The proposed legislation, known as the Center for Gun Violence Research Act, aims to establish and fund a dedicated research center in Pennsylvania focused on gun violence. The bill recognizes gun violence as a significant public health and safety issue, highlighting the need for comprehensive research to understand its causes and develop effective prevention strategies. The center will be administered by a university selected by the Governor and will conduct independent, nonpartisan research to provide policymakers with scientific evidence for developing sound gun violence prevention policies.

To support the center's activities, the General Assembly will provide annual appropriations, and the center will have the authority to award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations conducting gun violence research. The bill outlines the center's mission, which includes collaboration with various government entities, conducting interdisciplinary research, and maintaining a publicly accessible website for sharing research findings. The legislation emphasizes the importance of scientific merit in funding decisions and mandates biennial reporting to the Governor and the General Assembly on the center's activities and research outcomes.