawful self-defense;

23         (h)  Demonstrates competence with a firearm by any one

24  of the following:

25         1.  Completion of any hunter education or hunter safety

26  course approved by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission or

27  a similar agency of another state;

28         2.  Completion of any National Rifle Association

29  firearms safety or training course;

30         3.  Completion of any firearms safety or training

31  course or class available to the general public offered by a

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1810
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  1  law enforcement, junior college, college, or private or public

  2  institution or organization or firearms training school,

  3  utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle

  4  Association, Criminal Justice Standards and Training

  5  Commission, or the Department of State;

  6         4.  Completion of any law enforcement firearms safety

  7  or training course or class offered for security guards,

  8  investigators, special deputies, or any division or

  9  subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement;

10         5.  Presents evidence of equivalent experience with a

11  firearm through participation in organized shooting

12  competition or military service;

13         6.  Is licensed or has been licensed to carry a firearm

14  in this state or a county or municipality of this state,

15  unless such license has been revoked for cause; or

16         7.  Completion of any firearms training or safety

17  course or class conducted by a state-certified or National

18  Rifle Association certified firearms instructor;

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20  A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the

21  courses or classes; or an affidavit from the instructor,

22  school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught

23  said course or class attesting to the completion of the course

24  or class by the applicant; or a copy of any document which

25  shows completion of the course or class or evidences

26  participation in firearms competition shall constitute

27  evidence of qualification under this paragraph; any person who

28  conducts a course pursuant to subparagraph 2., subparagraph

29  3., or subparagraph 7., or who, as an instructor, attests to

30  the completion of such courses, must maintain records

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1810
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  1  certifying that he or she observed the student safely handle

  2  and discharge the firearm;

  3         (i)  Has not been adjudicated an incapacitated person

  4  under s. 744.331, or similar laws of any other state, unless 5

  5  years have elapsed since the applicant's restoration to

  6  capacity by court order;

  7         (j)  Has not been committed to a mental institution

  8  under chapter 394, or similar laws of any other state, unless

  9  the applicant produces a certificate from a licensed

10  psychiatrist that he or she has not suffered from disability

11  for at least 5 years prior to the date of submission of the

12  application; and

13         (k)  Has not had adjudication of guilt withheld or

14  imposition of sentence suspended on any felony unless 3 years

15  have elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by

16  the court have been fulfilled, or the record has been sealed

17  or expunged.

18         Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

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21                          SENATE SUMMARY

22    Extends the licensure period for certain investigative
      and concealed weapons licenses. Requires persons who
23    conduct or instruct concealed weapons courses to maintain
      records.
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