An Act Regarding Permits To Carry Concealed Firearms
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1439
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: HANLEY
Amends: 12 MRSA §11403, 17-A MRSA §1057, 25 MRSA §2001-A, 25 MRSA §2002, 25 MRSA §2003, 25 MRSA §2004, 25 MRSA §2005, 25 MRSA §2005-A, 25 MRSA §2006, 30-A MRSA §2801, 32 MRSA §8120-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1439 
H.P. 1070 
House of Representatives, April 11, 2011 
An Act Regarding Permits To Carry Concealed Firearms 
Submitted by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HANLEY of Gardiner. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11403, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 163, §2 and 
affected by §3, is further amended to read: 
B.  A person may not carry firearms of any kind while hunting any species of wildlife 
with bow and arrow during the regular archery-only season on deer, except that a 
person who holds a license that allows hunting with firearms may carry a handgun.  
This paragraph may not be construed to prohibit a person who holds a valid permit to 
carry a concealed firearm handgun pursuant to Title 25, section 2003 from carrying a 
firearm handgun. 
Sec. 2.  17-A MRSA §1057, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 917, §2, is 
amended to read: 
3.   It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection 1 that the person holds a 
permit to carry a concealed firearm handgun issued under Title 25, chapter 252. 
Sec. 3.  17-A MRSA §1057, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 447, §20, is 
further amended to read: 
5.     For purposes of this section, "under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs 
or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive alcohol level" has the same 
meaning as "under the influence of intoxicants" as defined in Title 29-A, section 2401, 
subsection 13.  "Excessive alcohol level" means an alcohol level of 0.08 grams or more of 
alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath.  Standards, tests and 
procedures applicable in determining whether a person is under the influence or has an 
excessive alcohol level within the meaning of this section are those applicable pursuant to 
Title 29-A, sections 2411 and 2431; except that the suspension of a permit to carry 
concealed firearms handguns issued pursuant to Title 25, chapter 252, or of the authority 
of a private investigator licensed to carry a concealed firearm handgun pursuant to Title 
32, chapter 89, is as provided in those chapters. 
Sec. 4.  25 MRSA §2001-A, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 
and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read: 
A.    Firearms Handguns carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a 
concealed firearm handgun has been issued as provided in this chapter; 
Sec. 5.  25 MRSA §2001-A, sub-§2, ¶F, as amended by PL 2007, c. 555, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
F.  A firearm handgun carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a 
concealed firearm handgun has been issued by another state if a permit to carry a 
concealed firearm handgun issued from that state has been granted reciprocity.  The 
Chief of the State Police may enter into reciprocity agreements with any other states 
that meet the requirements of this paragraph.  Reciprocity may be granted to a permit 
to carry a concealed firearm handgun issued from another state if: 
(1)  The other state that issued the permit to carry a concealed firearm handgun 
has substantially equivalent or stricter requirements for the issuance of a permit 
to carry a concealed firearm handgun; and 
(2)  The other state that issued the permit to carry a concealed firearm handgun 
observes the same rules of reciprocity regarding a person issued a permit to carry 
a concealed firearm handgun under this chapter. 
Sec. 6.  25 MRSA §2002, sub-§8-A is enacted to read: 
8-A.  Handgun.  "Handgun" means a type of firearm commonly referred to as a 
pistol or revolver originally designed to be fired by the use of a single hand and that is 
designed to fire or is capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition.  "Handgun" does not 
include a shotgun or rifle that has been altered by having its stock or barrel cut or 
shortened or an automatic firearm that may be held with a single hand. 
