1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; firearms silencers; authorizing federally licensed 
1.3 	firearms and ammunition manufacturers to possess firearms silencers for the 
1.4 	purpose of testing or selling the silencers or the firearms and ammunition tested 
1.5 	with them to government agencies, military, and other federally licensed firearms 
1.6 	and ammunition manufacturers;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 
1.7 	609.66, subdivision 1h.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.66, subdivision 1h, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 1h.Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and; wildlife control; 
1.11 	and firearms and ammunition testing purposes. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, 
1.12 	paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace officers may use devices designed to silence or 
1.13 	muffle the discharge of a firearm for tactical emergency response operations. Tactical 
1.14 	emergency response operations include execution of high risk search and arrest warrants, 
1.15 	incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue, and any other tactical deployments involving high 
1.16 	risk circumstances. The chief law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency 
1.17 	that has the need to use silencing devices must establish and enforce a written policy 
1.18 	governing the use of the devices.
1.19 	(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), an enforcement 
1.20 	officer, as defined in section 97A.015, subdivision 18, a wildlife area manager, an 
1.21 	employee designated under section 84.0835, or a person acting under contract with the 
1.22 	commissioner of natural resources, at specific times and locations that are authorized 
1.23 	by the commissioner of natural resources may use devices designed to silence or 
1.24 	muffle the discharge of a firearm for wildlife control operations that require stealth. If 
1.25 	the commissioner determines that the use of silencing devices is necessary under this 
2.1 	paragraph, the commissioner must establish and enforce a written policy governing the 
2.2 	use, possession, and transportation of the devices.
2.3 	(c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), a person who is 
2.4 	licensed, as required, by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, 
2.5 	Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a 
2.6 	firearms or ammunition importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting in full compliance 
2.7 	with all federal requirements under that license, may possess devices designed to silence or 
2.8 	muffle the discharge of a firearm for the purpose of testing, selling, or otherwise transferring 
2.9 	in any lawful manner the devices or, firearms , or ammunition tested with the devices, to:
2.10 	(1) the chief administrator of any federal, state, or local governmental agency;
2.11 	(2) the commander or commander's designee of any unit of the United States Armed 
2.12 	Forces; or
2.13 	(3) a person who is licensed, as required, by the United States Department of Justice, 
2.14 	Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under United States Code, title 18, 
2.15 	section 923, as a firearms or ammunition importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting 
2.16 	in full compliance with all federal requirements under that license.

2.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2013.