POST Monthly Report

March 2021

Keeping you up to date on POST projects

Virtual ICI Detective Symposium – May 11 to 13, 2021

Join us online for the first ever virtual POST ICI Detective Symposium. This three-day symposium will offer three dynamic keynote speakers and various workshops to choose from, including Undercover Perkins Operations, Genealogy, Wiretap Investigations and much more. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

With limited capacity, please note the target audience for the symposium is detectives and other criminal investigators (i.e., not patrol officers or dispatchers).

Full symposium details can be found on the POST Website and information on how to download the official event app will be provided in your registration confirmation email. Access full event details including live streams and event communication via the event app.

Registration Now Open! Register today for the virtual ICI Detective Symposium.

For any general questions about the symposium, please contact Gerald Fernandez at (916) 227-3933. For any technical questions, please contact Elayne Anderson at (916) 227-4861.

New Video Scenarios for Strategic Communication Instructors Now Available

POST has released a Strategic Communication: Instructor Video Scenarios collection featuring 13 short videos designed to be used by Strategic Communications instructors to facilitate their classroom instruction. A companion facilitation guide provides scenario support materials and reviews of the Tactical 8-step, Modified 8-step, and Tactical 5-step techniques involving person contacts. Also included with the facilitator’s guide is a review of California’s AB 392 Peace Officer Use of Force law. A bonus publication, “Strategic Communications – Verbal Communications Guide for Enhancing Officer Safety and Law Enforcement Professionalism,” is included with the video collection.

This Strategic Communication: Instructor Video Scenarios collection is available to view online on the POST Learning Portal.

For additional information about the video scenarios, companion publications, or other Strategic Communications training programs, contact the POST Training Program Services Bureau at (916) 227-4885.

POST Hosts Basic Course Consortium via Zoom POST

On March 10, 2021, the Basic Training Bureau hosted the Basic Course Consortium via Zoom. This is a bi-annual seminar that is designed to foster dialogue between the basic course presenters, as well as serve as an opportunity for the Basic Training Bureau to introduce and discuss current trends, best practices, legislative changes, and proposed updates to regulation and course certification. Members from the Basic Training Bureau provided informational updates to support all aspects of the basic courses.

During this Consortium presentation, POST staff reviewed changes to the course certification for the Basic Courses, new requirements for Scenario Managers and Evaluators, and proposed changes to Commission Regulations.

Questions regarding the Basic Course Consortium may be directed to Bureau Chief Jim Grottkau, Basic Training Bureau, at (916) 227-3935.

Training Reimbursement Request (TRR) Update

For Fiscal Year 2019/2020 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020), POST processed 75,824 electronic TRRs totaling $21,694,102. For the current Fiscal Year, 2020/2021 (July 1, 2020 through March 25, 2021), POST processed 30,760 electronic TRRs totaling $5,680,539. Included in Fiscal Year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 totals were the following Special Funded training reimbursement expenditures:

FY 2019/2020:

1.	Procedural Justice	$59,741
2.	Crisis Intervention	$427,005
3.	De-escalation	$153,034
4.	Use of Force	$493,576

FY 2020/2021:

1.	Procedural Justice	$28,113
2.	Crisis Intervention	$73,194
3.	De-escalation	$32,150
4.	Use of Force	$174,250

Questions regarding POST reimbursements may be directed to POST Administrative Services Bureau Chief Scott Campbell at (916) 227-2824, or POST Fiscal Services Manager Tracy Contreras at (916) 227-3907.

Perishable Skills Program Revisions Approved

Throughout 2019 and 2020, POST convened various subject matter expert groups to review and update the Minimum Content and Course Objective requirements for each of the PSP course categories. During this review, Tactical Firearms, Driver Training/Awareness, and Arrest and Control were updated to reflect current best practices and terminology. It was recommended that the Communications category be updated to consolidate Tactical Communications and Interpersonal Communications topics into a single topic and renamed as Strategic Communications. On October 22, 2020 recommended revisions to the minimum topics and course objectives for existing Perishable Skills Program (PSP) courses, per Regulation 1005, were approved by the Commission. These revisions went into effect on March 23, 2021. For the 2021-2022 CPT cycle, individuals who completed any of the PSP courses between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021, adhering to prior versions of the required Minimum Topics and Course Objectives, will remain compliant for the remainder of the cycle. All course revisions must be completed by July 1, 2021 to remain eligible for PSP credit.

