HB21-1299 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Public Health and Environment to coordinate efforts reducing gun violence, related trauma, and research on gun violence causes and evidence-based responses.

• Office director appointed by the department executive director must staff the office with minimum 1 FTE in fiscal year 2021-22 and 2 FTE in 2022-23, with authority to collaborate with state agencies and external organizations focused on gun safety.

• Office shall conduct public awareness campaigns on extreme risk protection orders, regular protection orders, firearm storage, lost or stolen firearm reporting, and mental health resources, with culturally competent messaging in multiple languages.

• Office may establish a grant program for community-based gun violence intervention initiatives targeting high-risk individuals and communities, prioritizing evidence-informed strategies like hospital-based violence intervention and street outreach programs.

• Office shall create and maintain a resource bank of gun violence data and research, identify federal funding opportunities, issue annual reports by November 30, and report to the General Assembly every five years on local gun violence prevention measures; $3 million appropriated from the general fund for fiscal year 2021-22.