HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6148

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen, Halsan, Garrett, Johnson and Barr)

Revising certain procedures for applying for concealed pistol licenses.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Armstrong, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Belcher, Brough, Hargrove, P. King, Lewis, Meyers, Padden, Patrick, Schmidt and Scott.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Wineberry.

House Staff:Harry Reinert (786-7110)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Any person may apply to a court of record, chief of police, or a sheriff for a concealed pistol license.  The license is valid for four years.  The license must be issued within 30 days.  If the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license, state identification card, or has not been a resident of the state for the previous ninety days, the issuing authority has sixty days to conduct a background check.

Any person not a citizen of the United States, or who has not declared an intention to become a citizen, may not carry any firearm in Washington unless he or she has obtained a license from the director of licensing.  Canadian citizens are exempt from this requirement for hunting or trap or skeet shoots if the citizen's province has a reciprocal provision.

There is a twenty dollar fee for the issuance of the concealed pistol license.  A licensee may renew the license within ninety days before or after the permit has expired.

The Public Disclosure Act requires that all public records, which include concealed pistol license applications, be made available for inspection and copying unless the record falls within a specific exemption.

SUMMARY:

The application for a concealed pistol license must contain questions regarding the applicant's birthplace, citizenship and, if the applicant is not a United States citizen, whether he or she intends to become a citizen.  The application also must ask a noncitizen to state whether he or she is required to register with the state or federal government and produce any identification or registration number, if available.  The applicant is not required to show a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship.  An applicant who is not a citizen is required to provide documentation showing resident alien status and the applicant's intent to become a citizen.  A person who makes a false statement on the application is guilty of a misdemeanor.  A non-citizen must also obtain a license from the department of licensing.

Payment of the concealed pistol license application fee may be made by cash, check, or money order at the option of the applicant.  The issuing authority may allow for other methods of payment. 

Concealed pistol license applications are exempt from the disclosure requirements of the Public Disclosure Act.  Law enforcement agencies may have access to the applications.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Michael Cray, NRA; John Haskin, Citizens' Committee on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms; JoAnn Coke, citizen; Bruce Sellig, DOL.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    There is a need to clarify the type of information that may be requested from concealed pistol license applicants.  Applicants should also be permitted to pay the license fee by check or money order, as well as cash.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.