CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1982

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

January 30, 2024

An act to amend Sections 16300, 16400 and 28180 of the Penal Code, relating to firearms.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1982, as introduced, Mathis. Firearms: purchase: requirements.
Existing law requires a person purchasing a firearm or ammunition to present evidence of identity, as specified.
This bill would allow evidence of identity for these purposes to include a valid Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as provided. The bill would also make a conforming change.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 16300 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

16300.
 As used in this part, “bona fide evidence of identity” or “bona fide evidence of majority and identity” means a document issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government, or subdivision or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, a motor vehicle operator’s license, state identification card, identification card issued to a member of the armed forces, Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or other form of identification that bears the name, date of birth, description, and picture of the person.

SEC. 2.

 Section 16400 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

16400.
 As used in this part, “clear evidence of the person’s identity and age” means either of the following:
(a) A valid California driver’s license.
(b) A valid California identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(c) A valid Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs to a California resident.

SEC. 3.

 Section 28180 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

28180.
 (a) The purchaser’s name, date of birth, and driver’s license or identification number shall be obtained electronically from the magnetic strip on the purchaser’s driver’s license or identification and shall not be supplied by any other means, except as authorized by the department.
(b) The requirement of subdivision (a) shall not apply in either of the following cases:
(1) The purchaser’s identification consists of a military identification card. card or a valid Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Due to technical limitations, the magnetic strip reader is unable to obtain the required information from the purchaser’s identification. In those circumstances, the firearms dealer shall obtain a photocopy of the identification as proof of compliance.
(c) In the event that the dealer has reported to the department that the dealer’s equipment has failed, information pursuant to this section shall be obtained by an alternative method to be determined by the department.