Sec. 7.  25 MRSA §2003, as amended by PL 2007, c. 194, §5, is further amended 
to read: 
§2003.  Permits to carry concealed handguns 
1.  Criteria for issuing permit.  The issuing authority shall, upon written 
application, issue a permit to carry concealed firearms handguns to an applicant over 
whom it has issuing authority and who has demonstrated good moral character and who 
meets the following requirements: 
A.  Is 18 years of age or older; 
B.  Is not disqualified to possess a firearm pursuant to Title 15, section 393, is not 
disqualified as a permit holder under that same section and is not disqualified to 
possess a firearm based on federal law as a result of a criminal conviction.; 
D.  Submits an application that contains the following: 
(1)  Full name; 
(2)  Full current address and addresses for the prior 5 years; 
(3)  The date and place of birth, height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair, sex 
and race; 
(4)  A record of previous issuances of, refusals to issue and revocations of a 
permit to carry concealed firearms, handguns or other concealed weapons by any 
issuing authority in the State or any other jurisdiction.  The record of previous 
refusals alone does not constitute cause for refusal and the record of previous 
revocations alone constitutes cause for refusal only as provided in section 2005; 
and 
(5)  Answers to the following questions: 
(a)  Are you less than 18 years of age? 
(b)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in this 
State for a crime under the laws of this State that is punishable by 
imprisonment for a term of one year or more? 
(c)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in any 
federal court for a crime under the laws of the United States that is 
punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year? 
(d)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in another 
state for a crime that, under the laws of that state, is punishable by a term of 
imprisonment exceeding one year? 
(e)  If your answer to the question in division (d) is "yes," is that charged 
crime classified under the laws of that state as a misdemeanor punishable by 
a term of imprisonment of 2 years or less? 
(f)  Is there a formal charging instrument pending against you in another state 
for a crime punishable in that state by a term of imprisonment of 2 years or 
less and classified by that state as a misdemeanor, but that is substantially 
similar to a crime that under the laws of this State is punishable by 
imprisonment for a term of one year or more? 
(g)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you under the 
laws of the United States, this State or any other state or the Passamaquoddy 
Tribe or Penobscot Nation in a proceeding in which the prosecuting authority 
has pleaded that you committed the crime with the use of a firearm against a 
person or with the use of a dangerous weapon as defined in Title 17-A, 
section 2, subsection 9, paragraph A? 
(h)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in this or 
any other jurisdiction for a juvenile offense that, if committed by an adult, 
would be a crime described in division (b), (c), (d) or (f) and involves bodily 
injury or threatened bodily injury against another person? 
(i)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in this or 
any other jurisdiction for a juvenile offense that, if committed by an adult, 
would be a crime described in division (g)? 
(j)  Is there a formal charging instrument now pending against you in this or 
any other jurisdiction for a juvenile offense that, if committed by an adult, 
would be a crime described in division (b), (c), (d) or (f), but does not 
involve bodily injury or threatened bodily injury against another person? 
(k)  Have you ever been convicted of committing or found not criminally 
responsible by reason of mental disease or defect of committing a crime 
described in division (b), (c), (f) or (g)? 
(l)  Have you ever been convicted of committing or found not criminally 
responsible by reason of mental disease or defect of committing a crime 
described in division (d)? 
(m)  If your answer to the question in division (l) is "yes," was that crime 
classified under the laws of that state as a misdemeanor punishable by a term 
of imprisonment of 2 years or less? 
(n)  Have you ever been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile offense 
described in division (h) or (i)? 
(o)  Have you ever been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile offense 
described in division (j)? 
(p)  Are you currently subject to an order of a Maine court or an order of a 
court of the United States or another state, territory, commonwealth or tribe 
that restrains you from harassing, stalking or threatening your intimate 
partner, as defined in 18 United States Code, Section 921(a), or a child of 
your intimate partner, or from engaging in other conduct that would place 
your intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to that intimate 
partner or the child? 
(q)  Are you a fugitive from justice? 
(r)  Are you a drug abuser, drug addict or drug dependent person? 
(s)  Do you have a mental disorder that causes you to be potentially 
dangerous to yourself or others? 
(t)  Have you been adjudicated to be an incapacitated person pursuant to Title 
18-A, Article 5, Parts 3 and 4 and not had that designation removed by an 
order under Title 18-A, section 5-307, subsection (b)? 
