PRINTER'S NO. 1081
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
556
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, HUTCHINSON, LAUGHLIN, BARTOLOTTA AND
J. WARD, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous
articles, further providing for registration of firearms; and
imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6111.4 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 6111.4. Registration of firearms.
(a) Prohibitions.--
(1) Notwithstanding any section of this chapter to the
contrary, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow
any government, local government, other political subdivision
or law enforcement agency or any official, agent or employee
thereof to create, maintain or operate any registry of
firearm ownership within this Commonwealth. For the purposes
of this section only, the term "firearm" shall include any
weapon that is designed to or may readily be converted to
expel any projectile by the action of an explosive or the
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frame or receiver of any such weapon.
(2) A payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring
entity or third party settlement organization as those terms
are defined in 26 U.S.C. § 6050W (relating to returns
relating to payments made in settlement of payment card and
third party network transactions) may not assign a merchant
category code to or otherwise classify a merchant that is a
seller of firearms or ammunition separately from general
merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers.
(3) An entity involved in facilitating or processing a
payment card transaction, including a financial institution,
an acquirer, a payment card network or a payment card issuer,
may not assign to or require a merchant to use a merchant
category code that classifies the merchant as a firearms or
ammunition retailer or places the merchant in a similar
classification. A merchant of firearms or ammunition may be
assigned or may use a merchant category code for general
merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Any
agreement or contractual provision to the contrary is void in
violation of the public policy of this State.
(b) Penalties.--
(1) A person or entity that violates subsection (a)(1)
commits a felony of the third degree. The Attorney General or
district attorney of the county where the alleged violation
occurred shall investigate complaints of a violation of
subsection (a)(1) and shall prosecute violators if evidence
indicates that a violation may have occurred.
(2) The Department of Banking and Securities shall
investigate alleged violations of subsection (b)(2) and (3)
and, upon finding a violation, bring an administrative action
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seeking to impose an administrative fine of no more than
$2,500 for each violation.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "firearm"
means any weapon that is designed to or may readily be converted
to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or the frame
or receiver of the weapon.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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