Stay tuned for an upcoming POST Bulletin for further information regarding PSP revisions.

Questions regarding PSP revisions can be directed to Staff Services Manager I Michelle Weiler at (916) 227-4870 or your Regional Law Enforcement Consultant.

POST Releases a First Responder's Guide for Persons with Mental Illness or Developmental Disabilities

POST has released a new Behavioral Health Guidebook, which has been added to the Publication and Guidelines Website. The purpose of the guidebook is to enhance law enforcement’s understanding and awareness of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities while adhering to the four tenants of Procedural Justice (Voice, Neutrality, Respect and Trustworthiness).

The guidebook is a collaboration from subject matter experts (SMEs) throughout the State, who understand law enforcement (LE) may encounter individuals with these disorders and not all of these encounters are criminal in nature. The guidebook can assist LE in the safe management of these encounters which can at times be complex and dynamic.

For questions regarding the Behavioral Health Guidebook, contact Law Enforcement Consultant William Baldwin, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-4263.

Significant POST HQ Networking Infrastructure Upgrade in Preparation for After-COVID Operations

During the first quarter of 2021, POST staff have planned and purchased necessary equipment to significantly upgrade its internet infrastructure and internal networking. These upgrades will increase statewide performance of certain POST systems, including EDI, the POST Website, and the POST Course Catalog. Additionally, POST’s internal wireless network infrastructure will accommodate many more internet connections, especially during Commission meetings, and large internal staff meetings.

Specific work being performed includes:

New fiber-optic trunk line to the POST HQ building, increasing bandwidth to 1Gbps. This upgrade will enhance several of POST’s statewide web-based services including EDI, the POST Website, Course Catalog, and OpenData.
New wireless networking equipment, providing a more secure and modern mesh network in POST’s large meeting spaces, as well as in all staff work areas.
New switches and routers connecting POST’s statewide systems to the internet, as well as to all internal staff work areas.

Implementation of these upgrades began on March 1^st, 2021 and is scheduled to be complete by August 1^st, 2021.

Questions related to these upgrades may be directed to Network Service Unit Manager Tobias Newkirk at (916) 227-4851 or Computer Services Bureau Chief Colin O’Keefe (916) 227-4804.

POST Hosts Online Regional Training Managers Meeting

Due to the continuance of limitations on in-person meetings due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau has continued to engage our agencies by providing information and training in an online format.

On March 23^rd, over 20 Training Managers from throughout the Central Valley met with POST Regional Consultants for a regional Training Managers meeting on Zoom. POST, in cooperation with the California Association of Police Training Officers (CAPTO) in the Central Valley, had scheduled the meeting to share information and provide a networking opportunity.

The Training Managers were provided information on topics such as recent POST bulletins, upcoming course content changes with PSP courses, upcoming regulatory changes, and changes in the SB 978 redaction process. There was also a discussion of what courses each agency needed as well as what courses they were presenting to allow allied agencies a chance to sign up for local presentations. POST plans to use the information gathered to make decisions as to which online courses will be scheduled next to meet the needs of the group.

Questions relating to regional training manager groups or online course options can be directed to your Regional Law Enforcement Consultant.

AB 846 Project Update

In March, the AB 846 subject matter expert (SME) panel met to discuss the framework for addressing the requirements of the enacted legislation (see Bulletin 2020-65). Specifically, Government Code Section 1031.3 requires POST to study, review, and update regulations and associated screening materials related to the emotional and mental condition evaluation required by Section 1031 to incorporate the identification of explicit and implicit bias toward specific groups.

