2023-2024 Regular Session HB 1298 PN 1418 Bill Text (HTM)

PRINTER'S NO. 1418

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1298

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY A. BROWN, BRENNAN, ROZZI, NEILSON, HILL-EVANS,

BURGOS AND DELLOSO, JUNE 2, 2023

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 2, 2023

AN ACT

Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 35 (Health and

Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in

firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for

licenses and for sale or transfer of firearms; and, in public

safety, establishing the Shot Tracking Technology Grant

Program and the Shot Tracking Technology Grant Program Fund

and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime

and Delinquency.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 6109(h)(1) of Title 18 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended and the subsection

is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

§ 6109. Licenses.

* * *

(h) Fee.--

(1) In addition to fees described in paragraphs [(2)(ii)

and] (3) and (3.1), the fee for a license to carry a firearm

is $19. This includes all of the following:

(i) A renewal notice processing fee of $1.50.

(ii) An administrative fee of $5 under section 14(2)

of the act of July 6, 1984 (P.L.614, No.127), known as

the Sheriff Fee Act.

* * *

(3.1) An additional fee of $10 shall be paid by the

applicant for a license to carry a firearm, including a

renewal of a license to carry a firearm, and shall be

remitted by the sheriff to the Shot Tracking Technology Grant

Program Fund established under 35 Pa.C.S. § 5903 (relating to

fund).

* * *

Section 2. Section 6111(b) of Title 18 is amended by adding

a paragraph to read:

§ 6111. Sale or transfer of firearms.

* * *

(b) Duty of seller.--No licensed importer, licensed

manufacturer or licensed dealer shall sell or deliver any

firearm to another person, other than a licensed importer,

licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer or licensed collector,

until the conditions of subsection (a) have been satisfied and

until he has:

* * *

(3.1) Charged each buyer or transferee a fee of $1,

which shall be transferred by the seller to the Pennsylvania

State Police to be remitted to the Shot Tracking Technology

Grant Program Fund established under 35 Pa.C.S. § 5903

(relating to fund).

* * *

Section 3. Title 35 is amended by adding a chapter to read:

CHAPTER 59

SHOT TRACKING TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM

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Sec.

5901. Definitions.

5902. Program.

5903. Fund.

5904. Applications.

5905. Award of grants.

5906. Reports.

§ 5901. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission." The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and

Delinquency.

"Eligible applicant." A municipality located within this

Commonwealth with a high rate of shootings.

"Fund." The Shot Tracking Technology Grant Program Fund

established under section 5903 (relating to fund).

"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town,

township, home rule municipality, optional plan municipality,

optional charter municipality or similar general purpose unit of

government that may be created or authorized by statute or

school district.

"Program." The Shot Tracking Technology Grant Program

established under section 5902 (relating to program).

"Shot tracking technology." Technology that tracks the sound

of gunfire and provides the location of the shooting to police

officers.

§ 5902. Program.

(a) Establishment.--The Shot Tracking Technology Grant

Program is established within the commission as a competitive

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program to award grants to eligible applicants.

(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to improve

public health and safety in this Commonwealth through the

installation and maintenance of shot tracking technology in and

around areas with a high rate of shootings, as determined by the

commission.

program.

(d) Public notice.--The commission shall provide information

regarding the availability and award of grants under the program

on the commission's publicly accessible Internet website.

§ 5903. Fund.

(a) Establishment.--The Shot Tracking Technology Grant

Program Fund is established in the State Treasury.

(b) Appropriation.--All money deposited into the fund and

interest earned on the money in the fund are appropriated to the

commission on a continuing basis to award grants under the

program.

§ 5904. Applications.

(a) Forms.--The commission shall develop annual grant

application forms for eligible applicants that seek a grant

under the program. At a minimum, the forms shall contain the

following information:

(1) The name, address and contact information of the

eligible applicant that seeks the grant.

(2) The amount of the grant requested.

(3) The proposed use for the requested grant.

(4) If applicable, a detailed maintenance plan for any

shot tracking technology installed with the grant.

(5) Any other information that the commission deems

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necessary and appropriate.

(b) Application period.--Beginning no later than 180 days

after the effective date of this subsection, the commission

shall begin accepting and processing applications for grants

under the program. For all subsequent years, the commission

shall establish an application period during which applications

for grants under the program are accepted.

§ 5905. Award of grants.

(a) Review.--After review of the information provided under

each eligible applicant's submitted application, the commission

shall determine whether to award a grant to the eligible

applicant and, if so, the amount of the grant awarded.

(b) Allocation.--The commission may not:

(1) Award a grant to an eligible applicant in excess of

$25,000.

(2) Award grants in excess of the amount in the fund.

shall be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicants.

In awarding a grant, the commission shall:

(1) Give preference to an eligible applicant whose grant

application demonstrates the greatest likelihood of reducing

the number of persons victimized by gun violence in that

municipality and neighboring communities.

(2) Consider the scope of an eligible applicant's

proposal and the demonstrated need for additional resources

to effectively reduce gun violence in that municipality and

neighboring communities.

(d) Time periods.--

(1) The commission shall approve or deny an application

under the program no later than 60 days after the receipt of

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the application.

(2) If the commission fails to approve or deny an

application under the program within 60 days after the

receipt of the application, the application shall be deemed

denied.

(e) Notice.--

(1) The commission shall provide written notice to an

eligible applicant of the award or denial of the grant

requested in the eligible applicant's application.

(2) Notice of the award of a grant under the program

shall include the amount of the grant awarded and any

conditions or restrictions on the use of the grant.

(3) Notice of the denial of all or part of a grant under

the program shall include the reasons for the full or partial

denial.

§ 5906. Reports.

At least every three years, the commission shall prepare and

submit a report to the General Assembly regarding:

(1) The municipalities that received grants under the

program, including the amount of the grants and the intended

purposes of the grants.

(2) The number of municipalities that were denied a

grant, in whole or in part, and the reasons for the denial.

(3) The rate of gun violence in municipalities that

received grants under the program.

Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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