Thompson (HB 98) Act No. 402
Existing law authorizes a sheriff to issue a concealed handgun permit which is valid within
the boundaries of a parish.
New law retains this provision of existing law.
New law authorizes a sheriff to enter into a reciprocity agreement with a sheriff of a
contiguous parish to issue concealed handgun permits which are valid in both participating
parishes.
New law provides that qualifications and criteria for the issuance of such concealed handgun
permits by sheriffs are identical to the qualifications and criteria required for the issuance of
a concealed handgun permit issued by state police and provided for in existing law.
New law provides that any information in any application for a concealed handgun permit
or any information provided in connection with the application submitted to the sheriff's
office shall be held confidential and shall not be subject to any public records request nor
shall the information be considered as a public record. Further provides that the sheriff shall
not be required to release any list of persons who applied for or received a permit for a
concealed handgun.
New law provides that absent a valid court order requiring the release of information, or
unless a recipient of a concealed handgun permit is charged with a felony offense involving
the use of a handgun, it shall be unlawful for any employee of the sheriff's office to
intentionally disseminate for publication any information contained in an application for a
concealed handgun permit or any information regarding the identity of any person who
applied for or received a concealed handgun permit. New law provides penalties for
violations including a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment for not more than six
months, or both.
New law further provides that penalties for a person other than a sheriff's employee who
intentionally releases or disseminates the information contained in a concealed handgun
application or permit shall include a fine of not more than $10,000, and may include
imprisonment for not more than six months.
Creates exceptions to new law in the following cases: (1) a court orders the release of the
information; (2) the concealed handgun permit holder or applicant is charged with a felony
offense involving the use of a handgun; (3) the permit holder or applicant consents to the
release of the information; or (4) the information has been made public by the permit holder
or applicant.
New law provides that the sheriff may assess the same fee assessed by state police for the
issuance of a concealed handgun permit.
Provides that new law shall not be construed to invalidate any concealed handgun permit
issued by the sheriff prior to Aug. 1, 2013.
Effective August 1, 2013.
(Amends R.S. 44:4.1(B)(26); Adds R.S. 40:1379.1.1; Repeals R.S. 40:1379.1(G))