(u)  Have you been dishonorably discharged from the military forces within 
the past 5 years? 
(v)  Are you an illegal alien? 
(w)  Have you been convicted in a Maine court of a violation of Title 17-A, 
section 1057 within the past 5 years? 
(x)  Have you been adjudicated in a Maine court within the past 5 years as 
having committed a juvenile offense involving conduct that, if committed by 
an adult, would be a violation of Title 17-A, section 1057? 
(y)  To your knowledge, have you been the subject of an investigation by any 
law enforcement agency within the past 5 years regarding the alleged abuse 
by you of family or household members? 
(z)  Have you been convicted in any jurisdiction within the past 5 years of 3 
or more crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment of less than one year or 
of crimes classified under the laws of a state as a misdemeanor and 
punishable by a term of imprisonment of 2 years or less? 
(aa)  Have you been adjudicated in any jurisdiction within the past 5 years to 
have committed 3 or more juvenile offenses described in division (o)? 
(bb)  To your knowledge, have you engaged within the past 5 years in 
reckless or negligent conduct that has been the subject of an investigation by 
a governmental entity? 
(cc)  Have you been convicted in a Maine court within the past 5 years of any 
Title 17-A, chapter 45 drug crime? 
(dd)  Have you been adjudicated in a Maine court within the past 5 years as 
having committed a juvenile offense involving conduct that, if committed by 
an adult, would have been a violation of Title 17-A, chapter 45? 
(ee)  Have you been adjudged in a Maine court to have committed the civil 
violation of possession of a useable amount of marijuana, butyl nitrite or 
isobutyl nitrite in violation of Title 22, section 2383 within the past 5 years? 
(ff)  Have you been adjudicated in a Maine court within the past 5 years as 
having committed the juvenile crime defined in Title 15, section 3103, 
subsection 1, paragraph B of possession of a useable amount of marijuana, as 
provided in Title 22, section 2383?; and 
E.  Does the following: 
(1)  At the request of the issuing authority, takes whatever action is required by 
law to allow the issuing authority to obtain from the Department of Health and 
Human Services, limited to records of patient committals to Riverview 
Psychiatric Center and Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, the courts, law 
enforcement agencies and the military information relevant to the following: 
(a)  The ascertainment of whether the information supplied on the application 
or any documents made a part of the application is true and correct; 
(b)  The ascertainment of whether each of the additional requirements of this 
section has been met; and 
(c)  Section 2005; 
(2)  If a photograph is an integral part of the permit to carry concealed firearms 
handguns adopted by an issuing authority, submits to being photographed for that 
purpose; 
(3)  If it becomes necessary to resolve any questions as to identity, submits to 
having fingerprints taken by the issuing authority; 
(4)  Submits an application fee along with the written application to the proper 
issuing authority pursuant to the following schedule: 
(a)  Resident of a municipality or unorganized territory, $35 for an original 
application and $20 for a renewal, except that a person who paid $60 for a 
concealed firearms permit or renewal during 1991 or 1992 is entitled to a 
credit toward renewal fees in an amount equal to $30 for a person who paid 
$60 for an original application and $45 for a person who paid $60 for a 
permit renewal.  The credit is valid until fully utilized; and 
(b)  Nonresident, $60 for an original or renewal application, except that a 
person who paid $80 for a concealed firearms permit during 1991 or 1992 is 
entitled to a $20 credit toward permit renewal fees.  The credit is valid until 
fully utilized; and 
(5)  Demonstrates to the issuing authority a knowledge of handgun safety.  The 
applicant may fully satisfy this requirement by submitting to the issuing 
authority, through documentation in accordance with this subparagraph, proof 
that the applicant has within 5 years prior to the date of application completed a 
course that included handgun safety offered by or under the supervision of a 
federal, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency or a firearms 
instructor certified by a private firearms association recognized as knowledgeable 
in matters of firearms handgun safety by the issuing authority or by the state in 
which the course was taken.  A course completion certificate or other document, 
or a photocopy, is sufficient if it recites or otherwise demonstrates that the course 
meets all of the requirements of this subparagraph. 
