Section 753.5 - Firearm training and qualification card(a)General rule.--A retired law enforcement officer shall be eligible for a qualification card if the law enforcement officer either: (1) resides in this Commonwealth; or(2) retired from a law enforcement agency of this Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof.(b)Contents.--Qualification cards shall be issued to indicate compliance with the Commonwealth's standards for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm. The qualification cards shall be uniform throughout this Commonwealth and on a form prescribed by the commission. The qualification card shall bear the following: (1) The name, address, date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes and signature of the retired law enforcement officer.(2) The date of completion of the most recent firearms training and qualification by the retired law enforcement officer.(3) An expiration date 12 months later than the date of completion under paragraph (2).(4) The name and signature of the certified law enforcement firearms instructor issuing the qualification card.(5) The name and signature of a sheriff.(6) A confirmation number provided by the sheriff who signed the qualification card.(7) A brief description of the duty to surrender a qualification card pursuant to section 6, including a space for the mailing address designated by the sheriff. The sheriff shall add the mailing address in the space provided.(8) Any other information designated by the commission. Qualification cards shall not contain a photograph of the retired law enforcement officer.
(c)Issuing authorization.--Any certified law enforcement firearms instructor may issue a qualification card to a retired law enforcement officer who has met the Commonwealth's standards for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a firearm.(d)Confirmation number.--A qualification card shall not be valid without a confirmation number. A confirmation number shall be a unique approval number provided by the Pennsylvania State Police to the sheriff. For the purposes of obtaining a unique approval number, a sheriff shall request a criminal history record, juvenile delinquency record and mental health check of the officer from the Pennsylvania State Police each time a new qualification number is requested. For each request, the sheriff shall collect a fee equivalent to the cost of providing the service but not to exceed $5 per request. The fees collected shall be transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police within 14 days of collection. The sheriff shall keep a copy of the unique approval number.(e)Blank qualification cards.--The commission shall make available blank qualification cards for use by certified law enforcement firearms instructors and may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $2, for each blank qualification card.(f)Immunity.--A sheriff who complies in good faith with this section shall be immune from liability resulting or arising from the action or misconduct with a firearm committed by an officer who has been provided a confirmation number from the sheriff.(g)Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term "sheriff" shall mean:(1) the sheriff of a county; or(2) in a city of the first class, the chief or head of the police department. 2005, Dec. 13, P.L. 432, No. 79, § 5, effective in 60 days [Feb. 13, 2006].