(a) There shall be within the Division of State Police, within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, a state-wide firearms trafficking task force for the effective cooperative enforcement of the laws of this state concerning the distribution and possession of firearms.

(b) The task force shall be comprised of municipal and state law enforcement officers and may include federal law enforcement officers. Such task force shall be authorized to conduct any investigation authorized by this section at any place within the state as may be deemed necessary.

(c) The task force may request and may receive from any federal, state or local agency, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its duties, including the temporary assignment of personnel which may be necessary to carry out the performance of its functions.

(d) The task force may enter into mutual assistance and cooperation agreements with other states pertaining to firearms law enforcement matters extending across state boundaries, and may consult and exchange information and personnel with agencies of other states with reference to firearms law enforcement problems of mutual concern.

(e) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may appoint a commanding officer and such other personnel as the commissioner deems necessary for the duties of the task force, within available appropriations.

(f) The task force shall: (1) Review the problem of illegal trafficking in firearms and its effects, including its effects on the public, and implement solutions to address the problem; (2) identify persons illegally trafficking in firearms and focus resources to prosecute such persons; (3) track firearms which were sold or distributed illegally and implement solutions to remove such firearms from persons illegally in possession of them; and (4) coordinate its activities with other law enforcement agencies within and without the state.

(P.A. 00-192, S. 40, 102; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)

History: P.A. 00-192 effective July 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” and “Department of Public Safety” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection” and “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.