SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION

16104014D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1201
Offered January 16, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permits; reciprocity.
----------
Patrons-- Marshall, R.G., Austin and Cole
----------
Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-308.014 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-308.014. Reciprocity.

A. A valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state shall authorize the holder of such permit or license who is at least 21 years of age to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth, provided (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state, accessible 24 hours a day, and (ii) except for the age of the permit or license holder and the type of weapon authorized to be carried, the requirements and qualifications of that state's law are adequate to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth under this article. The Superintendent of State Police shall (a) in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General determine whether states meet the requirements and qualifications of this subsection, (b) maintain a registry of such states on the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), and (c) make the registry available to law-enforcement officers for investigative purposes. The Superintendent of the State Police, in consultation with the Attorney General, may also enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with any state qualifying for recognition under this subsection.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of subsection A, the Superintendent of State Police shall continue to recognize any valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state where such state's permit or license was, as of November 1, 2015, recognized by the Superintendent of State Police as authorizing the holder of such permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth.

C. A valid concealed handgun permit issued by Maryland shall be valid in the Commonwealth, provided (i) the holder of the permit is licensed in Maryland to perform duties substantially similar to those performed by Virginia branch pilots licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 54.1-900 et seq.) of Title 54.1 and is performing such duties while in the Commonwealth, and (ii) the holder of the permit is 21 years of age or older.

C. D. For the purposes of participation in concealed handgun reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions, the official government-issued law-enforcement identification card issued to an active-duty law-enforcement officer in the Commonwealth who is exempt from obtaining a concealed handgun permit under this article shall be deemed a concealed handgun permit.

2. That the Superintendent of State Police shall contact each state whose valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license was, as of November 1, 2015, recognized as authorizing the holder of such permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth to determine the status of a valid concealed handgun permit issued in the Commonwealth in such other state. The Superintendent shall enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition if such an agreement is required to establish reciprocity with such other states. The Superintendent shall report to the Clerks of the House and Senate no later than August 1, 2016, on the status of reciprocity with such other states, and shall report every 30 days thereafter until all reciprocity relationships existing on November 1, 2015, have been restored.