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S.B. 107 Enrolled

             1     

PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

             5     
House Sponsor: Curtis Oda

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill ensures public access to public shooting ranges under certain conditions.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    grants the public access to use certain public shooting ranges;
             14          .    permits a fee to be charged for the public to use a public shooting range;
             15          .    describes when a public shooting range can be restricted from public use; and
             16          .    makes technical changes.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             21          This bill provides revisor instructions.
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      ENACTS:
             24          47-3-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             25          47-3-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26          47-3-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27          47-3-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             28          47-3-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          47-3-305, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             30      RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
             31          47-3-102, (Renumbered from 47-3-1, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 286)
             32          47-3-201, (Renumbered from 47-3-2, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 286)
             33          47-3-202, (Renumbered from 47-3-3, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 286)
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 47-3-101 is enacted to read:
             37     
CHAPTER 3. SHOOTING RANGES

             38     
Part 1. General Provisions

             39          47-3-101. Title.
             40          This chapter is known as "Shooting Ranges."
             41          Section 2. Section 47-3-102 , which is renumbered from Section 47-3-1 is renumbered
             42      and amended to read:
             43           [47-3-1].     47-3-102. Definitions.
             44          As used in this chapter[,]:
             45          (1) "Air gun" means a .177 or .20 caliber, or equivalent 4.5mm or 5.0mm, pellet rifle or
             46      pellet pistol whose projectile is pneumatically propelled by compressed air or compressed gas
             47      such as carbon dioxide.
             48          (2) "Certified official" means a Range Safety Officer, Firearms Instructor, or Shooting
             49      Coach certified by the National Rifle Association or equivalent national shooting organization.
             50          (3) "Group" means any organized club, organization, corporation or association which
             51      at the time of use of the shooting range has a certified official in charge while shooting is
             52      taking place and while the range is open.
             53          (4) "Military range" means a shooting range located on a state military installation.
             54          (5) "Nonmilitary range" means a shooting range that is not a military range.
             55          (6) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as defined in Section 17B-2-101 and
             56      includes a school district.
             57          (7) "Public funds" means funds provided by the federal government, the state, or a


             58      political subdivision of the state.
             59          (8) "Shooting range" or "range" means an area designed and continuously operated
             60      under nationally recognized standards and operating practices for the use of rifles, shotguns,
             61      pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, archery, or any other similar shooting activities.
             62          Section 3. Section 47-3-201 , which is renumbered from Section 47-3-2 is renumbered
             63      and amended to read:
             64     
Part 2. Risk and Nuisance

             65           [47-3-2].     47-3-201. Assumption of risk.
             66          [Each] A person who participates in shooting at a shooting range or a public shooting
             67      range accepts the associated risks to the extent the risks are obvious and inherent. Those risks
             68      include injuries that may result from noise, discharge of projectile or shot, malfunction of
             69      shooting equipment not owned by the shooting range or public shooting range, natural
             70      variations in terrain, surface or subsurface snow or ice conditions, bare spots, rocks, trees, and
             71      other forms of natural growth or debris.
             72          Section 4. Section 47-3-202 , which is renumbered from Section 47-3-3 is renumbered
             73      and amended to read:
             74           [47-3-3].     47-3-202. When nuisance action permitted.
             75          (1) [Each] A state agency or political subdivision shall ensure that any of its rules or
             76      ordinances that define or prohibit a public nuisance exclude from the definition or prohibition
             77      any shooting range or public shooting range that was established, constructed, or operated prior
             78      to the implementation of the rule or ordinance regarding public nuisance unless that activity or
             79      operation substantially and adversely affects public health or safety.
             80          (2) A person who operates or uses a shooting range or a public shooting range in this
             81      state is not subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution for noise or noise pollution resulting
             82      from the operation or use of the range if:
             83          (a) the range:
             84          (i) was established, constructed, or operated prior to the implementation of any noise
             85      ordinances, rules, or regulations; and


             86          (ii) does not substantially and adversely affect public health or safety; or
             87          (b) the range:
             88          (i) is in compliance with any noise control laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations that
             89      applied to the range or public shooting range and its operation at the time of establishment,
             90      construction, or initial operation of the range; and
             91          (ii) does not substantially and adversely affect public health or safety.
             92          (3) For [the] purposes of this section, noise generated by a shooting range or public
             93      shooting range that is operated in accordance with nationally recognized standards and
             94      operating practices is not a public health nuisance.
             95          (4) For any new subdivision development located in whole or in part within 1,000 feet
             96      of the boundary of any shooting range or public shooting range that was established,
             97      constructed, or operated prior to the development of the subdivision, the owner of the
             98      development shall provide on any plat filed with the county recorder the following notice:
             99          "Shooting Range Area
             100          This property is located in the vicinity of an established shooting range or public
             101      shooting range. It can be anticipated that customary uses and activities at this shooting range or
             102      public shooting range will be conducted now and in the future. The use and enjoyment of this
             103      property is expressly conditioned on acceptance of any annoyance or inconvenience [which]
             104      that may result from these uses and activities."
             105          Section 5. Section 47-3-301 is enacted to read:
             106     
Part 3. Public Shooting Ranges

             107          47-3-301. Access to publicly funded ranges.
             108          A shooting range, whether indoor or outdoor, constructed with public funds and
             109      operated or controlled by the state, an institution of higher education, or a political subdivision,
             110      shall, unless specifically exempted in Section 47-3-305 , be made available as provided in this
             111      section for use by any group.
             112          Section 6. Section 47-3-302 is enacted to read:
             113          47-3-302. Use and availability.


