Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation which expands background checks on all gun sales in Illinois. The bill also provides mental health funding for communities most impacted by gun violence, among other measures.
The bill is the latest effort by lawmakers to address gun violence as a public health crisis.
Some of the key provisions of House Bill 562 include:
- It expands background checks to all gun sales in Illinois starting in 2024.
- It invests in community-based, trauma-informed mental health programs in the communities most impacted by gun violence.
- Supporters of the bill say it properly funds the Illinois State Police ability to enforce the surrender of firearms from people who have lost their license for gun ownership.
- It requires Illinois State Police to remove guns from people with revoked FOID cards who have not surrendered their weapon(s).
- The bill amends how FOID card fees are distributed: $5 will go to the State Police Firearm Services Fund and $5 will go into the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund. Previously $6 went to the Wildlife and Fish Fund, $1 to the State Police Services Fund, and $3 to the State Police Firearm Services Fund.
- Another key provision of the bill is the creation of a stolen gun database. It requires Illinois State Police to continuously monitor state and federal databases for prohibited gun buyers.
- And the bill creates stronger identification factors, like fingerprints, so Illinois State Police can more easily verify the identity of FOID applicants and firearm purchasers.
The bill streamlines the FOID card system by allowing State Police to create electronic records, creating a combined FOID and concealed carry license, and offering cardholders the ability to apply for renewal six months before their expiration date.
