HB 462 Summary

• Creates the Voluntary Alabama Firearms Do-Not-Sell List administered by the Department of Mental Health, allowing individuals to voluntarily restrict their ability to purchase or possess firearms when fearing they may become a danger to themselves or others.

• Establishes multiple registration methods by June 1, 2023: in-person at circuit clerk offices with photo ID, by mail with photo ID, and electronically via SMS/MMS with photo ID and timestamped photo; launches secure internet-based platform by January 1, 2024.

• Permits registered individuals to remove their names using the same methods, with a 21-day waiting period before FBI notification, or through district court proceedings requiring proof by preponderance of evidence that the individual is no longer a danger.

• Makes it a Class C misdemeanor ($1,000 fine) for registered individuals to possess firearms; makes it a Class A misdemeanor ($10,000 fine or up to one year imprisonment) for firearm dealers to transfer firearms to registered individuals without performing background checks.

• Prohibits insurers, employers, educational institutions, health care providers, and government agencies from inquiring about, penalizing, or discriminating against individuals based on their status on the list; establishes that list information is exempt from public records requests.