Article 2 - Firearm Safety Certificate

California Penal Code — §§ 31610-31670

Sections (14)

Repealed (in Sec. 14) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 15. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to require that persons who obtain firearms have a basic familiarity with those firearms, including, but not limited to, the safe handling and storage of those firearms. It is not the intent of the Legislature to require a firearm safety certificate for the mere possession of a firearm.

(b)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31615

Repealed (in Sec. 16) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 17. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)A person shall not do either of the following:

(1)Purchase or receive any firearm, except an antique firearm, without a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, an unexpired handgun safety certificate may be used.

(2)Sell, deliver, loan, or transfer any firearm, except an antique firearm, to any person who does not have a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, an unexpired handgun safety certificate may be used.

(b)Any person who violates subdivision (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c)The provisions of this section are cumulative, and shall not be construed as restricting the application of any other law. However, an act or omission punishable in different ways by different provisions of this code shall not be punished under more than one provision.

(d)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31620

Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 18. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014.

(a)A person shall not commit an act of collusion as specified in Section 27550.

(b)Any person who alters, counterfeits, or falsifies a handgun safety certificate, or who uses or attempts to use any altered, counterfeited, or falsified handgun safety certificate to purchase a handgun, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c)Commencing January 1, 2015, any person who alters, counterfeits, or falsifies a firearm safety certificate, or who uses or attempts to use any altered, counterfeited, or falsified firearm safety certificate to purchase a firearm, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d)The provisions of this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting the application of any other law. However, an act or omission punishable in different ways by this section and different provisions of this code shall not be punished under more than one provision.

§ 31625

Repealed (in Sec. 19) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 20. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)A certified instructor shall not issue a firearm safety certificate to any person who has not complied with this article. Proof of compliance shall be forwarded to the department by certified instructors as frequently as the department may determine.

(b)A certified instructor shall not issue a firearm safety certificate to any person who is under 18 years of age.

(c)A violation of this section shall be grounds for the department to revoke the instructor’s certification to issue firearm safety certificates.

(d)This section shall become

operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31630

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 238, Sec. 1. (AB 724) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)The department shall develop an instruction manual in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Dari, and Armenian. The department shall make the instruction manual available to firearm dealers licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, who shall make it available to the general public. Essential portions of the manual may be included in the pamphlet described in Section 34205.

(b)The department shall develop audiovisual materials in the languages described in subdivision (a) to be issued to instructors certified by the department.

(c)The department shall

solicit input from any reputable association or organization, including any law enforcement association that has as one of its objectives the promotion of firearm safety, in the development of the firearm safety certificate instructional materials.

(d)The instruction manual shall prominently include the following firearm safety warning:

Firearms must be handled responsibly and securely stored to prevent access by children and other unauthorized users. California has strict laws pertaining to firearms, and you can be fined or imprisoned if you fail to comply with them. Visit the website of the California Attorney General at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms for information on firearm laws applicable to you and how you can comply.

§ 31635

Repealed (in Sec. 23) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 24. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)The department shall prescribe a minimum level of skill, knowledge, and competency to be required of all firearm safety certificate instructors.

(b)Department Certified Instructor applicants shall have a certification to provide training from one of the following organizations, as specified, or any entity found by the department to give comparable instruction in firearms safety, or the applicant shall have similar or equivalent training to that provided by the following, as determined by the department:

(1)Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor.

(2)Director of Civilian Marksmanship, Instructor or Rangemaster.

(3)Federal Government, Certified Rangemaster or Firearm Instructor.

(4)Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Firearm Instructor Training Program or Rangemaster.

(5)United States Military, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as marksmanship or firearms instructor. Assignment as Range Officer or Safety Officer is not sufficient.

(6)National Rifle Association-Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement Instructor, Rangemaster, or Training Counselor.

(7)Commission on

Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California-Firearm Instructor or Rangemaster.

(8)Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course.

(c)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31640

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 248, Sec. 2.5. (AB 1598) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)The department shall develop a written objective test, in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Dari, and Armenian, and prescribe its content, form, and manner, to be administered by an instructor certified by the department.

(b)If the person taking the test is unable to read, the test shall be administered orally. If the person taking the test is unable to read any of the languages described in subdivision (a), the test may be administered orally by a translator.

(c)The test shall cover, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1)The laws applicable to carrying and handling firearms, particularly handguns.

(2)The responsibilities of ownership of firearms, particularly handguns.

(3)Current law as it relates to the private sale and transfer of firearms.

(4)Current law as it relates to the permissible use of lethal force.

(5)What constitutes safe firearm storage.

(6)The reasons for and risks of owning a firearm and bringing a firearm into the home, including the increased risk of death to someone in the household by suicide, homicide, or unintentional

injury.

(7)Prevention strategies to address the risks associated with bringing firearms into the home.

(8)Current law as it relates to eligibility to own or possess a firearm, gun violence restraining orders, domestic violence restraining orders, and privately manufactured firearms.

(d)Commencing January 1, 2019, the test shall require the applicant to be provided with, and acknowledge receipt of, the following warning information:

(1)“Firearms must be handled responsibly and securely stored to prevent access by children and other unauthorized users. California has strict laws pertaining to firearms and you can be fined or imprisoned if you fail to comply

with them. Visit the website of the California Attorney General at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms for information on firearm laws applicable to you and how you can comply.”

