Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Senate Bill 536, a measure authored by Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) to give researchers access to data needed to comprehensively examine firearm violence.

“The Legislature established the University of California’s Firearm Violence Research Center last year, but they need access to raw data to adequately conduct their research,” Pan said. “SB 536 will provide data so academic researchers can evaluate the effectiveness of policy interventions so that we can better prevent gun deaths.”

SB 536 directs the California Department of Justice to provide information on gun violence restraining orders to researchers affiliated with the University of California’s Firearm Violence Research Center, and nonprofit educational institutions and public agencies.

“Gun violence is a public health epidemic, and it is imperative that researchers and medical professionals be able to study it as such,” said Amanda Wilcox, of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law allows law enforcement and immediate family members to petition the court to obtain a temporary firearm restraining order when a person poses a significant risk of injury to themselves or others. Gun violence restraining order records are maintained by the California Department of Justice under the California Restraining and Protective Order System.

The bill specifies that the information can only be used for academic and policy research analysis and the publication of identifying information would be prohibited.