ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3686

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 13, 2021

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3686.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 3686 requires firearm owners who move to New Jersey to obtain a firearm purchaser identification card (FPIC) and register their firearm within 60 days of residing in this State. 

      Under current law, a person who purchases a firearm in this State is required to display an FPIC, which identifies the card holder as a person who meets the statutory qualifications to purchase a firearm in this State.  A person who legally owned a firearm while residing in another state and then moves to New Jersey is not required to obtain an FPIC. 

      This bill requires a firearm owner who becomes a resident of this State to obtain an FPIC and register his or her firearm.  In order to register the firearm, a person would be required to submit to the municipal law enforcement agency or the State Police a registration statement that provides the person’s name and address and the make, model, and serial number of the firearm being registered. 

      Under the bill, the Superintendent of State Police is required to prepare the form of registration statement and provide a suitable supply of statements to each organized full-time municipal police department and each State Police station within 60 days prior to the bill’s enactment. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments increase from 30 to 60 the number of days which a firearm owner who moves into this State is granted to obtain a firearm purchaser identification card (FPIC) and register his or her firearm.