HB0790 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 04210 RLC 14227 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0790

Introduced 2/10/2021, by Rep. Patrick Windhorst

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

430 ILCS 65/10

from Ch. 38, par. 83-10

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that for any appeal permitted under the Act to the Director of the Illinois State Police for failure to act on a Firearm Owner's Identification Card application within 30 days or its denial, seizure, or revocation, the Director shall either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal. Provides that if the appeal is granted, the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the aggrieved party, or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 7 business days after the appeal is granted. Provides that if the appeal is denied, the Director shall set forth in writing the specific reasons for the denial and shall cause the written denial to be mailed to the aggrieved party no later than 7 business days after the appeal is denied. Provides that if the Director fails to either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal, the appeal shall be considered granted, and the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 67 days from the date that the appeal was received. Provides that a denial shall be considered a final administrative order, regardless of whether there was a formal hearing in which evidence was taken, and the aggrieved party may seek judicial review of the final administrative order in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the Act. Provides that if administrative review is taken and if the circuit court then finds that the Director denied the appeal without reasonable cause, the circuit court may award the aggrieved party court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee to be paid by the State. Nothing herein limits the contempt power of the circuit court. Provides that when the word "shall" appears in this provision, it shall be construed as being mandatory and not discretionary.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Firearm Owners Identification Card Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(430 ILCS 65/10) (from Ch. 38, par. 83-10)

Sec. 10. Appeal to director; hearing; relief from firearm prohibitions.

(a) Whenever an application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is denied, whenever the Department fails to act on an application within 30 days of its receipt, or whenever such a Card is revoked or seized as provided for in Section 8 of this Act, the aggrieved party may appeal to the Director of State Police for a hearing upon such denial, revocation or seizure, unless the denial, revocation, or seizure was based upon a forcible felony, stalking, aggravated stalking, domestic battery, any violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, or the Cannabis Control Act that is classified as a Class 2 or greater felony, any felony violation of Article 24 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or any adjudication as a delinquent minor for the commission of an offense that if committed by an adult would be a felony, in which case the aggrieved party may petition the circuit court in writing in the county of his or her residence for a hearing upon such denial, revocation, or seizure.

(b) At least 30 days before any hearing in the circuit court, the petitioner shall serve the relevant State's Attorney with a copy of the petition. The State's Attorney may object to the petition and present evidence. At the hearing the court shall determine whether substantial justice has been done. Should the court determine that substantial justice has not been done, the court shall issue an order directing the Department of State Police to issue a Card. However, the court shall not issue the order if the petitioner is otherwise prohibited from obtaining, possessing, or using a firearm under federal law.

(b-1) For any appeal to the Director of the Illinois State Police as set forth in subsection (a), the Director shall either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal. If the appeal is granted, the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card to the aggrieved party, or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 7 business days after the appeal is granted. If the appeal is denied, the Director shall set forth in writing the specific reasons for the denial and shall cause the written denial to be mailed to the aggrieved party no later than 7 business days after the appeal is denied. If the Director fails to either grant or deny the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal, the appeal shall be considered granted, and the Director shall return the aggrieved party's Firearm Owner's Identification Card or issue him or her a new Firearm Owner's Identification Card, as the case may be, no later than 67 days from the date that the appeal was received. A denial shall be considered a final administrative order, regardless of whether there was a formal hearing in which evidence was taken, and the aggrieved party may seek judicial review of the final administrative order in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and Section 11 of this Act. If administrative review is taken and if the circuit court then finds that the Director denied the appeal without reasonable cause, the circuit court may award the aggrieved party court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee to be paid by the State. Nothing herein limits the contempt power of the circuit court. When the word "shall" appears in this subsection (b-1), it shall be construed as being mandatory and not discretionary.

(c) Any person prohibited from possessing a firearm under Sections 24-1.1 or 24-3.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or acquiring a Firearm Owner's Identification Card under Section 8 of this Act may apply to the Director of State Police or petition the circuit court in the county where the petitioner resides, whichever is applicable in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, requesting relief from such prohibition and the Director or court may grant such relief if it is established by the applicant to the court's or Director's satisfaction that:

(0.05) when in the circuit court, the State's Attorney has been served with a written copy of the petition at least 30 days before any such hearing in the circuit court and at the hearing the State's Attorney was afforded an opportunity to present evidence and object to the petition;

(1) the applicant has not been convicted of a forcible felony under the laws of this State or any other jurisdiction within 20 years of the applicant's application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, or at least 20 years have passed since the end of any period of imprisonment imposed in relation to that conviction;

(2) the circumstances regarding a criminal conviction, where applicable, the applicant's criminal history and his reputation are such that the applicant will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety;

(3) granting relief would not be contrary to the public interest; and

(4) granting relief would not be contrary to federal law.

