Sec. 8. (a) At least one hundred eighty (180) days after the date on which a court orders a law enforcement agency to retain an individual's firearm under section 6(c) of this chapter, the individual may petition the court for a finding that the individual is no longer dangerous.

(b) Upon receipt of a petition described in subsection (a), the court shall:

(1) enter an order setting a date for a hearing on the petition; and

(2) inform the prosecuting attorney of the date, time, and location of the hearing.

(c) The prosecuting attorney shall represent the state at the hearing on a petition under this section.

(d) In a hearing on a petition under this section, the individual may be represented by an attorney.

(e) In a hearing on a petition under this section filed:

(1) not later than one (1) year after the date of the order issued under section 6(c) of this chapter, the individual must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the individual is no longer dangerous; and

(2) later than one (1) year after the date of the order issued under section 6(c) of this chapter, the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the individual is still dangerous.

(f) If, upon the completion of the hearing and consideration of the record, the court finds that the individual is no longer dangerous, the court shall:

(1) issue a court order that finds that the individual is no longer dangerous;

(2) order the law enforcement agency having custody of any firearm to return the firearm as quickly as practicable, but not later than five (5) days after the date of the order, to the individual;

(3) terminate any injunction issued under section 6 of this chapter; and

(4) terminate the suspension of the individual's license to carry a handgun so that the individual may reapply for a license.

(g) If the court denies an individual's petition under this section, the individual may not file a subsequent petition until at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the date on which the court denied the petition.

(h) If a court issues an order described under subsection (f), the court's order shall be transmitted, as soon as practicable, to the office of judicial administration for transmission to the NICS (as defined in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5) in accordance with IC 33-24-6-3.

As added by P.L.1-2006, SEC.537. Amended by P.L.289-2019, SEC.12.