BILL NUMBER: S1455
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to defining personalized
handguns and requiring the division of criminal justice services to
certify the technological viability of personalized handguns and to
establish requirements related to the sale of personalized handguns
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Amend the executive law to both define and establish requirements for
personalized handguns.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill sets forth that this act shall be known and may
be cited as the "safer weapons, safer homes act".
Section two of the bill amends section 835 of the executive law to
define a personalized handgun and authorized user.
Section three of the bill amends the executive law by adding a new
section 837-y that would require the division of criminal justice to
engage in an investigation to certify the technological viability of
personalized handguns. The division shall establish performance stand-
ards and testing protocols for personalized handguns. This section also
requires the division to maintain a roster of all personalized handguns
approved for retail sale. This roster shall be made available to regis-
tered and licensed firearms dealers in the state at least every six
months. Additionally, the amendment requires each licensed firearms
retailer to have on its premises at least one personalized handgun
available for sale within two years from the date of certification of
the technology's viability, except in cases where such a requirement
would impose a significant financial burden.
Section four of the bill sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
User-authenticated or personalized handguns have the potential to stem
violence and ensure the safety of New Yorkers. Violence from accidental
gun discharge causes incredible harm with more than 300 children unin-
tentionally shooting themselves or someone else each year. In 2020, this
resulted in the deaths of over 120 people. Personalized handguns would
stop children from being able to shoot guns that are left out or improp-
erly stored. This would help prevent school shootings as well, as most
shootings have followed the shooter taking the weapon from their or a
neighbor's home. Moreover, approximately 380,000 guns are stolen from
owners each year. Personalized handguns would prevent those weapons
from being used in other crimes or against their owners.
This bill creates a sensible regulatory environment to review the safety
of these weapons and provide gun owners with a more secure choice. The
past decade has seen significant progress in the technology of these
weapons; this bill will allow New York to take advantage of these new
safeguards as they arrive.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S7802A (Kavanagh) - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE /A8333A
(Bores) passed assembly
2023: S7802A (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO RULES /A8333A (Bores) - referred
to codes
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1455: 835 executive law