Amended  IN  Assembly  April 20, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1252

Introduced by Assembly Member Wicks
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Jones-Sawyer and Zbur)

February 16, 2023

An act to add Title 12.3 (commencing with Section 14245) to Part 4 of the Penal Code, relating to public safety.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1252, as amended, Wicks. Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Under existing law, the Department of Justice is responsible for carrying out several functions related to the sale, delivery, and transfer of firearms, including maintaining a centralized list of all persons licensed to sell firearms and inspecting firearms.
This bill would establish, within the Department of Justice, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This bill would further establish, within the Department of Justice, a Commission to End Gun Violence. This bill would require the commission, within one year of its creation, to issue a public report discussing the implementation, coordination, and effectiveness of gun violence prevention laws and programs, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Title 12.3 (commencing with Section 14245) is added to Part 4 of the Penal Code, to read:

TITLE 12.3. GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

14245.
 (a) There is hereby established within the Department of Justice the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
(b) Contingent upon sufficient state or private funding, state funding, the office shall convene a Commission to End Gun Violence, to include in its membership recognized outside experts and stakeholders.
(c) Within one year of the commission’s creation, it shall issue a public report identifying top priorities to improve the implementation, coordination, and effectiveness of gun violence prevention-focused laws and programs. The report shall also do all of the following:
(1) Identify gaps and barriers to success, and highlight and propose strategies to replicate best practices.
(2) Evaluate and identify coordination and strategic planning across different state and local agencies.
(3) Include best practice recommendations for improving implementation and coordination in court, law enforcement, health care, and crime victim system responses to gun violence.