New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIII - Office of Mental Health
Part 543 - Certificate Of Relief From Disabilities Related To Firearms Possession
Section 543.5 - Process

Universal Citation: 14 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs ยง 543.5

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) Request for relief.

(1) An individual who has been or may be disqualified from attempting to purchase or otherwise possess a firearm in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (j) of section 7.09 of the Mental Hygiene Law and whose records were submitted to the NICS system by the Office of Mental Health, may request administrative review by the office to have his or her civil rights restored for such limited purpose.

(2) A request for relief shall be made on forms developed by the office, which shall be available on the office's public website. At a minimum, the forms shall require the applicant to answer all of the following questions under penalty of perjury:
(i) Is the applicant under indictment for, or has he/she been convicted of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year?

(ii) Is the applicant a fugitive from justice?

(iii) Is the applicant an unlawful user of, or is addicted to, any controlled substance?

(iv) Has the applicant been adjudicated as having a mental disability or committed to a mental institution?

(v) Is the applicant an illegal alien, or has he/she been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa?

(vi) Was the applicant discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions?

(vii) Has the applicant renounced U.S. citizenship?

(viii) Is the applicant subject to a court order restraining him or her from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child?

(ix) Has the applicant been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence?

(3) In addition to the forms provided, the applicant shall be required to submit further information in support of the certificate of relief. The information must include, but is not limited to:
(i) true and certified copies of medical records detailing the applicant's psychiatric history, which shall include the records pertaining to the commitment to a mental health facility, or adjudication as having a mental disability (as defined in this Part), which is the subject of the request for relief;

(ii) true and certified copies of medical records from all of the applicant's current treatment providers, if the applicant is receiving treatment;

(iii) a true and certified copy of all criminal history information maintained on file at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to the applicant, or a copy of a response from such division and bureau indicating that there is no criminal history information on file;

(iv) evidence of the applicant's reputation, which may include notarized letters of reference from current and past employers, family members or personal friends, affidavits from the applicant or other character evidence;

(v) any further information specifically requested by the office. Such documents requested by the office shall be certified copies of original documents.

(4) The applicant may provide a psychiatric evaluation performed no earlier than 90 calendar days from the date the request for the certificate of relief was submitted to the office, conducted by a qualified psychiatrist. The evaluation should include an opinion, and a basis for that opinion, as to whether or not the applicant's record and reputation are such that the applicant will or will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and whether or not the granting of the relief would be contrary to the public interest.

(5) The office reserves the right to request that the applicant undergo a clinical evaluation and risk assessment as determined by the commissioner or his/her designee(s). The evaluation must be performed 45 calendar days from the date the office requests the evaluation, unless the office allows an extension of time.

(6) The request for relief must include a valid authorization form permitting the office to obtain and/or review health information from any health, mental health, or alcohol/substance abuse providers with respect to care provided prior to the date of the application, for the purposes of reviewing the application for relief. Such authorization must comply with applicable Federal or State laws governing the privacy of health information, including but not limited to, as relevant, 45 CFR parts 160 and 164, 42 CFR part 2, Public Health Law section 17 and article 27-F, and Mental Hygiene Law section 33.13.

(7) It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required information accompanies the request for relief at the time it is submitted to the office. Unless specifically requested by the office, information provided after receipt by the office of the initial request for relief will not be considered. Information specifically requested by the office must be received by the office within 60 days of the date requested in order for it to be considered. Failure to meet this time frame will result in a denial of the certificate of relief.

(b) Scope of review.

(1) The commissioner or his/her designee(s) shall perform an administrative review of the request for relief, which shall consist of a review of all information submitted by the applicant that was required or requested by the office, in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section. The person(s) who conducts the review will not be the individual(s) who gathered the evidence for the administrative request for relief.

(2) Failure of the applicant to provide required or requested information may be the sole basis for denial of the certificate of relief.

(3) The scope of the review shall be to determine, from the materials submitted, whether the applicant will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and granting the relief will not be contrary to the public interest.

(c) Decision.

(1) After review of the application in accordance with subdivision (b) of this section, the commissioner or his/her designee(s) shall prepare a written determination, which shall include:
(i) a summary of the information utilized in reaching the decision;

(ii) a summary of the applicant's criminal history (if any);

(iii) a summary of the psychiatric evaluation prepared to support the request for relief (if any);

(iv) a summary of the applicant's mental health history;

(v) a summary of the circumstances surrounding the firearms disability imposed by 18 U.S.C. section 922(d)(4) and (g)(4);

(vi) an opinion as to whether or not the applicant's record and reputation are such that the applicant will or will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and whether or not the granting of the relief would be contrary to the public interest; and

(vii) a determination as to whether or not the relief is granted.

(2) The office shall provide a copy of the written determination to the applicant without undue delay. In addition to a copy of the written determination:
(i) if the relief is granted:
(a) the applicant must be provided with written notice that while the certificate of relief removes the disability from Federal firearms prohibitions (disabilities) imposed under 18 U.S.C. section 922(d)(4) and (g)(4), the determination does not otherwise qualify the applicant to purchase or possess a firearm, and does not fulfill the requirements of the background check pursuant to the Brady Act (Pub. L. 103-159); and

(b) the office must notify the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that the certificate of relief has been granted; or

(ii) if the relief is denied:
(a) the applicant must be notified of the right to have the decision reviewed in accordance with applicable State law; and

(b) the office must further advise that the applicant cannot apply again for a request for relief until a year after the date of the written determination to deny the relief requested.

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