BILL REQ. #:  S-0080.2 

Read first time 01/22/2003.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to ballistics imaging; amending RCW 43.43.500 and 43.43.510; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) Any manufacturer or importer licensed by the United States secretary of the treasury that ships or transports a pistol or rifle to be sold, rented, or transferred in the state shall include in the box with the firearm in a separate sealed container:
     (a) A projectile discharged from that firearm;
     (b) A spent cartridge casing of the projectile discharged from that firearm; and
     (c) Additional information that identifies the specific firearm and cartridge as required by chief of the Washington state patrol.
     (2) Upon receipt of a pistol or rifle from the manufacturer or importer, the dealer shall confirm to the Washington state patrol that the manufacturer or importer complied with subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) Upon the sale or transfer of the pistol or rifle, the dealer shall forward the sealed container to the Washington state patrol crime information center. The crime information center shall enter the ballistics image and other required information in a ballistics imaging data base.
     (4) The chief of the Washington state patrol shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section.
     (5) For the purposes of this section, "ballistics image" means the unique characteristics that each firearm imprints on projectiles and spent cartridge casings.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.43.500 and 1998 c 67 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is established the Washington state crime information center to be located in the records division of the Washington state patrol and to function under the direction of the chief of the Washington state patrol. The center shall serve to coordinate crime information, by means of data processing, for all law enforcement agencies in the state. It shall make such use of the facilities of the law enforcement teletype system as is practical. It shall provide access to the national crime information center, to motor vehicle and driver license information, to the sex offender central registry, to the ballistics imaging data base, and to such other public records as may be accessed by data processing and which are pertinent to law enforcement.

Sec. 3   RCW 43.43.510 and 1998 c 67 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     As soon as is practical and feasible there shall be established, by means of data processing, files listing stolen and wanted vehicles, outstanding warrants, identifying children whose parents, custodians, or legal guardians have reported as having run away from home or the custodial residence, identifiable stolen property, files maintaining the central registry of sex offenders required to register under chapter 9A.44 RCW, files maintaining the ballistics imaging data base, and such other files as may be of general assistance to law enforcement agencies.