SB0044 Summary: Firearm Surrender in Domestic Violence Orders

• Requires courts to include firearm surrender orders when issuing domestic violence protection orders if the respondent is subject to firearm restrictions under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.

• Mandates respondents surrender any firearms within 24 hours of being served with the protection order, with failure to comply constituting contempt of court.

• Law enforcement agencies must provide written proof of firearm receipt to both the respondent and court, which serves as evidence of compliance.

• For final orders, firearms must be surrendered for the duration of the protection order or 2 years, whichever is longer; for emergency orders, the surrender period is the duration of the order.

• Respondents who have surrendered firearms are prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or accessing any firearm during the surrender period, and firearms may only be returned upon court order stating the protection order has expired.