RESOLUTION NO. 475
ESTABLISHING THE DETAILED INSTRUCTION SUPPORTING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE EDUCATION AND REDUCTION (DISCOVER) PROGRAM REGARDING GUN SAFETY AND VIOLENCE REDUCTION EFFORTS AND AMENDING THE 2022 ALBANY COUNTY BUDGET
Introduced: 11/14/22
By Messrs. Reidy, Feeney, A. Joyce, Beston, Ms. Chapman, Messrs. Clay, Cleary, Commisso, Domalewicz, Ethier, Fein, Kuhn, Ms. Lekakis, Mr. Mayo, Mss. McLaughlin, McLean Lane, Messrs. Miller, O'Brien, Peter, Ms. Plotsky, Messrs. Reinhardt, Ricard, Simpson, Ward, Burgdorf, Collins, Drake, Grimm, Ms. Lockart, Messrs. Mauriello, Tunny and Ms. Whalen:
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature cares deeply about the safety and security of County residents and wishes to protect the general welfare of residents, and
WHEREAS, The Legislature wishes to ensure that responsible gun owners in the County are informed of and prepared to adhere to best practices for safe use and storage of firearms, and
WHEREAS, Illegal gun possession in the County presents a safety issue to County residents that must also be addressed, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Legislature wishes to establish the Detailed Instruction Supporting Community Violence Education and Reduction (DISCOVER) Program in partnership with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office aimed at supporting firearm education and training for legal gun owners and reducing the number of illegal guns in our communities, and
WHEREAS, The DISCOVER Program shall establish an anonymous tip line for residents to provide information regarding illegal guns, and provide cash rewards for information that successfully leads to the seizure of illegally possessed firearms, and
WHEREAS, The DISCOVER Program shall sponsor multiple gun buyback events throughout the County in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office to provide opportunities for residents to safely and securely dispose of unwanted guns, in return for cash rewards, and
WHEREAS, The DISCOVER Program shall provide free gun locking mechanisms and instruction regarding best practices in keeping and storing guns and preventing unauthorized use and/or accidents in the home, and
WHEREAS, The DISCOVER Program shall provide for pistol training courses required for licensing in New York State and safety training classes to ensure that County residents are receiving the highest quality of training and education on gun safety available, and
WHEREAS, A budget amendment is necessary in order to incorporate adequate funding to support these initiatives, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that the Detailed Instruction Supporting Community Violence Education and Reduction (DISCOVER) Program, is hereby established in Albany County to support firearm education and training and reduce the number of illegal guns in the County, and which shall encompass the following initiatives:
1) Anonymous Illegal Firearm Tip Line: The Legislature and the Sheriff’s Office will establish an anonymous tip line for persons to report information regarding illegally possessed guns. Callers will be provided with a confidential identification number and will receive a $500 cash reward if the information provided leads to the successful seizure of an illegally possessed firearm.
2) County-wide Gun Buyback Events: The Legislature and the Sheriff’s Office will hold various events held throughout the County for residents who wish to surrender firearms to the Sheriff’s Office. Those who surrender firearms will receive a cash reward as follows:
Rifle/Long gun: $100
Pistol/Handgun: $200
Any inoperable gun: $50
Further conditions apply. No payments will be provided for firearms surrendered that are 3-D printed, toys, replicas, or otherwise not considered “firearms” under Penal Law §265. All guns surrendered must come from a known gun manufacturer. The Sheriff’s Office shall practice reasonable discretion in providing such reward payments.
3) Free Gun Lock Program: The Legislature and the Sheriff’s Office will provide free gun locking mechanisms and instruction regarding best practices in keeping and storing guns at various events throughout the County.
4) Pistol Training Courses: The Legislature and the Sheriff’s Office will fund and offer pistol training courses for County residents run by the Sheriff’s Office.
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the 2022 Albany County Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Decrease Appropriation Account A1010.4 by $48,000 by decreasing line item A1010 4 4011 Community Dev, Pub. Hlth Safety by $48,000
Increase Appropriation Account A3110.4 by $48,000 by increasing line item A3110 4 4046 Fees for Services by $48,000
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.