(2)“If you decide to sell or give your firearm to someone, you must generally complete a ‘Dealer Record of Sale (DROS)’ form and conduct the transfer through a licensed firearms dealer. Remember, it is generally a crime to transfer a firearm without first filling out this form. If the police recover a firearm that was involved in a crime, the firearm’s previous owner may be prosecuted if the previous owner did not fill out the DROS form. Please make sure you go to a licensed firearms dealer and fill out that form if you want to sell or give away your firearm.”

(3)“If you or someone you know is contemplating

suicide, please call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).”

(e)(1) The department shall update test materials related to this article at least once every five years.

(2)The department shall update the internet website referenced in subdivision (d) regularly to reflect current laws and regulations.

(f)A dealer licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, or an employee, or a managing officer or partner certified as an instructor pursuant to this article, shall designate a separate room or partitioned area for a person to take the objective test, and maintain adequate supervision to ensure that no acts of collusion occur while the objective test is being

administered.

(g)The department shall update the test to reflect amendments

to subdivision (c) made by the act that added this subdivision during the first regularly scheduled update of the test required pursuant to subdivision (e) that occurs after January 1, 2024.

§ 31641

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 248, Sec. 3.5. (AB 1598) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)The Department of Justice shall prepare a firearm safety certificate study guide in all of the languages described in subdivision (a) of Section 31640 that explains the information covered in the test in Section 31640.

(b)The department shall offer copies of the study guide at actual cost to a firearm safety instructor certified pursuant to Section 31635, who shall provide the study guide to an applicant for a firearm safety certificate pursuant to Section 31645 prior to their test date. The study guide may be provided as an electronic copy by text or email or as a physical copy. The cost of the study guide, if any, may be added to the fee described in Section 31650.

(c)The department shall update the study guide concurrently with an update to the test in Section 31640.

(d)The department shall notify a certified instructor of the requirement to provide the study guide to an applicant for a firearm safety certificate in subdivision (b).

§ 31645

Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 825, Sec. 6. (AB 1525) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)An applicant for a firearm safety certificate shall successfully pass the objective test referred to in Section 31640, with a passing grade of at least 75 percent. Any person receiving a passing grade on the objective test shall immediately be issued a firearm safety certificate by the instructor, provided that, commencing January 1, 2019, the applicant has acknowledged receipt of the firearm safety warning required by subdivision (d) of Section 31640.

(b)An applicant who fails to pass the objective test upon the first attempt shall be offered additional instructional materials by the instructor, such as a videotape or booklet. The person may not retake the objective test

under any circumstances until 24 hours have elapsed after the failure to pass the objective test upon the first attempt. The person failing the test on the first attempt shall take another version of the test upon the second attempt. All tests shall be taken from the same instructor except upon permission by the department, which shall be granted only for good cause shown. The instructor shall make himself or herself available to the applicant during regular business hours in order to retake the test.

§ 31650

Repealed (in Sec. 29) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 30. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)The certified instructor may charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), fifteen dollars ($15) of which is to be paid to the department pursuant to subdivision (c).

(b)An applicant to renew a firearm safety certificate shall be required to pass the objective test. The certified instructor may charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), fifteen dollars ($15) of which is to be forwarded to the department pursuant to subdivision (c).

(c)The department may charge the certified instructor up to fifteen dollars ($15) for each firearm safety certificate issued by that instructor to cover the department’s cost in

carrying out and enforcing this article, and enforcing the provisions listed in subdivision (e), as determined annually by the department.

(d)All money received by the department pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the Firearms Safety and Enforcement Special Fund created pursuant to Section 28300.

(e)The department shall conduct enforcement activities, including, but not limited to, law enforcement activities to ensure compliance with the following provisions:

(1)Section 830.95.

(2)Title 2 (commencing with Section 12001) of Part 4.

(3)This part, except Sections 16965, 17235, and

21510.

(f)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31655

Repealed (in Sec. 31) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 32. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)The department shall develop firearm safety certificates to be issued by instructors certified by the department to those persons who have complied with this article.

(b)A firearm safety certificate shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1)A unique firearm safety certificate identification number.

(2)The holder’s full name.

(3)The holder’s date of birth.

(4)The holder’s driver’s license or

identification number.

(5)The holder’s signature.

(6)The signature of the issuing instructor.

(7)The date of issuance.

(c)The firearm safety certificate shall expire five years after the date that it was issued by the certified instructor.

(d)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31660

Repealed (in Sec. 33) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 761, Sec. 34. (SB 683) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative January 1, 2015, by its own provisions.

(a)In the case of loss or destruction of a firearm safety certificate, the issuing instructor shall issue a duplicate certificate upon request and proof of identification to the certificate holder.

(b)In the case of loss or destruction of a handgun safety certificate, the issuing instructor shall issue a duplicate certificate upon request and proof of identification to the certificate holder, which shall be valid only for the balance of the unexpired term of the original certificate.

(c)The department may authorize the issuing instructor to charge a fee, not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15), for a duplicate certificate.

Revenues from this fee shall be deposited in the Firearms Safety and Enforcement Special Fund created pursuant to Section 28300.

(d)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

§ 31665

Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.

The department shall be immune from any liability arising from implementing Sections 31630, 31635, 31640, and subdivision (a) of Section 31655.

§ 31670

Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.

Except for the provisions of former Section 12804, former Article 8 (commencing with Section 12800) of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of Part 4, as added by Section 10 of Chapter 942 of the Statutes of 2001, became operative on January 1, 2003.