Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §18.2-308.1:3 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§18.2-308.1:3. Purchase, possession or transportation of firearm or ammunition by persons involuntarily admitted or ordered to outpatient treatment; penalty.

A. It shall be is unlawful for any person involuntarily admitted to a facility or ordered to mandatory outpatient treatment pursuant to §19.2-169.2, involuntarily admitted to a facility or ordered to mandatory outpatient treatment as the result of a commitment hearing pursuant to Article 5 (§37.2-814 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2, or who was the subject of a temporary detention order pursuant to §37.2-809 and subsequently agreed to voluntary admission pursuant to §37.2-805 to purchase, possess or transport a firearm or ammunition for a firearm. A violation of this subsection shall be is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person prohibited from purchasing, possessing or transporting firearms or ammunition for a firearm under this section may, at any time following his release from involuntary admission to a facility, his release from an order of mandatory outpatient treatment, or his release from voluntary admission pursuant to §37.2-805 following the issuance of a temporary detention order, petition the general district court in the city or county in which he resides to restore his right to purchase, possess or transport a firearm or ammunition for a firearm. A copy of the petition shall be mailed or delivered to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction where the petition was filed who shall be entitled to respond and represent the interests of the Commonwealth. The court shall conduct a hearing if requested by either party. If the court determines, after receiving and considering evidence concerning the circumstances regarding the disabilities referred to in subsection A and the person's criminal history, treatment record, and reputation as developed through character witness statements, testimony, or other character evidence, that the person will not likely act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that granting the relief would not be contrary to the public interest, the court shall grant the petition. Any person denied relief by the general district court may petition the circuit court for a de novo review of the denial. Upon a grant of relief in any court, the court shall enter a written order granting the petition, in which event the provisions of subsection A do not apply. The clerk of court shall certify and forward forthwith to the Central Criminal Records Exchange, on a form provided by the Exchange, a copy of any such order.

C. As used in this section, "treatment:

"Ammunition for a firearm" has the same meaning as set forth in §18.2-308.2.

"Treatment record" shall include copies of health records detailing the petitioner's psychiatric history, which shall include the records pertaining to the commitment or adjudication that is the subject of the request for relief pursuant to this section.

2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $0 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and $0 for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.