Senate Bill No. 536
CHAPTER 810

An act to add Section 14231.5 to the Penal Code, relating to firearm violence.

[ Approved by Governor  October 14, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State  October 14, 2017. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 536, Pan. Firearm Violence Research Center: gun violence restraining orders.
Existing law requests the Regents of the University of California to establish and administer a Firearm Violence Research Center to research firearm-related violence. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the university report, on or before December 31, 2017, and every 5 years thereafter, specified information regarding the activities of the center and information pertaining to research grants that the center awards. Existing law requires the center and the grant recipients to provide copies of their research publications to the Legislature and specified agencies. Existing law specifies that those provisions would apply to the university only to the extent that the regents, by resolution, make any of those provisions applicable to the university.
This bill would require the Department of Justice to make information relating to gun violence restraining orders that is maintained in the California Restraining and Protective Order System, or any similar database maintained by the department, available to researchers affiliated with the center, or, at the discretion of the department, to any other entity that is concerned with the study and prevention of violence, as specified, for academic and policy research purposes, provided that any material identifying individuals is not transferred, revealed, or used for other than research or statistical activities and reports or publications derived therefrom do not identify specific individuals.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 14231.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

14231.5.
 Notwithstanding any other law, the Department of Justice shall make information relating to gun violence restraining orders that is maintained in the California Restraining and Protective Order System, or any similar database maintained by the department, available to researchers affiliated with the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center, or, at the department’s discretion, to any other nonprofit educational institution or public agency immediately concerned with the study and prevention of violence, for academic and policy research purposes, provided that any material identifying individuals is not transferred, revealed, or used for other than research or statistical activities and reports or publications derived therefrom shall not identify specific individuals.