Section 27532 - Investigation on technological viability of microstamping spent cartridge casings discharged by firearms; deermination of implementation(a) On or before March 1, 2025, the Department of Justice shall engage in an investigation to determine the technological viability of microstamping components producing microstamps on spent cartridge casings discharged by a firearm into which the microstamping component has been installed. The investigation shall include input from relevant stakeholders.(b) If the department has determined that microstamping components are technologically viable pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall, on or before September 1, 2025, provide written guidance on performance standards for persons, associations, partnerships, corporations, or other entities engaged in the business of producing microstamping components, which shall include processes and standards for those entities to demonstrate that a representative sample of the microstamping components they manufacture produce legible microstamps with reasonable reliability, including after repeated firing.(c) If the department has determined that microstamping components are technologically viable pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall, on or before January 1, 2026, commence accepting applications for licensure of persons, associations, partnerships, corporations, or other entities to engage in the business of producing microstamping components that meet those performance standards. A federally licensed firearms manufacturer shall not be required to obtain a license in order to manufacture microstamping components but shall comply with Section 27535 if it provides a certification that a firearm is microstamping-enabled.(d) If the department has determined that microstamping components are technologically viable pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall, on or before July 1, 2026, provide grants or enter into contracts with one or more entities licensed pursuant to subdivision (c) to produce microstamping components that meet the performance standards identified in subdivision (b) and to make those microstamping components available for sale or other distribution at a reasonable cost to firearm manufacturers, licensed firearms dealers, and gunsmiths engaged in the business of installing microstamping components in the State of California in accordance with this section.(e) If the department has determined that microstamping components are technologically viable pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall, on or before July 1, 2027, determine if either, or both, of the following are true: (1) Microstamping components at commercially reasonable prices are available from licensees operating pursuant to subdivision (c) or subdivision (d).(2) Options of microstamping-enabled firearms are readily available for purchase in the State of California.(f) Upon a determination that microstamping components are available pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) or that microstamping-enabled firearms are available pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), the department shall make publicly available a list of all licensees producing microstamping components meeting the performance standards established in subdivision (b) and shall notify licensed firearms dealers, gunsmiths, and manufacturers operating within the State of California of the list of available microstamping component producers. The department shall update its determination and the list of licensees producing microstamping components annually thereafter.(g) The department shall adopt rules or regulations that may be necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this section, including the adoption of fees for the licensure of a person or an entity as described in subdivision (c). Regulations adopted pursuant to this section are exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).Added by Stats 2023 ch 253 (SB 452),s 2, eff. 1/1/2024.