Restrictions on firearm possession: pilot project.

Assembly Member Irwin's proposal to expand gun violence restraining order (GVRO) authority in El Dorado and Ventura counties would allow district attorneys to request temporary emergency orders preventing individuals from possessing firearms. The pilot program, running through January 2032, adds district attorneys to the existing list of eligible GVRO petitioners, which currently includes law enforcement officers, family members, employers, coworkers, and teachers.

The legislation establishes new reporting requirements for courts handling firearm disposals under GVROs. When courts issue default orders for unclaimed weapons or approve disposals after denial of return petitions, they must transmit copies to the Department of Justice. Participating counties must submit annual data to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis beginning April 2027, including petition outcomes, demographic information, and filing rationales. The research center may evaluate the pilot programs' effectiveness and report findings to the Legislature starting July 2027.

Under the pilot framework, district attorneys can request both temporary emergency orders and longer-term GVROs lasting one to five years, subject to renewal. Courts reviewing these petitions maintain discretion to examine district attorneys and witnesses under oath or via written affidavit before issuing orders. The program includes procedural safeguards for weapon owners, preserving existing provisions for contested hearings and requiring clear notice before default disposals. All pilot provisions sunset on January 1, 2034 unless extended by subsequent legislation.