Tasks identified at the meeting, which will be undertaken by the SME panel, include identifying targeted constructs predictive of bias within the larger context of peace officer screening and exploring other competencies/attributes that may moderate the effects of bias. Additionally, the panel will continue to explore other areas of relevance to bias assessment, including the field of sociology, the effect of hate groups, and inter/cross-cultural competence. The panel will develop draft materials to present to stakeholder groups/members for review.

Questions about the AB 846 Project may be directed to Selection Standards Program Manager Melani Singley, Strategic Communications and Research Bureau, (916) 227-4258.

POST Audits Wiesenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance Live Online Racial Profiling Train-the-Trainer Course

On March 17-19, 2021, POST Training Program Services Bureau staff, attended the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance presentation of the POST-certified, “Racial Profiling Train-the-Trainer Course.” This class is the official train-the-trainer for the POST mandated 5-hour, racial profile training, and meets the requirements for 13519 PC. The live, online course was attended by twenty four California public safety instructional-facilitators with a curriculum framework based on adult learning concepts. Topics include the history of racial profiling; bias-based policing and racial identity; and community and legal considerations. By the conclusion of the class, attendees modeled the understanding and acquisition of the curriculum learning outcomes by conducting teach-backs of the course principles. All teach-back presentations were formally evaluated by the training staff.

Questions regarding this article may be directed to Senior Consultant Charles Evans, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 215-4432.

POST Offers Online Version of Training Administrator's Course

On March 23, 2021, the Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau held an online training presentation of the Training Administrator’s Course for training managers in the State. This course specifically addresses how to get a new course certified, how to modify a course, POST regulations as it pertains to courses, and all details involving the course certification process. The training was well attended and provided the attendees with all the information necessary to get started in the course certification journey. If you are interested in attending future online presentations of this course, please visit the POST TAC course webpage to be placed on the interest list.

Questions relating to online course options can be directed to your Regional Law Enforcement Consultant.

POST Conducts Requalification Course Workshop

On March 23-25, 2021, the Basic Training Bureau (BTB) held a three-day workshop to review and update the Requalification Basic Course. During the workshop, a group of subject matter experts (SMEs) from throughout California met to review the existing course curriculum to ensure the required legislative mandates were being met, and revise content as needed to address current trends. Updates to this course ensure individuals are current on California law, officer safety practices, de-escalation techniques, and their partnership role within the community to prepare them for employment as a peace officer in California.

The Requalification Course serves multiple purposes; it is designed for individuals who have successfully completed a POST-certified Regular or Specialized Investigators’ Basic Course and have had a three-year or longer break in qualifying employment from a California law enforcement agency; have not gained qualifying employment since completion of the basic course; or are participating in the Basic Course Waiver process with qualifying out of state or federal law enforcement experience.

If you would like more information regarding the Requalification Course, please contact Law Enforcement Consultant Carrie Hollar, Basic Training Bureau, at (916) 227-4661.

POST Hosts an Online Update Workshop for Training Managers

On March 17, 2021, 21 students from across the State attended the POST Update Workshop presented via webinar by POST staff. Topics included recent changes to POST regulations, including course certification requirements, and proposed modification to regulations; POST bulletins issued in 2020 and 2021; proposed legislation affecting law enforcement; recently released training videos and other Learning Portal updates; and an overview of POST resources.

The next Update Workshop is scheduled for April 13, 2021.

Questions about the course may be directed to Senior Consultant Karen Lozito, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 227-0471.

Meet the New POST Employees

John Lowden

Bureau Chief (Senior Law Enforcement Consultant)

Strategic Communications and Research Bureau

John joins us from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, following a 26-year career in law enforcement. John held a variety of assignments in his career, and retired as an Assistant Sheriff, overseeing the Field Operations Bureau. John is assigned as Bureau Chief of the Strategic Communications and Research Bureau.

Komalvir Singh

Information Technology Specialist I

Learning Technology Resources Bureau

Komalvir joins POST as a recent Sacramento State science graduate. He has spent some time interning at SMUD and has experience working on helpdesk’s for both Raley’s and Gap Inc. Komalvir has been assigned as the Information Technology Specialist I, LP Administrator in the Learning Technology Resources Bureau.

