What's happening
This bill requires a statewide public awareness campaign on safe firearm storage and child access prevention, updating educational materials annually.
Why it matters
Expands State Responsibility. By shifting the mandate for firearm safety education from the executive law to the public health law, the bill places responsibility for the campaign under the state health department, potentially integrating firearm safety more deeply with public health strategies and resources.
Comprehensive, Localized Content. The campaign must address not just general safe storage and child access prevention, but also include information about state and local laws, available storage methods, and resources for preventing firearm violence, making the information more relevant and actionable for diverse communities.
Increased Accessibility and Ongoing Updates. Requiring that educational materials be made easily shareable in digital formats and updated annually ensures that the public, agencies, and local organizations have access to current, accurate information as laws or best practices evolve.
Potential for Broader Impact. By mandating a statewide approach and regular updates, the bill aims to create sustained public awareness, which could help prevent unintentional shootings and youth firearm access, influencing both individual behavior and broader community safety norms.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Promote Safe Gun Storage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 37
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A814
- Ordered to third reading cal.21
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Promote Safe Gun Storage
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Benedetto
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
746
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention; to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the penal law and the executive law relating to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9760 and A. 10356-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof; and to repeal certain provisions of the executive law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 847 of the executive law as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the penal law and the executive law relating to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9760 and A. 10356-A, is REPEALED.
§ 2. Section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 32 to read as follows:
32. (a) On or before July first, two thousand twenty-five, the commissioner shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public on the safe storage of firearms, rifles and shotguns and child access and prevention. The public awareness campaign shall include, but not be limited to, educational materials, resources and information related to New York state child access prevention laws and laws relating to the safe storage and transport of firearms, rifles and shotguns including sections 265.45, 265.46, and 400.00 of the penal law, available methods for the safe storage of firearms, rifles and shotguns designed to prevent child access, firearm violence prevention resources, and county and local specific laws and regulations related to child access prevention and safe storage of firearms, rifles and shotguns.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02703-01-5
(b) On or before July first, two thousand twenty-five, the commissioner shall make the educational materials developed for use in this public awareness campaign readily shareable in a digital format and make the materials available on the public facing portion of the department's website. The commissioner shall make the educational materials readily available to any agency who requests such educational materials for dissemination.
(c) On July first, two thousand twenty-six, and each July first thereafter, the department shall update, as necessary, the educational materials developed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision and make available and disseminate the updated materials pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.
§ 3. Section 4 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the penal law and the executive law relating to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9760 and A. 10356-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately, provided however, that section one of this act shall take effect July 1, 2025. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided however, that sections one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the penal law and the executive law relating to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9760 and A. 10356-A, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention; to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the penal law and the executive law relating to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 9760 and A. 10356-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof; and to repeal certain provisions of the executive law relating thereto
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2024,C.432.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying bill by changing the responsibil- ity of the awareness campaign from the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to the Department Of Health Office of Gun Violence Prevention and pushes out the effective date nine months to July 1, 2025.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 432 of the Laws of 2024.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect July 1, 2025 This act shall take effect immediately,provided however,that Section one of this act shall take effect July 1, 2025. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.