Written Notification Update

Last month we had alerted our members that the Governor’s proposed budget would have done away with the written notification of firearms license renewal notices. Many of you contacted your legislators on the matter and in turn they contacted the Ways & Means Committee.

The result has been that the House Ways & Means Committee removed the sections from their proposed budget that did away with written notifications and replaced the Governor's proposal with Section 42 that requires the Office of Administration and Finance to conduct a study on the issue. This is a much more responsible way to approach the matter.

Thanks to all who helped on this.

SECTION 42. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary
of the executive office of administration and finance shall investigate ways to reduce
administrative costs related to providing notice via first class mail to any person entitled
to receive such notice pursuant to any general or special law. In conducting said
investigation, the secretary shall consider the potential financial benefit to the
commonwealth of allowing electronic notification in lieu of requiring notice only via first
class mail and shall also consider alternative ways of notifying persons entitled to receive
such notice pursuant to any general or special law who lack access to electronic
communications equipment. The secretary shall report his findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the clerk of the senate, the clerk
of the house of representatives and to the chairs of the house and senate committees on
ways and means no later than December 31, 2007.