230 - Gun trafficking interdiction program. - New York Statutes

§ 230. Gun trafficking interdiction program. 1. There is hereby created within the division of criminal justice services a gun trafficking interdiction program to be administered by the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services to distribute funds in accordance with the provisions of this section for the purpose of interdicting guns and components of guns illegally entering New York with a focus on those "supplier" states from which substantial numbers of guns illegally enter this state. 2. The superintendent of the division of state police, in cooperation with the United States department of treasury, bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms and district attorneys in New York state, shall develop and implement a strategy for the interdiction of guns illegally entering New York from supplier states. The strategy shall include identifying and prosecuting gun traffickers and suppliers of such guns who may be violating federal, state or local laws, and cooperating with the United States department of treasury, bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms and appropriate prosecutorial agencies and law enforcement agencies in supplier states in the investigation and enforcement of such laws. District attorneys are authorized to enter into collaborative agreements with prosecutorial and other governmental agencies and entities in supplier states in an effort to stop the movement of illegal guns into New York. 3. The commissioner of the division of criminal justice services shall award grant monies to district attorneys for programs which are designed to interdict the flow of illegal guns across New York state borders. In order to qualify for such grant monies, a district attorney must submit an application to the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the division of criminal justice services. The application shall identify a strategy and implementation plan for preventing the entry of illegal guns across New York's borders. Funds awarded under this section shall not be used to supplant federal, state or local funds. No more than fifty percent of the funds available pursuant to this section in any one fiscal year shall be awarded for programs within a single city, county, town or village. 4. The superintendent of the division of state police shall establish and maintain within the division a criminal gun clearinghouse as a central repository of information regarding all guns seized, forfeited, found or otherwise coming into the possession of any state or local law enforcement agency which are believed to have been used in the commission of a crime. The superintendent of the division of state police shall adopt and promulgate regulations prescribing reporting procedures for such state or local law enforcement agencies, including the form for reporting such information. In addition to any other information which the superintendent of the division of state police may require, the form shall require (a) the serial number or other identifying information on the gun, if available and (b) a brief description of the circumstances under which the gun came into the possession of the law enforcement agency, including the crime which was or may have been committed with the gun. 5. In any case where a state or local law enforcement agency investigates the commission of a crime in this state and a specific gun is known to have been used in such crime, such agency shall submit a request to the national tracing center of the United States Department of Treasury, bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms to trace the movement of such gun and such federal agency shall be requested to provide the superintendent of the division of state police and the local law enforcement agency with the results of such a trace. Thissubdivision shall not apply where the source of a gun is already known to a local law enforcement agency.