I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3895
To provide grants to improve firearms safety, and to provide for the study
of the effects of developing firearms technology on firearms safety.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 19, 1998
Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To provide grants to improve firearms safety, and to provide
for the study of the effects of developing firearms tech-
nology on firearms safety.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Firearm
Technology and Safety Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the National Institute of Justice Science
and Technology program has played a critical role in
improving law enforcement technology;
(2) the National Institute of Justice Science
and Technology program has successfully developed
standards for soft body armor which have been criti-
cal to saving the lives of law enforcement personnel;
(3) the National Institute of Justice Science
and Technology program is assisting in the success-
ful development of personalized firearms to improve
firearms safety; and
(4) the National Institute of Justice should con-
tinue to focus its resources on improving technology
to assist law enforcement in reducing crime, and on
making technological improvements in the safety of
firearms.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO IMPROVE GUN SAFETY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Justice, in consultation with appropriate person-
nel of the National Institute of Justice who are involved
in firearms technology and weapons technology matters,
shall make grants to reduce firearms violence through im-
provements in firearms safety technology, weapons detec-
tion technology, and other technology.
(b) 3-YEAR GRANTS.—A grant awarded under this
section shall be paid over a period not exceeding 3 years.
(c) LIMITATIONS
ON AUTHORIZATION
OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—For grants under this section, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated not more than $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
SEC. 4. INDEPENDENT PANEL ON FIREARMS SAFETY.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the
Department of Justice the Independent Panel on Fire-
arms Safety (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Panel’’).
(b) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Panel shall—
(A) research how technology can be used
in the area of weapons safety improvements to
reduce violence; and
(B) direct, oversee, and review the work of
the Technical Study Group on Firearms Safety.
(2) REPORTS.—
(A) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE FIND-
INGS
OF
THE
TECHNICAL
STUDY
GROUP
ON
FIREARMS SAFETY.—Within 90 days after re-
ceipt of the report submitted pursuant to sec-
tion 5(b)(2), the Panel shall submit to the Con-
gress a report on the findings of the Technical
Study Group on Firearms Safety. If the report
submitted pursuant to such section contains a
recommendation for standards governing the
design of firearm safety locks, the Panel shall
forward the recommendation to the National
Institute of Justice.
(B) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—Within 1 year
after the Panel is duly organized and annually
thereafter, the Panel shall submit to the Con-
gress a written report detailing the findings of
the Panel and making recommendations on
such firearms safety improvements as the Panel
considers appropriate.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Justice, in consultation with the Attorney Gen-
eral, shall appoint to the Panel at least 1 individual from
each of the following categories:
(1) Representatives from the National Institute
of Justice.
(2) Law enforcement experts.
(3) Representatives from consumer product
safety organizations.
(4) Representatives of firearms manufacturers.
(5) Injury prevention specialists.
(6) Firearms technology experts.
(7) Experts in other relevant areas.
(d) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Panel member shall be
appointed for the life of the Panel.
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Panel shall
be filled in the manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
(e) COMPENSATION.—
(1) RATES
OF
BASIC
PAY.—Panel members
shall serve without pay.
(2) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION OF FED-
ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Panel who are
full-time officers or employees of the United States
may not receive additional pay, allowances, or bene-
fits by reason of their service on the Panel.
(3) 
TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Notwithstanding
paragraphs (1) and (2), each Panel member shall re-
ceive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and
5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) PROCEDURE.—
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Justice shall designate a Panel
member who is a representative of the National In-
stitute of Justice to be the Chairperson of the Panel
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Chairperson’’).
(2) ACTING CHAIRPERSON.—The Panel mem-
bers, by majority vote, shall select a Panel member
to serve as the acting Chairperson when the Chair-
person is unable to so serve.
(3) MEETINGS.—The Panel shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson.
(4) QUORUM.—A majority of Panel members of
the Panel shall constitute a quorum but a lesser
number may hold hearings.
