FY 2023 NICS Act Record Improvement Program

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (NIAA or Act), codified in relevant part at 34 U.S.C. 40912, addresses the gap in information available to the NICS about prohibiting mental health adjudications and commitments and other prohibiting factors. Filling these information gaps will better enable the system to operate as intended to keep guns out of the hands of persons prohibited by federal or state law from receiving or possessing firearms. The automation of records also reduces delays for law-abiding persons to purchase firearms. The NIAA authorized a grant program to assist states in providing certain information to the NICS and prescribes grant penalties for noncompliance with the NIAA’s record completeness goals. Additionally, pursuant to the Act, there are certain conditions, described under Eligibility Information, that a state must satisfy in advance of receiving grants under the Act. BJS is publishing this notice to announce the continuation of the NARIP in FY 2023, identify the program priorities, and provide information on application requirements. This year, BJS is prioritizing the use of funds for two purposes: (1) to enhance the completeness, automation, and transmittal of records to state and federal systems used by the NICS, and (2) to improve the overall reporting of persons prohibited from possessing firearms for reasons related to domestic violence and mental health to the NICS.