(a) In determining whether to issue a gun violence restraining order under this chapter, the court shall consider evidence of the facts identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 18155 and may consider any other evidence of an increased risk for violence, including, but not limited to, evidence of the facts identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 18155.
(b) At the hearing, the petitioner has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that both of the following are true:
(1) The subject of the petition, or a person subject to a temporary emergency gun violence restraining order or an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable, poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to themselves or another by having in the subject’s or person’s custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm, ammunition, or magazine.
(2) A gun violence restraining order is necessary to prevent personal injury to the subject of the petition, or the person subject to an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable, or another because less restrictive alternatives either have been tried and found to be ineffective, or are inadequate or inappropriate for the circumstances of the subject of the petition, or the person subject to an ex parte gun violence restraining order, as applicable.
(c) (1) If the court finds that there is clear and convincing evidence to issue a gun violence restraining order, the court shall issue a gun violence restraining order that prohibits the subject of the petition from having in the subject’s custody or control, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, a firearm, ammunition, or magazine.
(2) If the court finds that there is not clear and convincing evidence to support the issuance of a gun violence restraining order, the court shall dissolve a temporary emergency or ex parte gun violence restraining order then in effect.
(d) (1) The subject of the petition may file a form with the court relinquishing the subject’s firearm rights for the duration specified on the petition or, if not stated in the petition, for one year from the date of the proposed hearing, and stating that the subject is not contesting the petition.
(2) If the subject of the petition files a form pursuant to paragraph (1), the court shall issue, without any hearing, the gun violence restraining order at least five court days before the scheduled hearing. If the subject files the form within five court days before the scheduled hearing, the court shall issue, without any hearing, the gun violence restraining order as soon as possible. The court shall provide notice of the order to all parties.
(3) If the subject of the petition files a form pursuant to paragraph (1) and has not already surrendered all firearms, ammunition, and magazines in the subject’s custody or control or those that the subject possesses or owns, the subject shall follow the procedures in Section 18120 but shall surrender the firearms, ammunition, and magazines within 48 hours of filing the form relinquishing firearm rights.
(e) (1) The court shall issue a gun violence restraining order under this chapter for a period of time of one to five years, subject to termination by further order of the court at a hearing held pursuant to Section 18185 and renewal by further order of the court pursuant to Section 18190.
(2) In determining the duration of the gun violence restraining order pursuant to paragraph (1), the court shall consider the length of time that the circumstances set forth in subdivision (b) are likely to continue, and shall issue the order based on that determination.
(f) This section shall become operative on September 1, 2020.
(Repealed (in Sec. 2.1) and added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 733, Sec. 2.2. (AB 1493) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative September 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)