Legislative Update

Status of Current Legislation

The following is legislation POST is monitoring in the 2021-22 session. This is not a complete list of legislation that could affect law enforcement. (Updated 3/25/2021)

View a detailed report on legislative matters pertaining to law enforcement and POST.

Bill # and Author	Title and Summary	Status of Bill
AB 17 Assembly Member Cooper	Peace officers: disqualification from employment Would disqualify a person from being a peace officer if the person has been discharged from the military for committing an offense that would have been a felony if committed in California or if the person has been certified as a peace officer and has had that certification revoked by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.	Amended: 1/12/2021 Status: 1/13/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 26 Assembly Member Holden	Peace officers: use of force Current law requires each law enforcement agency, on or before January 1, 2021, to maintain a policy that provides a minimum standard on the use of force. Current law requires that policy, among other things, to require that officers report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer believes to be unnecessary, and to require that officers intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as specified. This bill would require those law enforcement policies to require those officers to immediately report potential excessive force, and to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force, as defined.	Introduced Date: 12/7/2020 Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR.
AB 48 Assembly Member Gonzalez, Lorena	Law enforcement: kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents Would prohibit the use of kinetic energy projectiles or chemical agents by any law enforcement agency to disperse any assembly, protest, or demonstration, except in compliance with specified standards set by the bill, and would prohibit their use solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. The bill would include in the standards for the use of kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents to disperse gatherings the requirement that, among other things, those weapons only be used to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury to any individual, including a peace officer.	Amended Date: 3/16/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR.
AB 57 Assembly Member Gabriel	Hate crimes Would require the Department of Justice to carry out various duties relating to documenting and responding to hate crimes, including conducting reviews of all law enforcement agencies every 3 years to evaluate the accuracy of hate crime data provided and agencies’ hate crime policies, implementing a school-based program in conjunction with school districts and local law enforcement agencies aimed at educating students regarding how to report all suspected hate crimes to prevent future hate crimes, submitting specified hate crime reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the national crime repository for crime data, and sending advisory notices to law enforcement agencies when the department determines that hate crimes are being committed in multiple jurisdictions.	Amended Date: 2/25/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar.
AB 60 Assembly Member Salas	Law enforcement Would disqualify a person from being employed as a peace officer if that person has been convicted of, or has been adjudicated by a military tribunal as having committed an offense that would have been a felony if committed in this state. The bill would also disqualify any person who has been certified as a peace officer by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and has had that certification revoked by the commission.	Amended Date: 3/16/2021 Status: 3/17/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 89 Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer	Peace officers: minimum qualifications Current law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including age and education requirements. This bill would increase the minimum qualifying age from 18 to 25 years of age. This bill would permit an individual under 25 years of age to qualify for employment as a peace officer if the individual has a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited college or university. The bill would provide legislative findings in support of the measure.	Amended Date: 2/17/2021 Status: 2/18/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S
AB 118 Assembly Member Kamlager	Emergency services: community response: grant program Would, until January 1, 2026, enact the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems Act or the C.R.I.S.E.S. Act for the purpose of creating, implementing, and evaluating the 3-year C.R.I.S.E.S. Grant Pilot Program, which the act would establish. The bill would require the office to establish rules and regulations for the program with the goal of making grants to community organizations, over 3 years, for the purpose of expanding the participation of community organizations in emergency response for specified vulnerable populations. The bill would require that grantees receive a minimum award of $250,000 per year. The bill would require a community organization receiving funds pursuant to the program to use the grant to stimulate and support involvement in emergency response activities that do not require a law enforcement officer, as specified. The bill would require the Director of Emergency Services (director) to assemble staff and resources to carry out certain duties in support of the program	Introduced Date: 12/18/2020 Status: 1/11/2021-Read first time. Referred to Com. on E.M.
