Statutes: New York

1. In accordance with this article, no sooner than three business days nor later than six business days after service of a temporary extreme risk protection order and, alternatively, no later than ten business days after service of an application under this article where no temporary extreme risk protection order has been issued, the supreme court shall hold a hearing to determine whether to issue a final extreme risk protection order and, when applicable, whether a firearm, rifle or shotgun surrendered by, or removed from, the respondent should be returned to the respondent. The respondent shall be entitled to more than six business days if a temporary extreme risk protection order has been issued and the respondent requests a reasonable period of additional time to prepare for the hearing. Where no temporary order has been issued, the respondent may request, and the court may grant, additional time beyond the ten days to allow the respondent to prepare for the hearing.

2. At the hearing pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the petitioner shall have the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the respondent is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to himself, herself or others, as defined in paragraph one or two of subdivision (a) of section 9.39 of the mental hygiene law. The court may consider the petition and any evidence submitted by the petitioner, any evidence submitted by the respondent, any testimony presented, and the report of the relevant law enforcement agency submitted pursuant to subdivision nine of section sixty-three hundred forty-two of this article. The court shall also consider the factors set forth in subdivision two of section sixty-three hundred forty-two of this article.

3. (a) After the hearing pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the court shall issue a written order granting or denying the extreme risk protection order and setting forth the reasons for such determination. If the extreme risk protection order is granted, the court shall direct service of such order in the manner and in accordance with the protections for the petitioner set forth in subdivision six of section sixty-three hundred forty-two of this article.

(b) Upon issuance of an extreme risk protection order: (i) any firearm, rifle or shotgun removed pursuant to a temporary extreme risk protection order or such extreme risk protection order shall be retained by the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction for the duration of the order, unless ownership of the firearm, rifle or shotgun is legally transferred by the respondent to another individual permitted by law to own and possess such firearm, rifle or shotgun; (ii) the supreme court shall temporarily suspend any existing firearm license possessed by the respondent and order the respondent temporarily ineligible for such a license; (iii) the respondent shall be prohibited from purchasing or possessing, or attempting to purchase or possess, a firearm, rifle or shotgun; and (iv) the court shall direct the respondent to surrender any firearm, rifle or shotgun in his or her possession in the same manner as set forth in subdivision five of section 530.14 of the criminal procedure law.

(c) An extreme risk protection order issued in accordance with this section shall extend, as specified by the court, for a period of up to one year from the date of the issuance of such order; provided, however, that if such order was immediately preceded by the issuance of a temporary extreme risk protection order, then the duration of the extreme risk protection order shall be measured from the date of issuance of such temporary extreme risk protection order.

(d) A law enforcement officer serving a final extreme risk protection order shall request that the respondent immediately surrender to the officer all firearms, rifles and shotguns in the respondent’s possession and the officer shall conduct any search permitted by law for such firearms. The law enforcement officer shall take possession of all firearms, rifles and shotguns that are surrendered, that are in plain sight, or that are discovered pursuant to a lawful search. As part of the order, the court may also direct a police officer to search for firearms, rifles and shotguns in a respondent’s possession consistent with the procedures of article six hundred ninety of the criminal procedure law.

4. (a) The court shall notify the division of state police, any other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, all applicable licensing officers, and the division of criminal justice services of the issuance of a final extreme risk protection order and provide a copy of such order to such persons and agencies no later than the next business day after issuing the order. The court also shall promptly notify such persons and agencies and provide a copy of any order amending or revoking such protection order or restoring the respondent’s ability to own or possess firearms, rifles or shotguns no later than the next business day after issuing the order to restore such right to the respondent. Any notice or report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be in an electronic format, in a manner prescribed by the division of criminal justice services.

(b) Upon receiving notice of the issuance of a final extreme risk protection order, the division of criminal justice services shall immediately report the existence of such order to the federal bureau of investigation to allow the bureau to identify persons prohibited from purchasing firearms, rifles or shotguns. The division shall also immediately report to the bureau the expiration of such protection order and any court order amending or revoking such protection order or restoring the respondent’s ability to purchase a firearm, rifle or shotgun.

5. (a) If, in accordance with a temporary extreme risk protection order, a firearm, rifle or shotgun has been surrendered by or removed from the respondent, and the supreme court subsequently finds that the petitioner has not met the required standard of proof, the court’s finding shall include a written order, issued to all parties, directing that any firearm, rifle or shotgun surrendered or removed pursuant to such temporary order shall be returned to the respondent, upon a written finding that there is no legal impediment to the respondent’s possession of such firearm, rifle or shotgun.

(b) If any other person demonstrates that he or she is the lawful owner of any firearm, rifle or shotgun surrendered or removed pursuant to a protection order issued in accordance with this article, and provided that the court has made a written finding that there is no legal impediment to the person’s possession of a surrendered or removed firearm, rifle or shotgun, the court shall direct that such firearm, rifle or shotgun be returned to such lawful owner and inform such person of the obligation to safely store such firearm, rifle, or shotgun in accordance with section 265.45 of the penal law.

6. The respondent shall be notified on the record and in writing by the court that he or she may submit one written request, at any time during the effective period of an extreme risk protection order, for a hearing setting aside any portion of such order. The request shall be submitted in substantially the same form and manner as prescribed by the chief administrator of the courts. Upon such request, the court shall promptly hold a hearing, in accordance with this article, after providing reasonable notice to the petitioner. The respondent shall bear the burden to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, any change of circumstances that may justify a change to the order.