SUPERVISION FOR MINORS AT TARGET RANGES

House Bill 5085 as enacted

Public Act 201 of 2014                                                                     

Sponsor:  Rep. Phil Potvin

House Committee:  Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 1-29-15

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5085 AS ENACTED

Generally, an individual is required to obtain a license from local law enforcement before purchasing, carrying, possessing, or transporting a pistol.  There are a number of exemptions from licensure; prior to enactment of this bill, one of those was for individuals under the age of 18 who are at a recognized target range for target practice or instruction in pistol safety and under the physical presence and supervision of a parent or guardian.

House Bill 5085 amended Section 2 of the Handgun Licensure Law to remove the requirement that an individual under the age of 18 be under the physical presence and supervision of a parent or guardian, and instead, require the person to be in the physical presence and under the direct supervision of any of the following:

o   The person's parent;

o   The person's guardian; or

o   An individual who is 21 years of age or older and has successfully completed a pistol safety training course or class that meets the requirements of Section 5J of the act, provided that individual is authorized by the minor's parent or guardian.

[Section 5J provides that pistol training programs meet the requirements for knowledge or training in the safe use and handling of a pistol if the program consists of at least eight hours of instruction and meets all of the following:

o   The program is certified by a state or national firearms training organization and provides five hours of instruction in all of the following:

§  Safe storage, use, and handling of a pistol, including storage, use, and handling to protect children.

§  Ammunition knowledge and the fundamentals of pistol shooting.

§  Pistol shooting positions.

§  Legal issues, including civil liability and the use of deadly force.

§  Avoiding criminal attack and controlling violent confrontations.

§  All applicable state laws for carrying a concealed pistol.

o   The program provides at least 3 hours of firing range instruction and the firing of at least 30 rounds.

o   The program provides a certificate of completion that certifies the program is in compliance with these requirements and the course was successfully completed.

o   The course instructor is certified by the state or a national organization to teach the course.]

MCL 28.422

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would not have a significant state or local fiscal impact.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                                           Josh Roesner

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.