(c-5) (1) An active law enforcement officer employed by a unit of government, who is denied, revoked, or has his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card seized under subsection (e) of Section 8 of this Act may apply to the Director of State Police requesting relief if the officer did not act in a manner threatening to the officer, another person, or the public as determined by the treating clinical psychologist or physician, and as a result of his or her work is referred by the employer for or voluntarily seeks mental health evaluation or treatment by a licensed clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or qualified examiner, and:

(A) the officer has not received treatment involuntarily at a mental health facility, regardless of the length of admission; or has not been voluntarily admitted to a mental health facility for more than 30 days and not for more than one incident within the past 5 years; and

(B) the officer has not left the mental institution against medical advice.

(2) The Director of State Police shall grant expedited relief to active law enforcement officers described in paragraph (1) of this subsection (c-5) upon a determination by the Director that the officer's possession of a firearm does not present a threat to themselves, others, or public safety. The Director shall act on the request for relief within 30 business days of receipt of:

(A) a notarized statement from the officer in the form prescribed by the Director detailing the circumstances that led to the hospitalization;

(B) all documentation regarding the admission, evaluation, treatment and discharge from the treating licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist of the officer;

(C) a psychological fitness for duty evaluation of the person completed after the time of discharge; and

(D) written confirmation in the form prescribed by the Director from the treating licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist that the provisions set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection (c-5) have been met, the person successfully completed treatment, and their professional opinion regarding the person's ability to possess firearms.

(3) Officers eligible for the expedited relief in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c-5) have the burden of proof on eligibility and must provide all information required. The Director may not consider granting expedited relief until the proof and information is received.

(4) "Clinical psychologist", "psychiatrist", and "qualified examiner" shall have the same meaning as provided in Chapter I of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.

(c-10) (1) An applicant, who is denied, revoked, or has his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card seized under subsection (e) of Section 8 of this Act based upon a determination of a developmental disability or an intellectual disability may apply to the Director of State Police requesting relief.

(2) The Director shall act on the request for relief within 60 business days of receipt of written certification, in the form prescribed by the Director, from a physician or clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner, that the aggrieved party's developmental disability or intellectual disability condition is determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified to be mild. If a fact-finding conference is scheduled to obtain additional information concerning the circumstances of the denial or revocation, the 60 business days the Director has to act shall be tolled until the completion of the fact-finding conference.

(3) The Director may grant relief if the aggrieved party's developmental disability or intellectual disability is mild as determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner and it is established by the applicant to the Director's satisfaction that:

(A) granting relief would not be contrary to the public interest; and

(B) granting relief would not be contrary to federal law.

(4) The Director may not grant relief if the condition is determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner to be moderate, severe, or profound.

(5) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly apply to requests for relief pending on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act, except that the 60-day period for the Director to act on requests pending before the effective date shall begin on the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(d) When a minor is adjudicated delinquent for an offense which if committed by an adult would be a felony, the court shall notify the Department of State Police.

(e) The court shall review the denial of an application or the revocation of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card of a person who has been adjudicated delinquent for an offense that if committed by an adult would be a felony if an application for relief has been filed at least 10 years after the adjudication of delinquency and the court determines that the applicant should be granted relief from disability to obtain a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. If the court grants relief, the court shall notify the Department of State Police that the disability has been removed and that the applicant is eligible to obtain a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.

(f) Any person who is subject to the disabilities of 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) and 922(g)(4) of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 because of an adjudication or commitment that occurred under the laws of this State or who was determined to be subject to the provisions of subsections (e), (f), or (g) of Section 8 of this Act may apply to the Department of State Police requesting relief from that prohibition. The Director shall grant the relief if it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the person will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that granting relief would not be contrary to the public interest. In making this determination, the Director shall receive evidence concerning (i) the circumstances regarding the firearms disabilities from which relief is sought; (ii) the petitioner's mental health and criminal history records, if any; (iii) the petitioner's reputation, developed at a minimum through character witness statements, testimony, or other character evidence; and (iv) changes in the petitioner's condition or circumstances since the disqualifying events relevant to the relief sought. If relief is granted under this subsection or by order of a court under this Section, the Director shall as soon as practicable but in no case later than 15 business days, update, correct, modify, or remove the person's record in any database that the Department of State Police makes available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and notify the United States Attorney General that the basis for the record being made available no longer applies. The Department of State Police shall adopt rules for the administration of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 99-29, eff. 7-10-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)