Pennsylvania seeks to standardize firearm permit process

According to several Pennsylvania news sources,  The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is pushing for the standardization of the Pennsylvania "License to Carry Firearms". Through additional research, PAFOA was able to determine that the PCCD is looking to begin a broader initiative to fulfill a state legislated mandate whereby The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) is required by PA Legislative Act 2005-66 to develop and deploy a statewide “modernized and standardized” license to carry system. In an active attempt to meet the state mandate, on December 21, 2009, the PCCD  made available up to $1,000,000 in grants for upgrades to computer hardware, software and peripherals which will enable the each of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania to issue permits by a standard means. The grant available provides $15,000 to any approved agency to perform the upgrades. The deadline for  application for the funds is January 26, 2010 and the terms of the program run from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.

The goal of the License to Carry (LTC) program is to provide a statewide system to provide a standardized method of completing the application, submitting the information to PSP, obtaining confirmation of a successful transaction with PSP, and issuing the identification card for those individuals seeking a license to carry a firearm.

(source: License to Carry Standardization and Modernization, https://www.pccdegmis.state.pa.us/pccd_egmis/Public/OpenAnnouncements.aspx)

PA Legislative Act 2005-66 added section (h)(2) to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency shall implement, within five years of the effective date of this paragraph, a system in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association to standardize and modernize the process of issuing licenses to carry firearms. Upon implementation of the system under this paragraph, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency shall publish notice thereof in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Deputy Sheriff's Training Bulletin on the new License to Carry system (Search for: Deputy Sheriff Training Bulletin 89 July 2009.pdf)