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2020 SESSION

20100161D
HOUSE BILL NO. 72
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled December 5, 2019
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-56.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to allowing access to firearms by children; recklessly leaving loaded, unsecured firearm in manner that endangers child under 14; penalty.
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Patrons-- Kory and Samirah
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Referred to Committee on Public Safety
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 18.2-56.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be is unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen 14. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor 6 felony.

B. It shall be is unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve 12 to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean means a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child, or a person twenty-one 21 years of age or over older who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $35,425 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.