CCW CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE H.B. 5698 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY








House Bill 5698 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Sal Rocca
House Committee: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation
Senate Committee: Judiciary


Date Completed: 6-28-04

CONTENT The bill would amend the handgun licensure Act to require specific language in a pistol training or safety program's certificate of completion; prohibit a concealed weapons license board from requiring that a certificate include specific language or attributes other than those required by the Act; and require that a pistol training or safety program consist of at least eight hours of instruction.

Under the Act, a concealed weapon licensing board must issue a license to carry a concealed pistol to an applicant who meets certain criteria. Among other things, an applicant must have knowledge and have had training in the safe use and handling of a pistol by the successful completion of a pistol training course or class that meets the requirements of Section 5j (the section the bill would amend). A pistol training or safety program meets the requirements for knowledge or training in the safe use and handling of a pistol only if it consists of eight hours of instruction and satisfies certain other requirements. The bill would require a program to consist of at least eight hours of instruction and meet the other requirements.

A pistol training or safety program must provide a certificate of completion stating that the program complies with the requirements of this section, and that the individual successfully completed the course. The certificate must be signed by the course instructor. Under the bill, the program would have to provide a certificate of completion that stated: "This course complies with section 5j of 1927 PA 372." The certificate also would have to state that the individual successfully completed the course and would have to contain both the course instructor's printed name and his or her signature.


In addition, the bill specifies that a concealed weapons licensing board could not require that a specific form, color, wording, or other content, except the statement prescribed by the bill, appear on a certificate of completion. A board would have to accept as valid a certificate of completion that contained an inaccurate reference to Section 5j of the Act but otherwise complied with that section, if it were issued before the bill's effective date.


MCL 28.425j Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5698/0304