As an alternative way of fully satisfying this requirement, an applicant may 
personally demonstrate knowledge of handgun safety to an issuing authority, if 
the issuing authority is willing to evaluate an applicant's personal demonstration 
of such knowledge.  The issuing authority is not required to offer this 2nd option. 
The demonstration of knowledge of handgun safety to the issuing authority may 
not be required of any applicant who holds a valid State state permit to carry a 
concealed firearm as of April 15, 1990 or of any applicant who was or is in any 
of the Armed Forces of the United States and has received at least basic firearms 
training. 
2.  Complete application; certification by applicant.  The requirements set out in 
subsection 1, constitute a complete application.  By affixing the applicant's signature to 
the application, the applicant certifies the following: 
A.  That the statements the applicant makes in the application and any documents the 
applicant makes a part of the application are true and correct; 
A-1.  That the applicant understands that an affirmative answer to the question in 
subsection 1, paragraph D, subparagraph (5), division (l) or (o) is cause for refusal 
unless the applicant is nonetheless authorized to possess a firearm under Title 15, 
section 393; 
A-2.  That the applicant understands that an affirmative answer to subsection 1, 
paragraph D, subparagraph (5), division (p) is cause for refusal if the order of the 
court meets the preconditions contained in Title 15, section 393, subsection 1, 
paragraph D.  If the order of the court does not meet the preconditions, the conduct 
underlying the order may be used by the issuing authority, along with other 
information, in judging good moral character under subsection 4; 
B.  That the applicant understands that an affirmative answer to one or more of the 
questions in subsection 1, paragraph D, subparagraph (5), divisions (a), (k), (n) or (q) 
to (x) is cause for refusal; 
B-1.  That the applicant understands that an affirmative answer to one or more of the 
questions in subsection 1, paragraph D, subparagraph (5), divisions (b) to (j), (m), (y), 
(z) or (aa) to (ff) is used by the issuing authority, along with other information, in 
judging good moral character under subsection 4; and 
C.  That the applicant understands any false statements made in the application or in 
any document made a part of the application may result in prosecution as provided in 
section 2004. 
3.  Copy of laws furnished to applicant.  A copy of this chapter and the definitions 
from other chapters which that are used in this chapter shall must be provided to every 
applicant. 
3-A.  Model forms.  The Attorney General shall develop model forms for the 
following: 
A.  An application for a resident permit to carry concealed firearms handguns; 
B.  An application for a nonresident permit to carry concealed firearms handguns; 
C.  A resident permit to carry concealed firearms handguns of which a photograph is 
an integral part; 
D.  A resident permit to carry concealed firearms handguns of which a photograph is 
not an integral part; 
E.  A nonresident permit to carry concealed firearms handguns; and 
F.  Authority to release information to the issuing authority for the purpose of 
evaluating information supplied on the application. 
Each issuing authority shall utilize only the model forms. 
4.  Good moral character.  The issuing authority in judging good moral character 
shall make its determination in writing based solely upon information recorded by 
governmental entities within 5 years of receipt of the application, including, but not 
limited to, the following matters: 
A.  Information of record relative to incidents of abuse by the applicant of family or 
household members, provided pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4012, subsection 1; 
B.  Information of record relative to 3 or more convictions of the applicant for crimes 
punishable by less than one year imprisonment or one or more adjudications of the 
applicant for juvenile offenses involving conduct that, if committed by an adult, is 
punishable by less than one year imprisonment; 
C.  Information of record indicating that the applicant has engaged in reckless or 
negligent conduct; or 
D.  Information of record indicating that the applicant has been convicted of or 
adjudicated as having committed a violation of Title 17-A, chapter 45 or Title 22, 
section 2383, or adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime that is a violation 
of Title 22, section 2383 or a juvenile crime that would be defined as a criminal 
violation under Title 17-A, chapter 45 if committed by an adult. 
