HB2769ham001 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Denyse Stoneback

Filed: 3/22/2021

10200HB2769ham001 LRB102 13208 KMF 23738 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2769

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2769 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Legislative findings.

Whereas, Law enforcement makes an arrest in only 35% of firearm homicides and 21% of firearm assaults when the victim was Black or Hispanic. Microstamping is a powerful crime-solving tool that can help law enforcement quickly solve gun crimes. Microstamping is a reliable ballistics identification tool, and can greatly enhance traditional ballistics analysis and the current National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) system by providing a direct link between a spent cartridge case and a firearm.

The leads generated from a microstamped shell have the potential to help law enforcement solve gun-related crimes while limiting negative interactions with law enforcement, especially in minority communities. While this crime-solving technology exists, manufacturers have not yet produced microstamp-ready firearms.

It behooves the State to install a program in partnership with law enforcement to bring microstamp-ready firearms into use in Illinois.

Section 5. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Microstamping Funding Program Act.

Section 10. Definitions.

"Microstamp-ready" means that the firearm is manufactured to produce a unique alphanumeric or geometric code on at least one location on each expended cartridge case that identifies the make, model, and serial number of the firearm.

"Microstamping mechanism" means a mechanism of the firearm designed and intended to produce a unique alphanumeric or geometric code on an expended cartridge that identifies the make, model, and serial number of the firearm.

Section 15. Grants for microstamp-ready firearms. Subject to appropriation, the State shall set aside $500,000 to establish a grant program for microstamp-ready firearms in Illinois. The program will award:

(A) Replenishment grants: Grants between $35,000 and $50,000, for the replenishment of new firearms for their officers. One of these grants shall be for the Illinois State Police, and the other three shall be for three municipal law enforcement agencies of towns or cities with a population between 50,000 and 200,000 who purchase firearms for their officers through a Quartermaster system, in which the Quartermaster is responsible for the purchase, inventory, and dissemination of uniforms and equipment to officers.

(B) New officer grants : Grants between $5,000 to $20,000 to law enforcement agencies of towns or cities with a population between 30,000 and 200,000 to assist with the purchase of firearms by new officers.

Section 20. Administration and restrictions. The grant program shall be administered by the Illinois State Police and the grant funds shall only be used for the purchase of microstamp-ready firearms by law enforcement agencies that are grant recipients.

Section 25. Education and training. Education and training associated with microstamp-ready firearms, and integration with the NIBIN and CGIC centers in Illinois shall be included in the program.

Section 30. Grant application and participation. The State shall establish the objectives and provide direction for the program's grant application process, by which qualified law enforcement agencies can apply to receive funds for microstamp-ready firearms for use by their officers. Law enforcement agencies participating in the grant program must have their officers using the microstamp-ready firearms as soon as they are delivered.

All grants this program must be awarded by June 30, 2022.

Law enforcement agencies that have been awarded funds must use funds within one year of receipt or funds will be returned to the State of Illinois.

Section 35. Data collection. The Illinois State Police shall collect data from each grant recipient, including but not limited to: the number of microstamp-ready firearms purchased, manufacturer, number of officers using the microstamp-ready firearms, and the number of microstamp-ready firearms that are discharged in the first of year of use.

Section 40. Penalty. Any person who knowingly or intentionally changes, alters, removes or obliterates the name of the importer's or manufacturer's serial number or the microstamping mechanism of any firearm commits a Class 2 felony.".