(g) PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND TECH-
NICAL SUPPORT.—The Attorney General shall provide the
Panel with the administrative, professional, and technical
support required by the Panel to carry out the duties of
the Panel under this Act.
(h) POWERS.—
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the pur-
pose of carrying out this section, the Panel may,
with the advice and consent of the Attorney General
and the Director of the National Institute of Justice,
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, and receive such evi-
dence as the Panel considers appropriate.
(2) OBTAINING
OFFICIAL
DATA.—Subject to
other law, the Panel may secure directly from any
department or agency of the United States informa-
tion necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. On
request of the Chairperson, the head of that depart-
(b) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the oversight and
review of the Independent Panel on Firearms Safety,
the Technical Study Group shall undertake such
studies and activities as the Technical Study Group
considers necessary to determine the technical and
commercial feasibility, economic impact, and other
consequences of developing improvements in fire-
arms safety technology. A main focus of the Tech-
nical Study Group shall be to reduce deaths and in-
juries resulting from the unintended or inappropri-
ate discharge of firearms. The initial research con-
ducted by the Technical Study Group should be a
study of the reliability of firearm safety locks and a
determination as to whether the locks prevent the
unintended discharge of firearms.
(2) REPORT.—Within 9 months after the date
the Technical Study Group is duly organized, the
Technical Study Group shall submit to the Inde-
pendent Panel on Firearms Safety a report on the
findings of the Technical Study Group. If the Tech-
nical Study Group determines that firearm safety
locks can prevent the unintended discharge of fire-
arms, the report shall include a recommendation for
standards governing the design of firearm safety
locks.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—
(A) NIJ EXPERTS.—The Director of the
National Institute of Justice shall appoint to
the Technical Study Group personnel and
agents of the National Institute of Justice with
technical or scientific expertise.
(B) NIST EXPERTS.—The Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology
shall appoint to the Technical Study Group per-
sonnel of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology with technical or scientific ex-
pertise.
(C) BATF EXPERTS.—The Director of the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shall
appoint to the Technical Study Group personnel
of the Bureau with technical or scientific exper-
tise.
(D) CPSC EXPERTS.—The Director of the
Consumer Product Safety Commission shall ap-
point to the Technical Study Group personnel
of the Commission with technical or scientific
expertise.
(E) HHS EXPERTS.—The Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall appoint to
the Technical Study Group personnel of the De-
partment of Health and Human Services with
technical or scientific expertise.
(F) DOJ EXPERTS.—The Attorney Gen-
eral, shall appoint to the Technical Study
Group personnel of the Department of Justice
with technical or scientific expertise.
(G) INDEPENDENT EXPERTS.—The Chair-
person of the Independent Panel on Firearms
Safety shall appoint to the Technical Study
Group 4 individuals who are not officers or em-
ployees of any government, each of whom have
scientific or technical expertise in law enforce-
ment, firearms manufacturing, weapons detec-
tion technology, injury prevention, and con-
sumer safety, respectively.
(d) PROCEDURE.—With the advice and consent of the
Independent Panel on Firearms Safety, the Technical
Study Group may designate, from among the Technical
Study Group members, such persons to serve as team
leaders, coordinators, or chairpersons, as the Technical
Study Group deems necessary or appropriate to carry out
the functions of the Technical Study Group.
(e) PRESERVATION OF CONFIDENTIALITY.—Section
6 of the Cigarette Safety Act of 1984 shall apply to infor-
mation provided to the Technical Study Group in the same
manner in which such section applies to information pro-
vided to the Technical Study Group on Cigarette and Lit-
tle Cigar Fire Safety.
(f) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN RULES GOVERNING
THE INDEPENDENT PANEL ON FIREARMS SAFETY.—Sub-
sections (d), (e), (g), (h), and (j) of section 4 shall apply
to the Technical Study Group in the same manner in
which such subsections apply to the Independent Panel on
Firearms Safety.
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