5.  Access to confidential records.  Notwithstanding that certain records retained by 
governmental entities are by law made confidential, the records pertaining to patient 
committals to Riverview Psychiatric Center and Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, and 
records compiled pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4012, subsection 1, that are necessary to 
the issuing authority's determination of the applicant's good moral character and 
compliance with the additional requirements of this section and of section 2005 must, at 
the request of the issuing authority, be made available for inspection by and 
dissemination to the issuing authority. 
8.  Term of permit.  All concealed firearm handgun permits are valid for 4 years 
from the date of issue, unless sooner revoked for cause by the issuing authority.  If a 
permit renewal is issued before the expiration date of the permit being renewed or within 
months of the expiration date of the permit being renewed, the permit renewal is valid 
for 4 years from the expiration date of the permit being renewed. 
9.  Information contained in permit.  Each permit to carry concealed firearms 
handguns issued shall must contain the following:  The name, address and physical 
description of the permit holder; the holder's signature; the date of issuance; and the date 
of expiration. A permit to carry concealed firearms handguns may additionally contain a 
photograph of the permit holder if the issuing authority makes a photograph an integral 
part of the permit to carry concealed firearms handguns. 
10.  Validity of permit throughout the State.  Permits issued authorize the person 
to carry those concealed firearms handguns throughout the State. 
11.  Permit to be in permit holder's immediate possession.  Every permit holder 
shall have his the holder's permit in his the holder's immediate possession at all times 
when carrying a concealed firearm handgun and shall display the same on demand of any 
law enforcement officer.  No A person charged with violating this subsection may not be 
adjudicated as having committed a civil violation if he that person produces in court the 
concealed firearms handgun permit which that was valid at the time of the issuance of a 
summons to court or, if he the holder exhibits the permit to a law enforcement officer 
designated by the summonsing officer not later than 24 hours before the time set for the 
court appearance, no a complaint may not be issued. 
12.  Permit for a resident of 5 or more years to be issued or denied within 60 
days; permit for a nonresident and resident of less than 5 years to be issued or 
denied within 120 days.  The issuing authority, as defined in this chapter, shall issue or 
deny, and reply in writing as to the reason for any denial, within 30 60 days of the 
application date in the case of a resident of 5 or more years and within 60 120 days of the 
application date in the case of a nonresident or in the case of a resident of less than 5 
years.  If the issuing authority does not issue or deny a request for a permit renewal 
within the time limits specified in this subsection, the validity of the expired permit is 
extended until the issuing authority issues or denies the renewal. 
13.  Fee waiver.  An issuing authority may waive the permit fee for a permit issued 
to a law enforcement officer certified by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. 
14.  Lapsed permit.  A person may apply for renewal of a permit at the permit 
renewal rate at any time within 6 months after expiration of a permit.  A person who 
applies for a permit more than 6 months after the expiration date of the permit last issued 
to that person must submit an original application and pay the original application fee. 
15.  Duty of issuing authority; application fees.  The application fees submitted by 
the applicant as required by subsection 1, paragraph E, subparagraph (4) are subject to the 
following. 
A.  If the issuing authority is other than the Chief of the State Police, $25 of the fee 
for an original application and $15 of the fee for a renewal must be paid over to the 
Treasurer of State. 
B.  If the Chief of the State Police is the issuing authority as the designee of a 
municipality under section 2002-A, $25 of the fee for an original application and $15 
of the fee for a renewal must be paid over to the Treasurer of State. 
C.  If the Chief of the State Police is the issuing authority because the applicant is 
either a resident of an unorganized territory or a nonresident, the application fee must 
be paid over to the Treasurer of State.  The fee must be applied to the expenses of 
administration incurred by the State Police. 
16.  Application fee; use.  The application fee submitted by the applicant as required 
by subsection 1, paragraph E, subparagraph (4) covers the cost of processing the 
application by the issuing authority and the cost of the permit to carry concealed firearms 
handguns issued by the issuing authority. 
