The bill SF No 278 proposes to enhance the process for non-citizen applicants seeking a permit to carry firearms in Minnesota. This bill aims to extend the information required on the application form and broaden the scope of background checks for these applicants. The main points include:

1. Mandatory collection of additional details for non-citizen applicants, such as the country of birth and alien number or admission number.
2. Introduction of a requirement where the sheriff must conduct an Immigration Alien Query (IAQ) check along with other standard background checks using state, federal, and local systems to assess an applicant’s eligibility.
3. Ongoing assessments where the sheriff must perform annual background re-checks on permit holders to ensure they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
4. Ensuring that all required application elements are standardized and limited to only what is necessary, preventing any extraneous data collection or costs to the applicant.

The goal of the bill is to improve public safety by ensuring a more thorough vetting process for non-citizens who desire to carry firearms while streamlining the application process itself.