(a) Commencing July 1, 2025, the department shall electronically approve the purchase or transfer of firearm precursor parts through a vendor, as defined in Section 16532, except as otherwise specified. This approval shall occur at the time of purchase or transfer, prior to the purchaser or transferee taking possession of the firearm precursor part. Pursuant to the authorization specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 30452, the following persons are authorized to purchase firearm precursor parts:

(1) A purchaser or transferee whose information matches an entry in the Automated Firearms System (AFS) and who is eligible to possess firearm precursor parts as specified in subdivision (b).

(2) A purchaser or transferee who has a current certificate of eligibility issued by the department pursuant to Section 26710.

(3) A purchaser or transferee who is not prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearm precursor parts in a single firearm precursor part transaction or purchase made pursuant to the procedure developed pursuant to subdivision (c).

(b) To determine if the purchaser or transferee is eligible to purchase or possess firearm precursor parts pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the department shall cross-reference the firearm precursor part purchaser’s or transferee’s name, date of birth, current address, and driver’s license or other government identification number, as described in Section 28180, with the information maintained in the AFS. If the purchaser’s or transferee’s information does not match an AFS entry, the transaction shall be denied. If the purchaser’s or transferee’s information matches an AFS entry, the department shall determine if the purchaser or transferee falls within a class of persons who are prohibited from owning or possessing firearm precursor parts by cross-referencing with the Prohibited Armed Persons File. If the purchaser or transferee is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, the transaction shall be denied.

(c) The department shall develop a procedure in which a person who is not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm precursor part may be approved for a single firearm precursor part transaction or purchase. The department shall recover the cost of processing and regulatory and enforcement activities related to this section by charging the firearm precursor part transaction or purchase applicant a fee not to exceed the fee charged for the department’s Dealers’ Record of Sale (DROS) process, as described in Section 28225 and not to exceed the department’s reasonable costs.

(d) A vendor is prohibited from providing a purchaser or transferee a firearm precursor part without department approval. If a vendor cannot electronically verify a person’s eligibility to purchase or possess firearm precursor parts via an internet connection, the department shall provide a telephone line to verify eligibility. This option is available to firearm precursor part vendors who can demonstrate legitimate geographical and telecommunications limitations in submitting the information electronically and who are approved by the department to use the telephone line verification.

(e) The department shall recover the reasonable cost of regulatory and enforcement activities related to this article by charging firearm precursor parts purchasers and transferees a per transaction fee not to exceed one dollar ($1), provided, however, that the fee may be increased at a rate not to exceed any increases in the California Consumer Price Index as compiled and reported by the Department of Industrial Relations, not to exceed the reasonable regulatory and enforcement costs.

(f) A fund to be known as the Firearm Precursor Parts Enforcement Special Fund is hereby created within the State Treasury. All fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Firearm Precursor Parts Special Fund and, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, are continuously appropriated to the department for purposes of implementing, operating, and enforcing the firearm precursor part authorization program provided for in this section and Section 30452.

(g) The Department of Justice is authorized to adopt regulations to implement this section.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 730, Sec. 6. (AB 879) Effective January 1, 2020.)