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S.B. 157 Enrolled

             1     

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO CARRY

             2     
FIREARMS IN DECLARED EMERGENCY

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Mark B. Madsen

             6     
House Sponsor: Carl Wimmer

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill enacts provisions related to the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport,
             11      storage, display, or use of firearms during a declared state of emergency or local
             12      emergency.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    provides that during a declared state of emergency or local emergency neither the
             16      governor nor an agency of a governmental entity or political subdivision may impose
             17      restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport, storage, display, or use
             18      of a firearm or ammunition;
             19          .    provides that during a declared state of emergency an individual, while acting or
             20      purporting to act on behalf of the state or a political subdivision, may not confiscate
             21      a privately owned firearm of another individual;
             22          .    provides exceptions to the confiscation prohibition; and
             23          .    provides a civil remedy for violation of the confiscation prohibition.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None
             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      ENACTS:


             30          63-5a-12, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31     
             32      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             33          Section 1. Section 63-5a-12 is enacted to read:
             34          63-5a-12. Prohibition of restrictions on and confiscation of a firearm or
             35      ammunition during an emergency.
             36          (1) As used in this section:
             37          (a) (i) "Confiscate" means for an individual in Utah to intentionally deprive another of a
             38      privately owned firearm.
             39          (ii) "Confiscate" does not include the taking of a firearm from an individual:
             40          (A) in self-defense;
             41          (B) possessing a firearm while the individual is committing a felony or misdemeanor; or
             42          (C) who may not, under state or federal law, possess the firearm.
             43          (b) "Firearm" has the same meaning as defined in Subsection 76-10-501 (9).
             44          (2) During a declared state of emergency or local emergency under this chapter:
             45          (a) neither the governor nor an agency of a governmental entity or political subdivision
             46      of the state may impose restrictions, which were not in force prior to the declared state of
             47      emergency, on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport, storage, display, or use of a
             48      firearm or ammunition; and
             49          (b) an individual, while acting or purporting to act on behalf of the state or a political
             50      subdivision of the state, may not confiscate a privately owned firearm of another individual.
             51          (3) A law or regulation passed during a declared state of emergency that does not relate
             52      specifically to the lawful possession or use of a firearm and that has attached criminal penalties
             53      may not be used to justify the confiscation of a firearm from an individual acting in defense of
             54      self, property, or others when on:
             55          (a) the individual's private property; or
             56          (b) the private property of another as an invitee.
             57          (4) (a) An individual who has a firearm confiscated in violation of Subsection (2) may


             58      bring a civil action in a court having the appropriate jurisdiction:
             59          (i) for damages, in the maximum amount of $10,000, against a person who violates
             60      Subsection (2);
             61          (ii) for a civil penalty, in the amount of $5,000 per violation, against a person who
             62      violates Subsection (2); and
             63          (iii) for return of the confiscated firearm.
             64          (b) As used in this Subsection (4), "person" means an individual, the governmental
             65      entity on whose behalf the individual is acting or purporting to act, or both the individual and
             66      the governmental entity.
             67          (5) (a) A law enforcement officer shall not be subject to disciplinary action for refusing
             68      to confiscate a firearm under this section if:
             69          (i) ordered or directed to do so by a superior officer; and
             70          (ii) by obeying the order or direction, the law enforcement officer would be committing
             71      a violation of this section.
             72          (b) For purposes of this Subsection (5), disciplinary action might include:
             73          (i) dismissal, suspension, or demotion;
             74          (ii) loss of or decrease in benefits, pay, privileges or conditions of employment; and
             75          (iii) any type of written or electronic indication, permanent or temporary, on the
             76      officer's personnel record of the officer's refusal to obey the unlawful order.
             77          (6) (a) If a law enforcement officer commits a violation of this section, the officer's
             78      liability in an action brought under Subsection (4)(a) is limited to 5% of the damages and civil
             79      penalty allowed under Subsection (4)(a) if the officer can show by clear and convincing
             80      evidence that the officer was obeying a direct and unlawful order from a superior officer or
             81      authority.
             82          (b) The balance of the damages and civil penalty, the remaining 95%, shall be assessed
             83      against the superior officer or authority who ordered or directed the confiscation in violation of
             84      this section.


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