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Pennsylvania State Senate
05/12/2024 05:07 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=10715
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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 9, 2013 02:41 PM
From: Senator Timothy J. Solobay
To: All Senate members
Subject: National Integration of PA's Instant Check System for Firearm Purchases
 
In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation that would revise Pennsylvania’s system of background checks for firearms dealers. Under this legislation, the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) would be integrated into the FBI’s National Instant Check System (NICS).

As you may know, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives currently oversees a national effort to oversee the eligibility of a vendor to sell or transfer ownership of a firearm to an individual. The ATF division works in concert with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division to allow vendors to quickly determine the eligibility of a consumer to purchase a firearm. States are not required to participate in the national system.

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System is overseen by the Pennsylvania State Police. The FY 2012-13 budget allocated approximately $2.2 million for activities associated with purchasing firearms in Pennsylvania, including PICS. A 2006 report by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee noted that integration into the NICS could save the state $2+ million.

Especially in difficult economic times, integration into the FBI’s instant check system can be an effective manner by which the State Police conserves resources. While a $2 million savings will not solve the impending budget woes that await the Commonwealth, small cuts from all agencies along this line will do a lot to fill the gap.

This legislation was SB928 of the 2011-12 session. Previous cosponsors include: Pippy, Fontana, Earll, Orie and Washington.

Introduced as SB448