Substitute House Bill No. 7218
Public Act No. 19-5
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E SAFE STORAGE OF FI REARMS IN
THE HOME AND FIREARM SAFETY PROGRAMS IN P UBLIC
SCHOOLS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 29-37i of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019):
No person shall store or keep any [loaded] firearm, as defined in
section 53a-3, on any premises under such person's control if such
person knows or reasonably should know that (1) a minor is likely to
gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or
guardian of the minor, (2) a resident of the premises is ineligible to
possess a firearm under state or federal law, or (3) a resident of the
premises poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself
or to other individuals, unless such person (A) keeps the firearm in a
securely locked box or other container or in a [location] manner which
a reasonable person would believe to be secure, or (B) carries the
firearm on his or her person or within such close proximity thereto that
such person can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if such person
carried the firearm on his or her person. For the purposes of this
section, "minor" means any person under the age of [sixteen] eighteen
years. Substitute House Bill No. 7218
Public Act No. 19-5 2 of 3
Sec. 2. Section 52-571g of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019):
Any person whose act or omission constitutes a violation of section
29-37i, as amended by this act, shall be strictly liable for damages when
a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a
firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of imminent
personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, obtains a
firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, and causes the injury or death of
such minor, resident or any other person. For the purposes of this
section, "minor" means any person under the age of [sixteen] eighteen
years.
Sec. 3. Section 53a-217a of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019):
(a) A person is guilty of criminally negligent storage of a firearm
when such person violates the provisions of section 29-37i, as amended
by this act, and a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible
to possess a firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of
imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals,
obtains the firearm and causes the injury or death of such minor,
resident or any other person. For the purposes of this section, "minor"
means any person under the age of [sixteen] eighteen years.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the minor obtains
the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry to any premises by any
person.
(c) Criminally negligent storage of a firearm is a class D felony.
Sec. 4. Section 10-18b of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019):
The State Board of Education, within available appropriations, [and Substitute House Bill No. 7218
Public Act No. 19-5 3 of 3
the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association may] shall develop
[curriculum] guides to aid local and regional boards of education in
developing firearm safety programs for students in grades
kindergarten to [eight] twelve, inclusive, in the public schools. The
State Board of Education may consult with the Connecticut Police
Chiefs Association when developing such guides. The State Board of
Education shall make such [curriculum] guides available to local and
regional boards of education.
Sec. 5. Section 10-18c of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019):
(a) Any local or regional board of education may offer firearm safety
programs to students in grades kindergarten to [eight] twelve,
inclusive, in the public schools under its jurisdiction.
(b) No student shall be required by any local or regional board of
education to participate in a firearm safety program which may be
offered within the public schools. A written notification to the local or
regional board by the student's parent or legal guardian shall be
sufficient to exempt the student from such program in its entirety or
from any portion thereof so specified by the parent or legal guardian.
(c) If a student is exempted from a firearm safety program pursuant
to subsection (b) of this section, the local or regional board of
education shall provide, during the period of time in which the
student would otherwise be participating in such program, an
opportunity for other study or academic work.