H.B. 294 Enrolled

PURCHASE OF FIREARMS AMENDMENTS
2004 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: James A. Ferrin

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to the purchase of firearms in the Utah Criminal
code.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
. makes Utah law consistent with current federal law regarding the purchase of
firearms; and
. provides, consistent with federal law, for only one photo identification rather than
two as part of the criminal background check required prior to the purchase of a
firearm.
Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
76-10-524, as enacted by Chapter 196, Laws of Utah 1973
76-10-526, as last amended by Chapters 90 and 303, Laws of Utah 2000

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 76-10-524 is amended to read:
76-10-524. Purchase of firearms pursuant to federal law.
This part will allow purchases of firearms and ammunition [by residents in contiguous

states] pursuant to [the Federal Fire Arms Gun Control Act of 1968, section 922, paragraph B,
no. 3] U.S.C. Title 18 Chapter 44 Sec. 922b(3).
Section 2. Section 76-10-526 is amended to read:
76-10-526. Criminal background check prior to purchase of a firearm -- Fee --
Exemption for concealed firearm permit holders.
[(1) A criminal background check required by this section shall only apply to the purchase
of a handgun until federal law requires the background check to extend to other firearms.]
[(2) At the time that federal law extends the criminal background check requirement to
other firearms, the division shall make rules to extend the background checks required under this
section to the other firearms.]
[(3)] (1) For purposes of this section, "valid permit to carry a concealed firearm" does not
include a temporary permit issued pursuant to Section 53-5-705 .
[(4)] (2) To establish personal identification and residence in this state for purposes of this
part, a dealer shall require [any person] an individual receiving a firearm to present[: (a)] one
photo identification on a form issued by a governmental agency of the state[; and].
[(b) one other documentation of residence which must show an address identical to that
shown on the photo identification form.]
[(5)] (3) A criminal history background check is required for the sale of a firearm by a
licensed firearm dealer in the state.
[(6) Any person] (4) (a) An individual, except a dealer, purchasing a firearm from a
dealer shall consent in writing to a criminal background check, on a form provided by the division.
(b) The form shall [also] contain the following information:
[(a)] (i) the dealer identification number;
[(b)] (ii) the name and address of the [person] individual receiving the firearm;
[(c)] (iii) the date of birth, height, weight, eye color, and hair color of the [person]
individual receiving the firearm; and
[(d)] (iv) the Social Security number or any other identification number of the [person]
individual receiving the firearm.

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[(7)] (5) (a) The dealer shall send the form required by Subsection [(6)] (4) to the division
immediately upon its completion.
(b) No dealer shall sell or transfer any firearm to [any person] an individual until the
dealer has provided the division with the information in Subsection [(6)] (4) and has received
approval from the division under Subsection [(9)] (7).
[(8)] (6) The dealer shall make a request for criminal history background information by
telephone or other electronic means to the division and shall receive approval or denial of the
inquiry by telephone or other electronic means.
[(9)] (7) When the dealer calls for or requests a criminal history background check, the
division shall:
(a) review the criminal history files, including juvenile court records, to determine if the
[person] individual is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transferring a firearm by state or
federal law;
(b) inform the dealer that:
(i) the records indicate the [person] individual is so prohibited; or
(ii) the [person] individual is approved for purchasing, possessing, or transferring a
firearm;
(c) provide the dealer with a unique transaction number for that inquiry; and
(d) provide a response to the requesting dealer during the call for a criminal background,
or by return call, or other electronic means, without delay, except in case of electronic failure or
other circumstances beyond the control of the division, the division shall advise the dealer of the
reason for the delay and give the dealer an estimate of the length of the delay.
[(10)] (8) (a) The division shall not maintain any records of the criminal history
background check longer than 20 days from the date of the dealer's request if the division
determines that the [person] individual receiving the gun is not prohibited from purchasing,
possessing, or transferring the firearm under state or federal law.
(b) However, the division shall maintain a log of requests containing the dealer's federal
firearms number, the transaction number, and the transaction date for a period of 12 months.

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[(11)] (9) If the criminal history background check discloses information indicating that
the [person] individual attempting to purchase the firearm is prohibited from purchasing,
possessing, or transferring a firearm, the division shall inform the law enforcement agency in the
jurisdiction where the person resides.
[(12)] (10) If [a person] an individual is denied the right to purchase a firearm under this
section, the [person] individual may review his criminal history information and may challenge or
amend the information as provided in Section 53-10-108 .
[(13)] (11) The division shall make rules as provided in Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, to ensure the identity, confidentiality, and security of all records
provided by the division pursuant to this part are in conformance with the requirements of the
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Pub. L. No. 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536 (1993).
[(14)] (12) (a) (i) All dealers shall collect a criminal history background check fee which
is $7.50.
(ii) This fee remains in effect until changed by the division through the process under
Section 63-38-3.2 .
(b) (i) The dealer shall forward at one time all fees collected for criminal history
background checks performed during the month to the division by the last day of the month
following the sale of a firearm.
(ii) The division shall deposit the fees in the General Fund as dedicated credits to cover
the cost of administering and conducting the criminal history background check program.
[(15) A person] (13) An individual with a concealed firearm permit issued pursuant to
Title 53, Chapter 5, Part 7, Concealed Weapon Act, shall be exempt from the background check
and corresponding fee required in this section for the purchase of a firearm if:
(a) the [person] individual presents his concealed firearm permit to the dealer prior to
purchase of the firearm; and
(b) the dealer verifies with the division that the [person's] individual's concealed firearm
permit is valid.

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