BILL ANALYSIS
AB 669
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 3, 2001
Chief Counsel: Bruce E. Chan
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Carl Washington, Chair
AB 669 (Hertzberg) - As Introduced: February 22, 2001
SUMMARY : Extends the date by which the Attorney General (AG)
must submit a report evaluating ballistics identification
systems. Specifically, this bill provides that the AG shall
submit a report to the Legislature with the results of the
ballistics identification systems study not later than June 1,
2002.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires the AG to conduct a study to evaluate ballistics
identification systems to determine the feasibility and
potential benefits to law enforcement of utilizing a statewide
ballistics identification system capable of maintaining a
database of ballistic images and information from test fired
and sold firearms. (Penal Code Section 12072.5.)
2)Requires the AG to submit a report to the Legislature with the
results of the study not later than June 1, 2001; and provides
that in the event the report includes a determination that a
ballistics identification system and database is feasible and
benefits law enforcement, the report shall also recommend a
strategy for implementation.
3)Defines "ballistics identification systems" to include, but
not be limited to, any automated image analysis system that is
capable of storing firearm ballistic markings and tracing
those markings to the firearm that produced them. (Penal Code
Section 12072.5.)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement : According to the author, "Last year, the
Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 1717
AB 669
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(Hertzberg), Chapter 271, Statutes of 2000. AB 1717 requires
the Department of Justice (DOJ) to evaluate ballistics
identification systems to determine the feasibility and
potential benefits to law enforcement of utilizing a statewide
ballistics identification system capable of maintaining a
database of ballistic images from test fired and sold
firearms. DOJ's Firearms Division has begun the AB 1717
implementation process and is working to complete the task.
However, due to the complexities involved in evaluating
existing technologies and addressing the requirements of the
study, the study may not be completed by June 1, 2001. As a
result, this bill proposes to extend the reporting date for
the study by one year to ensure that DOJ can address all of
the required elements of the legislation in a thorough and
comprehensive manner.
"A statewide ballistic fingerprint system that law enforcement
can utilize to trace guns, bullets and cartridges recovered
from crime scenes to the criminals that use them would enable
law enforcement to more successfully investigate and prosecute
violent crimes that otherwise might go unsolved. Law
enforcement needs the latest crime fighting technology so they
can most effectively keep up with an increasingly
sophisticated criminal population. Extending the reporting
date will ensure that the study is completed in a thoughtful
and comprehensive manner and will provide the Legislature with
the information to best decide how to potentially utilize this
cutting-edge technology."
2)Background : Currently, technology exists and is being further
developed that enables law enforcement to trace bullets and
cartridges to the guns that fired them. The Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation both have such ballistic identification computer
systems. Because every gun makes unique markings on the
bullets and cartridges that are fired from it, there is
essentially a "fingerprint" for each gun. Ballistic examiners
test fire recovered guns and record images of bullets and
cartridges recovered from these guns and crime scenes into the
computer system. They then use the program to identify
possible matches to images that are already in the system. In
this way, they can determine what gun was used in a particular
crime.
Since the two federal ballistic tracing systems were
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established, police have been able to solve a number of crimes
using this technology. A number of law enforcement agencies
in California utilize one system or the other. However, there
is little organized interaction between different agencies.
AB 1717 required the AG to conduct a study assessing the
feasibility of the State of California's adopting a uniform
system. AB 1717 provided for a report to the Legislature not
later than June 1, 2001.
3)Prior Legislation : AB 1717 (Hertzberg), Chapter 271, Statutes
of 2000.
REGISTERED SUPPORT/OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Bruce E. Chan / PUB. S. / (916)
319-3744