ARTICLE 2. Exemption or Petition for Relief [29850. - 29865.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 2.

in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 29850. Section 29850.

(a) A violation of Section 29800, 29805, 29815, or 29820 is justifiable where all of the following conditions are met: (1) The person found the firearm or took the firearm from a person who was committing a crime against the person who found or took the firearm. (2) The person possessed the firearm no longer than was necessary to deliver or transport the firearm to a law enforcement agency for that agency’s disposition according to law or to a licensed firearms dealer for transfer or for storage pursuant to Section 29830. (3) If the firearm was transported to a law enforcement agency or to a licensed firearms dealer, it was transported in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 25570. (4) If the firearm is being transported to a law enforcement agency or to a licensed firearms dealer, the person transporting the firearm has given prior notice to the law enforcement agency or to the licensed firearms dealer that the person is transporting the firearm to the law enforcement agency or the licensed firearms dealer for disposition according to law. (b) Upon the trial for violating Section 29800, 29805, 29815, or 29820, the trier of fact shall determine whether the defendant was acting within the provisions of the exemption created by this section. (c) The defendant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant comes within the provisions of the exemption created by this section.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 29855. Section 29855.

(a) Any person employed as a peace officer described in Section 830.1, 830.2, 830.31, 830.32, 830.33, or 830.5 whose employment or livelihood is dependent on the ability to legally possess a firearm, who is subject to the prohibition imposed by Section 29805 because of a conviction under Section 273.5, 273.6, or 646.9, may petition the court only once for relief from this prohibition. (b) The petition shall be filed with the court in which the petitioner was sentenced. If possible, the matter shall be heard before the same judge who sentenced the petitioner. (c) Upon filing the petition, the clerk of the court shall set the hearing date and shall notify the petitioner and the prosecuting attorney of the date of the hearing. (d) Upon making each of the following findings, the court may reduce or eliminate the prohibition, impose conditions on reduction or elimination of the prohibition, or otherwise grant relief from the prohibition as the court deems appropriate: (1) Finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is likely to use a firearm in a safe and lawful manner. (2) Finds that the petitioner is not within a prohibited class as specified in Section 29815, 29820, 29825, or 29900, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 29800, and the court is not presented with any credible evidence that the petitioner is a person described in Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (3) Finds that the petitioner does not have a previous conviction under Section 29805, no matter when the prior conviction occurred. (e) In making its decision, the court shall consider the petitioner’s continued employment, the interest of justice, any relevant evidence, and the totality of the circumstances. The court shall require, as a condition of granting relief from the prohibition under Section 29805, that the petitioner agree to participate in counseling as deemed appropriate by the court. Relief from the prohibition shall not relieve any other person or entity from any liability that might otherwise be imposed. It is the intent of the Legislature that courts exercise broad discretion in fashioning appropriate relief under this section in cases in which relief is warranted. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to require courts to grant relief to any particular petitioner. It is the intent of the Legislature to permit persons who were convicted of an offense specified in Section 273.5, 273.6, or 646.9 to seek relief from the prohibition imposed by Section 29805.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 29860. Section 29860.

(a) Any person who is subject to the prohibition imposed by Section 29805 because of a conviction of an offense prior to that offense being added to Section 29805 may petition the court only once for relief from this prohibition. (b) The petition shall be filed with the court in which the petitioner was sentenced. If possible, the matter shall be heard before the same judge that sentenced the petitioner. (c) Upon filing the petition, the clerk of the court shall set the hearing date and notify the petitioner and the prosecuting attorney of the date of the hearing. (d) Upon making each of the following findings, the court may reduce or eliminate the prohibition, impose conditions on reduction or elimination of the prohibition, or otherwise grant relief from the prohibition as the court deems appropriate: (1) Finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner is likely to use a firearm in a safe and lawful manner. (2) Finds that the petitioner is not within a prohibited class as specified in Section 29815, 29820, 29825, or 29900, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 29800, and the court is not presented with any credible evidence that the petitioner is a person described in Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (3) Finds that the petitioner does not have a previous conviction under Section 29805, no matter when the prior conviction occurred. (e) In making its decision, the court may consider the interest of justice, any relevant evidence, and the totality of the circumstances. It is the intent of the Legislature that courts exercise broad discretion in fashioning appropriate relief under this section in cases in which relief is warranted. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to require courts to grant relief to any particular petitioner.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 29865. Section 29865.

Law enforcement officials who enforce the prohibition specified in Section 29805 against a person who has been granted relief pursuant to Section 29855 or 29860 shall be immune from any liability for false arrest arising from the enforcement of Section 29805 unless the person has in possession a certified copy of the court order that granted the person relief from the prohibition. This immunity from liability shall not relieve any person or entity from any other liability that might otherwise be imposed.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026