S.B. 443 - Disposition of Firearms by Law Enforcement Agencies

• Requires firearms seized as evidence to be destroyed if they lack a legible, unique identification number or are unsafe due to wear, damage, age, or modification.

• Allows law enforcement agencies to sell, trade, or exchange firearms with legible identification numbers to federally licensed dealers or at public auctions to licensed firearms collectors, dealers, importers, or manufacturers.

• Permits law enforcement agencies to maintain firearms for training, experimental purposes, or transfer them to museums or historical societies without court approval.

• Eliminates the requirement for courts to hold hearings before ordering disposition of unclaimed firearms and instead requires law enforcement agencies to order disposition directly.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain records of all firearms received, their disposition, and any proceeds or property received from sales, trades, or exchanges.

• Effective September 1, 2013, applying to firearms found or received on or after that date and to judicial orders issued on or after that date.