Signed by Governor Sonny Perdue

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows individuals with concealed weapons permits to carry concealed firearms in their vehicles while at work, and supplements amendments that revise the restrictions on concealed weapons.

Highlights:

- Finds that any person who enters a "prohibited building" with a concealed weapon is guilty of a misdemeanor. Defines "prohibited building" as any building that hosts professional or college sporting events and political gatherings, government offices, or establishments where alcohol is served that receive less than half of their total annual sales from food [sec. 4 (a-b)]. - Removes churches or church functions from the list of "prohibited buildings" [sec. 4 (b)]. - Prohibits employers from forbidding employees from carrying licensed firearms in their personal motor vehicles when parked in a publicly accessed company parking lot [sec. 7 (b)]. - Exempts employers who have a private company parking lot that is not accessible to the public [sec. 7 (d)]. - Instructs judges to direct law enforcement agencies to conduct a background check on anyone submitting a license application or request for license renewal within two business days. This requires both a fingerprint based criminal history records check and an FBI background check [sec. 5 (d) (1-2)]. - Reduces the deadline by which law enforcement agencies must report on the findings of the background check to the judge from 50 to 30 days [sec. 5 (d) (4)]. - Reduces the deadline by which a judge can issue or deny the applicants license from 60 to 10 days after the judge receives the results of the background check [sec. 5 (d) (4)]. - Permits a concealed weapons license holder to carry a firearm at a park, historic site, or recreational area [sec. 3 (c)]. - Provides immunity from lawsuits to any organization working after a declared emergency and under the direction of a state agency, as long as the organization was acting in good faith [sec. 8]. - An amendment was introduced by Sen. Bearden and adopted by the House, supplementing the "prohibited buildings" provision. - This is a substitute bill offered by the Senate Rules Committee.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows individuals with concealed weapons permits to carry concealed firearms in their vehicles while at work.

Highlights:

- Prohibits employers from forbidding employees to carry licensed firearms in their personal motor vehicles when parked in a publicly accessed company parking lot [sec. 6 (a-b)]. - Exempts employers who have a private company parking lot that is not accessible to the public [sec. 6 (d) (1)]. - Instructs judges to direct law enforcement agencies to conduct a background check on anyone submitting a license application or request for license renewal within two business days. This requires both a fingerprint based criminal history records check and an FBI background check [sec. 4 (d) (1-2)]. - Reduces the deadline by which law enforcement agencies must report on the findings of the background check to the judge from 50 to 30 days [sec. 4 (d) (4)]. - Reduces the deadline by which a judge can either issue or deny the applicant's license from 60 to 45 days [sec. 4 (d) (4)]. - Permits a concealed weapons license holder to carry a firearm at a park, historic site, or recreational area [sec. 3 (c)]. - Provides immunity from lawsuits to any organization working under the direction of a state agency after a declared emergency as long as the organization was acting in good faith (Sec. 7). - This is a substitute bill offered by the Senate Rules Committee.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill authorizing the carrying of a hidden firearm in a private vehicle.

Highlights:

- Expands the locations in a privately owned motor vehicle that those qualified to hold a handgun license can store a loaded firearm from the glove compartment, console, or similar compartment to the entire vehicle (sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text