             114          (1) Use of a shooting range by a group may not interfere with the use of the range by
             115      the state agency, military, institution of higher education, or political subdivision for whom the
             116      range was constructed.
             117          (2) Outdoor shooting ranges shall be available on weekends and holidays, provided
             118      they are not being used for shooting and training purposes by the owner or operator of the
             119      range.
             120          (3) Each group that uses a shooting range owned or operated by a state agency,
             121      institution of higher education, or political subdivision shall provide a certified official to
             122      oversee their shooting activities while on the range. If the group does not have a certified
             123      official that is currently available, the owner or operator of the shooting range may provide one
             124      and charge a fee for that certified official's time.
             125          (4) A group using a public shooting range may not have anyone with the group who is
             126      prohibited from possessing a firearm.
             127          (5) Each group shall provide documentation of current and applicable liability
             128      insurance or waivers of liability to cover each state agency, institution of higher education, or a
             129      political subdivision, for each person shooting on or controlling the shooting range.
             130          (6) Shooting range operations shall be in accordance with safety standards adopted by
             131      the National Rifle Association or equivalent national shooting organization.
             132          (7) Staff from the owner or operator of the shooting range is not required to be present
             133      unless there is no certified official present with the group.
             134          (8) The certified official in charge at the applicable time shall be responsible for
             135      opening and securely closing the shooting range.
             136          Section 7. Section 47-3-303 is enacted to read:
             137          47-3-303. Rulemaking.
             138          (1) The State Armory Board, any state agency, or institution of higher education that
             139      operates or has control of a shooting range shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G,
             140      Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement procedures for use of the range
             141      by the public.


             142          (2) The rules shall include provisions requiring indoor shooting ranges to be available
             143      on a reservation basis, for firearms not exceeding the range design criteria:
             144          (a) at least twice per week;
             145          (b) after 4 p.m. on work or school days, or after students and faculty are excused or
             146      dismissed on the work or school day; and
             147          (c) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends.
             148          Section 8. Section 47-3-304 is enacted to read:
             149          47-3-304. Fees.
             150          (1) Reasonable fees for the use of a shooting range to cover the incidental material and
             151      supply costs incurred by making the range available to a group, may be established by:
             152          (a) the State Armory Board established under Title 39, Chapter 2, State Armory Board,
             153      for a military range; and
             154          (b) for a nonmilitary range, the state agency, institution of higher education, or political
             155      subdivision that operates or has control of the range.
             156          (2) Fees for nonmilitary shooting range use may not exceed fees charged by the
             157      Department of Natural Resources for the same or similar activity.
             158          (3) Fees collected under Subsection (1) shall be:
             159          (a) for a shooting range operated or controlled by a state agency or an institution of
             160      higher education, deposited in the General Fund as dedicated credits to be used for the
             161      operation and maintenance of the range; and
             162          (b) for a shooting range operated or controlled by a political subdivision, deposited in
             163      the political subdivision's general fund.
             164          Section 9. Section 47-3-305 is enacted to read:
             165          47-3-305. Exceptions and prohibitions.
             166          (1) This part does not apply to:
             167          (a) shooting ranges that are otherwise open to the public;
             168          (b) shooting ranges that are operated as a public shooting range staffed by and operated
             169      by Division of Wildlife Resources;


             170          (c) the Utah National Guard ranges located at Camp Williams and the Salt Lake
             171      International Airport; and
             172          (d) ranges owned, operated, or currently leased as of the effective date of this
             173      amendment by a state or local public safety agency.
             174          (2) Firearms may not be allowed in a school building, except under the provision of
             175      Section 76-10-505.5 , unless there is an outdoor entrance to the shooting range and the most
             176      direct access to the range is used. An outdoor entrance to a shooting range may not be blocked
             177      by fences, structures, or gates for the purpose of blocking the outdoor entrance.
             178          (3) Only air guns may be used in public ranges where the ventilation systems do not
             179      meet current OSHA standards as applied to the duration of exposure of the participants. For
             180      the purposes of this part, an air gun does not include larger caliber pneumatic weapons,
             181      paintball guns, or air shotguns.
             182          (4) Group range use is a lawful, approved activity under Subsection 76-10-505.5 (4)(a).
             183          Section 10. Effective date.
             184          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             185      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             186      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             187      the date of veto override.
             188          Section 11. Revisor instructions.
             189          It is the intent of the Legislature that, in preparing the Utah Code database for
             190      publication, the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall replace the language
             191      in Section 47-3-305 (1)(d) with the actual effective date of this bill.


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