Ban on firearms in institutions of higher education and areas surrounding mental health facilities

(a) Definitions Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 104 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: (40) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). (41) The term mental healthcare facility means a hospital that provides mental health services or s mental health facility, including any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care. (42) The term mental healthcare facility zone means— (A) in, or on the grounds of, a mental healthcare facility; and (B) within a distance of 1,000 feet of a mental healthcare facility.. (b) Prohibition Section 924 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 304 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: (ff) (1) It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is— (A) in, or on the grounds of, an institution of higher education; or (B) in a mental healthcare facility zone. (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the possession of a firearm— (A) on private property not part of an institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility, or the grounds of the institution or facility; (B) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license; (C) that is— (i) not loaded; and (ii) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle; (D) by an individual for use in a program approved by the applicable institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility; (E) by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between the applicable institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility and the individual or an employer of the individual; (F) by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; or (G) that is unloaded and is possessed by an individual while traversing the premises of the applicable institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting, if the entry on such premises is authorized by the applicable institution of higher education or mental healthcare facility.. (c) Penalties Section 924(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking or (q) and inserting (q), or (ff); and (2) in paragraph (4), by striking section 922(q) each place it appears and inserting subsection (q) or (ff) of section 922.