Voluntary waiver of firearm rights—Procedure—Penalty—Exemption from public disclosure.

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(1) A person may file a voluntary waiver of firearm rights with the clerk of the court in any county in Washington state. The clerk of the court must request photo identification to verify the person's identity prior to accepting the form. The person filing the form may provide an alternate person to be contacted if a voluntary waiver of firearm rights is revoked. By the end of the business day, the clerk of the court must transmit the accepted form to the Washington state patrol. The Washington state patrol must enter the voluntary waiver of firearm rights into the national instant criminal background check system and any other federal or state computer-based systems used by law enforcement agencies or others to identify prohibited purchasers of firearms within twenty-four hours of receipt of the form. Copies and records of the voluntary waiver of firearm rights shall not be disclosed except to law enforcement agencies.

(2) No sooner than seven calendar days after filing a voluntary waiver of firearm rights, the person may file a revocation of the voluntary waiver of firearm rights in the same county where the voluntary waiver of firearm rights was filed. The clerk of the court must request photo identification to verify the person's identity prior to accepting the form. By the end of the business day, the clerk of the court must transmit the form to the Washington state patrol and to any contact person listed on the voluntary waiver of firearm rights and destroy all records of the voluntary waiver. Within seven days of receiving a revocation of a voluntary waiver of firearm rights, the Washington state patrol must remove the person from the national instant criminal background check system, and any other federal or state computer-based systems used by law enforcement agencies or others to identify prohibited purchasers of firearms in which the person was entered, unless the person is otherwise ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040, and destroy all records of the voluntary waiver.

(3) A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding their identity on the voluntary waiver of firearm rights form or revocation of waiver of firearm rights form is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040.

(4) Neither a voluntary waiver of firearm rights nor a revocation of a voluntary waiver of firearm rights shall be considered by a court in any legal proceeding.

(5) A voluntary waiver of firearm rights may not be required of an individual as a condition for receiving employment, benefits, or services.

(6) All records obtained and all reports produced, as required by this section, are not subject to disclosure through the public records act under chapter 42.56 RCW.

[ 2018 c 145 § 1.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2018 c 145 §§ 1, 3, and 4: "Sections 1, 3, and 4 of this act take effect January 1, 2019." [ 2018 c 145 § 5.]


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