BILL NUMBER: S1455A
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
of criminal justice services to study the technological viability of
personalized firearms
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Amend the executive law to define performance standards, qualifying
criteria, and testing protocols necessary to determine the technological
viability of personalized firearms and identify by make and model
firearms that qualify as personalized firearms.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIOINS:
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-z that would require the division of criminal justice to,
within two years, establish performance standards and testing protocols
for personalized handguns. It would also identify by make and model
firearms that qualify under the definition of personalized firearms.
Additionally, the division must report the results of the completed
study to the governor, temporary president and minority leader of the
senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the assembly.
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 FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERMENTS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1455: 835 executive law
S1455A: 835 executive law