Restrictions on firearm possession: pilot project.

Assembly Member Irwin's proposal to expand Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) authority through a county-level pilot program would allow district attorneys in Alameda, El Dorado, Santa Clara, and Ventura counties to petition courts for these orders through January 2032. Under current law, only law enforcement officers, immediate family members, employers, coworkers, and teachers may request GVROs, which temporarily prohibit individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms when they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.

The pilot program requires participating district attorneys to submit annual data to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis beginning April 2027. This data must include petition outcomes, demographic information about restrained individuals, reasons for filing, and identified areas for improvement. The Research Center may evaluate the program's implementation and submit annual reports to the state legislature's public safety committees starting July 2027. District attorneys must also make their data available to the Department of Justice and Judicial Council upon request.

The authorization expires January 1, 2034, unless extended by subsequent legislation. The bill defines district attorneys and their offices in participating counties as "law enforcement officers" and "law enforcement agencies" respectively for purposes of existing GVRO statutes, allowing them to utilize the same petition procedures currently available to other authorized parties.