Art. 1003. Transfer or storage of transferred firearms

            A. The sheriff of each parish shall be responsible for oversight of firearm transfers in his parish. For each firearm transferred pursuant to this Title, the sheriff shall offer all of the following options to the transferor:

            (1)(a) Allow a third party to receive and hold the transferred firearms. The third party shall complete a firearms acknowledgment form that, at a minimum, informs the third party of the relevant state and federal laws, lists the consequences for noncompliance, and asks if the third party is able to lawfully possess a firearm. No firearm shall be transferred to a third party living in the same residence as the transferor at the time of transfer. The sheriff shall prescribe the manner in which firearms are transferred to a third party.

            (b) If a firearm is transferred to a third party pursuant to the provisions of this Subparagraph, the sheriff shall advise the third party that return of the firearm to the person before the person is able to lawfully possess the firearms pursuant to state or federal law may result in the third party being charged with a crime.

            (2) Store the transferred firearms in a storage facility with which the sheriff has contracted for the storage of transferred firearms or with the sheriff. The sheriff may charge a reasonable fee for the storage of such firearms.

            (3) Oversee the legal sale of the transferred firearms to a third party. The sheriff may contract with a licensed firearms dealer for such purpose. The sheriff may charge a reasonable fee to oversee the sale of firearms.

            B. The sheriff shall prepare a receipt for each firearm transferred and provide a copy to the person transferring the firearms. The receipt shall include the firearm manufacturer and firearm serial number. The receipt shall be signed by the officer accepting the firearms and the person transferring the firearms. The sheriff may require the receipt to be presented before returning a transferred firearm.

            C. The sheriff shall keep a record of all transferred firearms including but not limited to the name of the person transferring the firearm, the manufacturer, model, serial number, and the manner in which the firearm is stored.

            D.(1) When the person is no longer prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, the person whose firearms were transferred pursuant to the provisions of this Title may file a motion with the court seeking an order for the return of the transferred firearms.

            (2) Upon reviewing the motion, if the court determines that the person is no longer prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, the court shall issue an order stating that the firearms transferred pursuant to the provisions of this Title shall be returned to the person. The order shall include the date on which the person is no longer prohibited from possessing a firearm and a copy of the order shall be sent to the sheriff. However, all outstanding fees shall be paid to the sheriff prior to the firearms being returned.

            (3) No sheriff or third party to whom the firearms were transferred pursuant to the provisions of this Title, shall return a transferred firearm prior to receiving the order issued by the court pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph.

            (4) If the person refuses to pay outstanding fees to the sheriff or fails to file a motion with the court seeking an order for the return of the transferred firearms within one year of the expiration of the prohibition on possessing firearms under state or federal law, the sheriff may send, by United States mail to the person's last known address, a notice informing the person that if he does not pay the outstanding fees to the sheriff or file a motion with the court seeking an order for the return of the transferred firearms within ninety days, the firearms shall be forfeited to the sheriff. If, after ninety days from the mailing of the notice, the person does not pay the outstanding fees to the sheriff or file a motion with the court seeking an order for the return of the transferred firearms, the sheriff may file a motion seeking a court order declaring that the firearms are forfeited to the sheriff, who may thereafter dispose of the firearms at his discretion.

            E. The sheriff shall exercise due care to preserve the quality and function of all firearms transferred under the provisions of this Title. However, the sheriff shall not be liable for damage to firearms except for cases of willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence. In addition, the sheriff shall not be liable for damage caused by the third party to whom the firearms were transferred pursuant to the provisions of this Title.

            F. Nothing in this Title shall be construed to prohibit the sheriff, consistent with constitutional requirements, from obtaining a search warrant to authorize testing or examination upon any firearm so as to facilitate any criminal investigation or prosecution. Notwithstanding Article 163(C) or any other provision of law to the contrary, the testing or examination of the firearms pursuant to the search warrant may be conducted at any time before or during the pendency of any criminal proceeding in which the firearms, or the testing or examination of the firearms, may be used as evidence, and shall not be subject to the ten-day period in Article 163(C).

            G. Not sooner than three years after the date on which a firearm or firearms are returned pursuant to the provisions of this Article, the person may file a motion with the court requesting that the records relative to the firearm or firearms held by the clerk of court and by the sheriff be destroyed. After a contradictory hearing with the sheriff and the district attorney, which may be waived by the sheriff or the district attorney, the court, if the person is no longer prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law and if the firearm or firearms have actually been returned, shall order that the records held by the clerk of court and by the sheriff relative to the returned firearm or firearms be destroyed.

            Acts 2018, No. 367, §3, eff. Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 427, §3.