An Act concerning firearms storage, supplementing chapter 58 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this act:

"Firearm hold agreement" means a written agreement between a retail dealer licensed under N.J.S.2C:58-2 and the owner of a legally obtained firearm in which the dealer takes physical possession of the owner's locked firearm at the owner's request, stores the locked firearm for an agreed-upon period of time, and returns the firearm to the owner according to the terms of the agreement. Nothing in this agreement shall require the owner to obtain an additional firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchaser permit.

"Firearms storage unit" means a vault, safe, locker or other instrumentality of an enclosed storage designed for multiple firearms. Firearms storage unit shall exclude a trigger locking device.

"Locked" means a firearm that is secured with an engaged trigger or cable lock or in a locked container.

b. A retail dealer may enter into a firearm hold agreement with a firearm owner. The agreement shall not require the payment of a fee by the owner to the retail dealer in exchange for the storage of the firearm.

c. A retail dealer who takes possession of a firearm pursuant to a firearm hold agreement shall not be liable for loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of, or good faith attempt to, implement the provisions of this act, unless such loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

2. a. The Department of Law and Public Safety shall establish a Firearms Storage Grant Program. The purpose of the program shall be to encourage retail dealers to offer off-site firearms storage to customers, especially those that are concerned with suicide prevention.

b. The department shall be authorized to award a grant of up to $5,000 to an applicant who is a licensed retail dealer in this State. Under the program, grants shall be made available for the purchase of firearms storage units or to reimburse a qualifying applicant for eligible costs expended for the implementation of a firearm hold agreement.

c. One year following the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) the Legislature, on the implementation and effectiveness of the Firearms Storage Grant Program. Each report submitted shall include:

(1) the number and dollar amount of grant awards issued during the reporting period;

(2) a recommendation as to whether the grant program should be continued;

(3) the amount of funds appropriated that remain unexpended and available to award additional grants under the program; and

(4) any other information the Attorney General deems appropriate.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety the sum of $300,000 for the purposes of funding the grants under the Firearm Storage Grant Program, established pursuant to this act. These funds shall be carried forward.

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the Firearms Storage Grant program within the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS).

Under the bill, a licensed firearms retail dealer is permitted to enter into a firearm hold agreement with a firearm owner to temporarily store the owner's legally obtained firearms on the retail dealer's premises, especially owners who are concerned with suicide prevention. The bill does not require an owner who enters into such an agreement to obtain an additional firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchase permit. The bill provides that the retail dealer who takes possession of a firearm pursuant to a firearm hold agreement is not liable for loss or damage resulting from a good faith attempt to implement or the implementation of the agreement, unless such loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

Under the bill, a retail dealer may apply to the DLPS for a grant of up to $5,000 for eligible costs related to acquiring storage units as defined in the bill to be a vault, safe, locker or other instrumentality of storage designed for multiple firearms.

The bill appropriates $300,000 to the DLPS for the issuance of grants under the bill. Each year, the Attorney General is to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the Firearms Storage Grant Program. The reports are to include the number and dollar amount of grants awarded, a recommendation on whether to continue the program, and the amount of funds that remain unexpended and available to award additional grants. It is the sponsor's intent that the $300,000 appropriation should be carried forward until depleted.