BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to firearms; and reenacting and amending RCW 9.41.070.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 9.41.070 and 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 407 and 1994 c 190 s are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The judge of a court of record, the chief of police of a municipality, or the sheriff of a county, shall within thirty days after the filing of an application of any person issue a license to such person to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person within this state for four years from date of issue, for the purposes of protection or while engaged in business, sport, or while traveling. However, if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive ninety days, the issuing authority shall have up to sixty days after the filing of the application to issue a license. The issuing authority shall not refuse to accept completed applications for concealed pistol licenses during regular business hours.

The applicant's constitutional right to bear arms shall not be denied, unless he or she:

(a) Is ineligible to possess a firearm under the provisions of RCW 9.41.040;

(b) Is under twenty‑one years of age;

(c) Is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms pursuant to RCW 9A.46.080, 10.14.080, 10.99.040, 10.99.045, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.10.040, 26.10.115, 26.26.130, 26.26.137, 26.50.060, or 26.50.070;

(d) Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a serious offense;

(e) Has an outstanding warrant for his or her arrest from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor;

(f) Has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)((~~(d)~~)) (e) within one year before filing an application to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person; ((or))

(g)(i) Has been convicted of any crime against a child or other person listed in RCW 43.43.830(5).

(ii) Except as provided in (g)(iii) of this subsection, any person who becomes ineligible for a concealed pistol license as a result of a conviction for a crime listed in (g)(i) of this subsection and then successfully completes all terms of his or her sentence, as evidenced by a certificate of discharge issued under RCW 9.94A.220 in the case of a sentence under chapter 9.94A RCW, and has not again been convicted of any crime and is not under indictment for any crime, may, one year or longer after such successful sentence completion, petition a court of record for a declaration that the person is no longer ineligible for a concealed pistol license under (g)(i) of this subsection.

(iii) No person convicted of a serious offense as defined in RCW 9.41.010 may have his or her right to possess firearms restored, unless the person has been granted relief from disabilities by the secretary of the treasury under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925(c), or RCW 9.41.040 (3) or (4) applies; or

(h) Has failed to present evidence of competence with a pistol. Any of the following items shall suffice as evidence of competence with a pistol:

(i) Evidence of completion of a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the department of fish and wildlife or a similar agency of another state if pistol safety was a component of the course;

(ii) Evidence of completion of a national rifle association firearm safety training course if pistol safety was a component of the course;

(iii) Evidence of completion of a firearm safety training course conducted by a firearm instructor certified by a law enforcement agency or the national rifle association if pistol safety was a component of the course;

(iv) Evidence of completion of a firearm safety training course offered by the criminal justice training commission for security guards, investigators, or any law enforcement officer, if pistol safety was a component of the course;

(v) Evidence of equivalent experience with a pistol through participation in organized shooting competition or military experience; or

(vi) Evidence of a satisfactory score on a test, approved or administered by the local law enforcement agency, taken in lieu of a firearm safety training course. The test shall cover the safe handling and use of pistols, and laws concerning firearms, including the legal use of deadly force. Nothing in this subsection shall require a local law enforcement agency to approve or administer a test.

The provisions of this subsection (1)(h) shall not apply to applicants for license renewals.

(2) The issuing authority shall check with the national crime information center, the Washington state patrol electronic data base, the department of social and health services electronic data base, and with other agencies or resources as appropriate, to determine whether the applicant is ineligible under RCW 9.41.040 to possess a pistol and therefore ineligible for a concealed pistol license. This subsection applies whether the applicant is applying for a new concealed pistol license or to renew a concealed pistol license.

(3) Any person whose firearms rights have been restricted and who has been granted relief from disabilities by the secretary of the treasury under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925(c) or who is exempt under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921(a)(20)(A) shall have his or her right to acquire, receive, transfer, ship, transport, carry, and possess firearms in accordance with Washington state law restored except as otherwise prohibited by this chapter.

(4) The license application shall be in triplicate, in form to be prescribed by the department of licensing, and shall bear the full name, street address, date and place of birth, race, gender, description, fingerprints, and signature of the licensee, and the licensee's driver's license number or state identification card number if used for identification in applying for the license. A signed application for a concealed pistol license shall constitute a waiver of confidentiality and written request that the department of social and health services, mental health institutions, and other health care facilities release information relevant to the applicant's eligibility for a concealed pistol license to an inquiring court or law enforcement agency.

The license application shall contain a warning substantially as follows:

CAUTION: Although state and local laws do not differ, federal law and state law on the possession of firearms differ. If you are prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm, you may be prosecuted in federal court. A state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution.

The license application shall contain a description of the major differences between state and federal law and an explanation of the fact that local laws and ordinances on firearms are preempted by state law and must be consistent with state law. The application shall contain questions about the applicant's eligibility under RCW 9.41.040 to possess a pistol, the applicant's place of birth, whether the applicant is a United States citizen, and whether he or she has been required to register with the state or federal government and has an identification or registration number. The applicant shall not be required to produce a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship. A person who is not a citizen of the United States shall meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.170.

The original thereof shall be delivered to the licensee, the duplicate shall within seven days be sent by registered mail to the director of licensing and the triplicate shall be preserved for six years, by the authority issuing the license.

The department of licensing shall make available to law enforcement and corrections agencies, in an on-line format, all information received under this subsection.

(5) The fee for the original issuance of a four‑year license shall be fifty dollars. No other branch or unit of government may impose any additional charges on the applicant for the issuance of the license.

The fee shall be distributed as follows:

(a) Fifteen dollars shall be paid to the state general fund;

(b) Ten dollars shall be paid to the agency taking the fingerprints of the person licensed;

(d) Ten dollars to the firearms range account in the general fund.

(6) The fee for the renewal of such license shall be fifty dollars. No other branch or unit of government may impose any additional charges on the applicant for the renewal of the license.

The renewal fee shall be distributed as follows:

(a) Twenty dollars shall be paid to the state general fund;

(b) Twenty dollars shall be paid to the issuing authority for the purpose of enforcing this chapter; and

(7) Payment shall be by cash, check, or money order at the option of the applicant. Additional methods of payment may be allowed at the option of the issuing authority.

(8) A licensee may renew a license if the licensee applies for renewal within ninety days before or after the expiration date of the license. A license so renewed shall take effect on the expiration date of the prior license. A licensee renewing after the expiration date of the license must pay a late renewal penalty of twenty dollars in addition to the renewal fee specified in subsection (6) of this section. The fee shall be distributed as follows:

(a) Ten dollars shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund and used exclusively for the printing and distribution of a pamphlet on the legal limits of the use of firearms, firearms safety, and the preemptive nature of state law. The pamphlet shall be given to each applicant for a license; and

(b) Ten dollars shall be paid to the issuing authority for the purpose of enforcing this chapter.

(9) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (1) through (8) of this section, the chief of police of the municipality or the sheriff of the county of the applicant's residence may issue a temporary emergency license for good cause pending review under subsection (1) of this section.

(10) A political subdivision of the state shall not modify the requirements of this section or chapter, nor may a political subdivision ask the applicant to voluntarily submit any information not required by this section.

(11) A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding citizenship or identity on an application for a concealed pistol license is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040. In addition to any other penalty provided for by law, the concealed pistol license of a person who knowingly makes a false statement shall be revoked, and the person shall be permanently ineligible for a concealed pistol license.

(12) A person may apply for a concealed pistol license:

(a) To the municipality or to the county in which the applicant resides if the applicant resides in a municipality;

(b) To the county in which the applicant resides if the applicant resides in an unincorporated area; or