17.  Waiver of law enforcement agency record and background check fees.  
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a law enforcement agency may not charge an 
issuing authority a fee in association with the law enforcement agency's conducting a 
concealed handgun permit applicant record check or background check for the issuing 
authority. 
Sec. 8.  25 MRSA §2004, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §3 and 
affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read: 
1.  False statements.  A person who intentionally or knowingly makes a false 
statement in the written application for a permit to carry a concealed firearm handgun or 
any documents made a part of the application commits a Class D crime. 
Sec. 9.  25 MRSA §2005, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 478, §2, is 
amended to read: 
A.  If the permit holder changes his the permit holder's legal residence from one 
municipality to another during the term of the permit, the permit remains valid if he 
the permit holder provides his the permit holder's new address to the issuing authority 
of his the permit holder's new residence within 30 days of making that change.  The 
issuing authority of the new residence shall immediately reissue the permit with the 
corrected address for a fee of not more than $2. 
Sec. 10.  25 MRSA §2005-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 917, §16, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Immediate suspension.  If the permit holder is required by law to submit to 
chemical testing for the presence of intoxicating liquor or drugs pursuant to Title 17-A, 
section 1057 or for conduct that occurs while the permit holder is in possession of a 
loaded firearm, and the permit holder refuses to submit to the required testing, the permit 
to carry a concealed firearm handgun issued to that person is immediately suspended and 
must be surrendered at that time by the permit holder to the law enforcement officer. 
Sec. 11.  25 MRSA §2006, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 478, §2 and corrected by RR 
1999, c. 2, §28, is amended to read: 
§2006.  Confidentiality of application 
Notwithstanding Title 1, sections 401 to 410, all applications for a permit to carry 
concealed firearms handguns and documents made a part of the application, refusals and 
any information of record collected by the issuing agency during the process of 
ascertaining whether an applicant is of good moral character and meets the additional 
requirements of sections 2003 and 2005, are confidential and may not be made available 
for public inspection or copying. The applicant may waive this confidentiality by written 
notice to the issuing authority. All proceedings relating to the issuance, refusal or 
revocation of a permit to carry concealed firearms handguns are not public proceedings 
under Title 1, chapter 13, unless otherwise requested by the applicant. 
The issuing authority shall make a permanent record of each permit to carry 
concealed firearms handguns in a suitable book or file kept for that purpose. The record 
shall must include the information contained in the permit itself and shall must be 
available for public inspection. 
Sec. 12.  30-A MRSA §2801, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 
and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is 
further amended to read: 
3-A.  Names of those issued concealed handgun permits.  The names of persons 
issued concealed firearms handgun permits under Title 25, chapter 252, may not be 
printed in the annual report. 
Sec. 13.  32 MRSA §8120-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 360, §5, is amended to 
read: 
§8120-A.  Handguns 
A private investigator licensed under this chapter may carry a firearm handgun while 
performing the duties of a private investigator only after being issued a concealed 
weapons handgun permit by the Chief of the State Police under Title 25, chapter 252 and 
passing the written firearms examination prescribed by the commissioner. 
Sec. 14.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, chapter 252, in the chapter headnote, the words 
"permits to carry concealed firearms" are amended to read "permits to carry concealed 
handguns" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, 
publishing or republishing the statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing permits to carry 
concealed firearms. 
1.  It adds a definition of "handgun" to the laws regarding permits to carry concealed 
firearms. 
2.  It clarifies that concealed firearm permits allow permittees to carry only handguns, 
such as pistol-type firearms, on the person, not long guns or machine guns. 
3.  It lengthens the amount of time issuing authorities have to process applications for 
concealed handgun permits. 
4.  It prohibits criminal justice agencies from charging fees to conduct record checks 
in relation to background checks that are conducted by issuing authorities as part of the 
process of reviewing a permit application.