237.108 Persons adjudicated mentally defective and committed to mental institutions -- Identifying information to be forwarded to Department of Kentucky State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation -- Information to be included in National Instant Criminal Background Check System database -- Petition to court for relief from prohibition against possession of firearms -- Prohibition against allowing improper use of information obtained by Kentucky State Police

237.108 Persons adjudicated mentally defective and committed to mental

institutions -- Identifying information to be forwarded to Department of

Kentucky State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation -- Information to

be included in National Instant Criminal Background Check System database

-- Petition to court for relief from prohibition against possession of firearms --

Prohibition against allowing improper use of information obtained by

Kentucky State Police.

(1) A court that orders a commitment or makes a finding or adjudication under which a

person becomes subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4)

shall order the circuit clerk to forward the person's name and nonclinical identifying

information, including the person's Social Security number and date of birth, along

with a copy of the order of commitment to the Department of Kentucky State

Police, which in turn shall forward the information to the Federal Bureau of

Investigation, its successor agency, or agency designated by the Federal Bureau of

Investigation, for inclusion in the National Instant Criminal Background Check

System database. The court shall also notify the person of the prohibitions of 18

U.S.C. sec. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).

(2) A person who is subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4)

because of a commitment, finding, or adjudication that occurred in this state may

petition the court in which such commitment, finding, or adjudication occurred to

remove, pursuant to Section 105(a) of Pub. L. No. 110-180, the disabilities imposed

under 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4). A copy of the petition for relief shall also

be served on the director of the Division of Behavioral Health and the county

attorney of the county in which the original commitment, finding, or adjudication

occurred. The director of the Division of Behavioral Health and the county attorney

may, as each deems appropriate, appear, support, object to, or present evidence

relevant to the relief sought by the petitioner. The court shall receive and consider

evidence in a closed proceeding, including evidence offered by the petitioner

concerning:

(a) The circumstances of the original commitment, finding, or adjudication;

(b) The petitioner's mental health and criminal history records, if any;

(c) The petitioner's reputation;

(d) The petitioner's date of birth and Social Security number; and

(e) Changes in the petitioner's condition or circumstances relevant to the relief

sought.

The court shall grant the petition for relief if it finds by a preponderance of the

evidence that the petitioner will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public

safety and that granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest. A

record shall be kept of the proceedings, but it shall remain confidential and be

disclosed only to a court in the event of an appeal. The petitioner may appeal a

denial of the requested relief, and review on appeal shall be de novo. A person may

file a petition for relief under this section no more than once every two (2) years.

(3) When the court issues an order granting a petition for relief under subsection (2) of

this section, the circuit clerk shall immediately forward a copy of the order to the

Department of Kentucky State Police, which in turn shall immediately forward a

copy to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or its successor agency, for updating of

the National Instant Criminal Background Check System database and shall remove

all information in any database over which the department exercises control relating

to the person whose relief from disability is granted and shall immediately destroy

all paper copies of the order of commitment and other documents relating to the

matter.

of Investigation, or its successor agency, for updating of

the National Instant Criminal Background Check System database and shall remove

all information in any database over which the department exercises control relating

to the person whose relief from disability is granted and shall immediately destroy

all paper copies of the order of commitment and other documents relating to the

matter.

(4) If a petition is granted under this section, the order, finding, or adjudication for

which relief is granted shall, pursuant to Section 105(a) of Pub. L. No. 110-180, be

deemed not to have occurred for purposes of 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).

(5) The Department of Kentucky State Police shall not use or permit the use of the

records or information obtained or retained pursuant to this section for any purpose

not specified in this section.

(6) The provisions of this section shall supersede any other statute to the contrary for

the purposes set forth in this section but otherwise shall be held and construed as

ancillary and supplemental to any other statute.