An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2086
Committee Amendment CA_A_S679 (Senate)
Amends: 17-A MRSA §1051

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " f} " to S.P. 879, L.D. 2086, "An Act to Amend the
Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms"
Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the followmg:
'See. 3. 17-A MRSA §1051, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1975,c. 499, §1, is repealed
and the following enacted in its place:
2. As used m this chapter, "machine gun" means:
A. A weapon of any description, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, that is
capable of dischargine a number of projectiles in rapid succession by one manual or
mechanical operation of the trigger or firing mechamsmi
B. A manual, power-driven or electronic device primarily designed or redesigned so
that when the device is attached to a semi-automatic fu-eann. the device:
dt Materially increases the rate of fire of the semi-automatic firearm; or
f2) Aouroximates the operation or rate of fire of a machine gun;
C, A device, part or combination of parts that is designed and functions to materially
increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm by eliminating the need for the
operator of the semi-automatic firearm to make a separate movement foreach
individual operation of the trieeer or firing mechanism; or
D. A semi-automatic firearm that has been modified in anyway that:
(I) Materially increases the rate of fire of the semi-automatic firearm; or
(T) Approximates the oueration or rate of fire of a machitie^yn.
Sec. 4. 17-AMRSA §1051, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. For purposes of this chapter, "semi-automatic firearm" means a firearm that:
A. Upon initiating the furuie sequence, fires the first chambered cartridge and uses a
portion of the energy of the firme cartridee to:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
,^-'^ COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /-\ " to S.P. 879, L.D. 2086 f S'
_„....'
d) Extract the expended cartridge case;
(2) Chamber the next cartridge; and
(3) Prepare the firing mechanism to fire again;
B. Requires a separate movement for each mdiYidual operation of the trigger or firing
mechanism; and
C. Is not a machine eun.'
Amend the bill by inserting after section 5 the following:
'See. 6. Attorney General; rules for forfeited firearms. In accordance with the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, section 1504, subsection 4, the Attorney General shall
update mles governing the disposition of forfeited firearms to state, county and municipal
agencies including updated processes for the destruction of forfeited firearms under state
law.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment repeals and replaces the provision of law defining "machine gun." In
the amendment, the definition of "machine gun" includes the same language that defines
"machine gun" under current law and adds to the definition: a device that, when attached
to a semi-automatic firearm, materially increases the rate of fire of the semi-automatic
firearm or approximates the operation or rate of fire of a machine gun; a device, part or
combination of parts designed to increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm by
eliminating the need to make a separate movement for each individual operation of the
trigger; and a semi-automatic firearm that has been modified to materially increase its rate
of fu-e or to approximate the operation or rate of fire of a machine gun. The amendment
also defines "semi-automatic firearm."
Finally, the amendment directs the Attorney General to update rules governing the
disposition of forfeited firearms under state law.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 04/01/24 ^»<S-
LD 2086 LR 2831(02)
An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "^.' (^ \Q'}C\
Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Office of the Attorney General associated with updating rules are anticipated to be minor and
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LR2831(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1