House File 383 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY WINDSCHITL
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to establishing a statewide database for stolen
2 firearms.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
TLSB 1958YH (3) 86
jm/rj
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 80.45 Statewide database for stolen
1 2 firearms.
1 3 1. As used in this section, "relevant information" means
1 4 the make, model, and serial number of a firearm, and the name
1 5 and contact information of the law enforcement agency reporting
1 6 a stolen firearm.
1 7 2. The department shall create and maintain a statewide
1 8 database in order for the public to access relevant information
1 9 about a stolen firearm. The statewide database shall be
1 10 accessed by the public through an internet site maintained by
1 11 the department.
1 12 3. If a report about a stolen firearm has been filed with
1 13 a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency may
1 14 report the relevant information relating to the firearm to the
1 15 department for input into the statewide database.
1 16 4. The following shall be displayed on the internet site:
1 17 a. An internet search portal where a member of the public
1 18 may input the serial number of a firearm.
1 19 b. A statement that warns a person not to take individual
1 20 action based upon the information in the database and that the
1 21 information is not a confirmation or probable cause that the
1 22 firearm is stolen.
1 23 c. A statement that the site contains records from law
1 24 enforcement agencies that have been selected for public access
1 25 by the law enforcement agencies. Other records may exist that
1 26 have not been selected for public access.
1 27 d. A statement indicating that the site is not intended to
1 28 be a place to report a stolen firearm.
1 29 e. A statement that the relevant information may not be
1 30 current, active, or complete, and that the person conducting
1 31 the search should contact the person's local law enforcement
1 32 agency or the reporting law enforcement agency for more
1 33 information.
1 34 5. The department shall update the relevant information in
1 35 the statewide database on a regular basis.
2 1 EXPLANATION
2 2 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
2 3 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
2 4 This bill relates to establishing a statewide database for
2 5 stolen firearms.
2 6 The bill requires the department of public safety to create
2 7 and maintain a statewide database in order for the public
2 8 to access relevant information about a stolen firearm. The
2 9 bill defines "relevant information" to mean the make, model,
2 10 and serial number of a firearm, and the name and contact
2 11 information for the law enforcement agency reporting the stolen
2 12 firearm. The bill specifies that the statewide database shall
2 13 be accessed by the public through an internet site maintained
2 14 by the department.
2 15 Under the bill, if a report about a stolen firearm has been
2 16 filed with a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency
2 17 may report the relevant information relating to the firearm to
2 18 the department of public safety for input into the statewide
2 19 database.
2 20 The bill requires the internet site to display the
2 21 following: an internet search portal where a member of the
2 22 public may input the serial number of a firearm; a statement
2 23 that warns a person not to take individual action based
2 24 upon the information in the database; a statement that other
2 25 information about the firearm may exist that has not been
2 26 selected for public access; a statement indicating the site
2 27 is not intended to be a place to report a stolen firearm; and
2 28 a statement that the relevant information may not be current
2 29 or complete and that the person should contact local law
2 30 enforcement for more information.
2 31 The bill requires the department of public safety to update
2 32 the relevant information in the statewide database on a regular
2 33 basis.
LSB 1958YH (3) 86
jm/rj