Committee sets public hearing on pistol permit fees and weighs offering 18‑hour training locally

The Allegany County Public Safety Committee on June 3 authorized a public hearing for June 24 to consider a local law establishing fees for pistol permit services provided by the sheriffs office.

Sheriff Scott Ciserella said the updated fee schedule is intended to align Allegany County with surrounding counties and help offset administrative costs. He described the current practice—adding or removing a pistol from a permit costs $3, while printing a replacement card costs about $5—and said the county has not updated fees in roughly 20 years. “Were just trying to break even on this,” he said.

Separately, members discussed a new state requirement that applicants complete 18 hours of training before applying for a pistol permit. Ciserella proposed that the sheriffs office offer the training locally at a proposed fee (one legislator cited $220 as a likely prevailing rate), using simunitions to meet live‑fire criteria where appropriate. He said the office will consult the countys insurance carrier about liability and noted an existing range could be used if needed.

Legislators asked whether outside providers could continue to offer training in the county and whether offering the course in‑house would create long‑term liability. Ciserella said outside providers would not be prohibited and that he intended to discuss insurance matters with the county carrier before proceeding.

The committee approved authorizing the public hearing; the training proposal drew interest but members requested more information on insurance, range arrangements and fee structures before any county‑run course is finalized.