AB 481 Assembly Member Chiu	Law enforcement agencies: military equipment: funding, acquisition, and use. Would require a law enforcement agency, defined to include specified state and local entities, to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment impact statement and a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined. The bill would also require similar approval for the continued use of military equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022. The bill would allow the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the military equipment meets specified standards.	Introduced Date: 2/8/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-VOTE: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
AB 490 Assembly Member Gipson	Law enforcement agency policies: arrests: positional asphyxia. Would prohibit a law enforcement agency from authorizing techniques or transport methods that involve a substantial risk of positional asphyxia, as defined.By requiring local agencies to amend use of force policies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.	Amended Date: 3/18/2021 Status: 3/22/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 594 Assembly Member McCarty	Law enforcement policies Current law requires each law enforcement agency to maintain a policy that provides guidelines on the use of force, and to annually furnish specified information to the Department of Justice regarding the use of force by peace officers employed by that agency. Current law requires the Attorney General to investigate incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian, as specified. deadly use of force incidents other than those required to be investigated by the Attorney General, require an agency to cause a criminal investigation of these incidents to be conducted, and would prohibit a law enforcement agency from having primary responsibility for conducting the criminal investigation into those incidents involving an officer employed by that agency. This bill would instead provide alternative protocols for investigations of those incidents, including investigation by the district attorney’s office, another law enforcement agency, or a multidisciplinary and multiagency task force. The bill would specify that these requirements apply only to a criminal investigation and not to any administrative or disciplinary investigation.	Amended Date: 3/16/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR
AB 603 Assembly Member McCarty	Law enforcement settlements and judgments: reporting. Would require municipalities, as defined, to annually post on their internet websites specified information relating to settlements and judgments resulting from allegations of improper police conduct, including, among other information, amounts paid, broken down by individual settlement and judgment, information on bonds used to finance use of force settlement and judgment payments, and premiums paid for insurance against settlements or judgments resulting from allegations of improper police conduct. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to annually post the same information on its internet website regarding settlements and judgments against the Department of the California Highway Patrol.	Introduced Date: 2/11/2021 Status: 2/18/2021-Referred to Coms. on PUB. S.
AB 655 Assembly Member Kalra	California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act. Current law requires that a candidate for a peace officer position be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.This bill would require that background investigation to include an inquiry into whether a candidate for specified peace officer positions has engaged in membership in a hate group, participation in hate group activities, or public expressions of hate, as those terms are defined. The bill would provide that certain findings would disqualify a person from employment.	Amended Date: 3/2/2/2021 Status: 3/3/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 669 Assembly Member Lackey	Firearms: unsafe handguns Current law prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale, or transfer of an unsafe handgun, as defined. Current law exempts from this prohibition sales to specified law enforcement agencies or other specified government agencies for use by specified employees and sales to specified peace officers. Current law further requires that the sale of an unsafe handgun to certain specified entities, including a county probation department, and members of those entities, is only authorized if the handgun is to be used as a service weapon by a peace officer who has successfully completed the basic course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and who qualifies with the handgun, as specified, at least every 6 months. This bill would instead exempt sales to or purchases by a county probation department and sworn members thereof who have completed specified firearms training prescribed by POST.	Introduced Date: 2/12/2021 Status: 2/25/2021-Referred to Com. on PUB. S
AB 718 Assembly Member Cunningham	Peace officers: investigations of misconduct Would require a law enforcement agency or oversight agency to complete its investigation into an allegation of the use of force resulting in death or great bodily injury, sexual assault, discharge of a firearm, or dishonesty relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime or misconduct by another peace officer or custodial officer, despite the peace officer’s or custodial officer’s voluntary separation from the employing agency. The bill would require the investigation to result in a finding that the allegation is either sustained, not sustained, unfounded, or exonerated, as defined. The bill would also require an agency other than an officer’s employing agency that conducts an investigation of these allegations to disclose its findings with the employing agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation	Introduced Date: 2/16/2021 Status: 2/25/2021-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 759 Assembly Member McCarty	Elections: county sheriff The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for an elected county sheriff, elected district attorney, and elected assessor in each county. Current law also provides that the county treasurer, clerk, auditor, tax collector, recorder, public administrator, and coroner are elective offices unless a county makes them appointive offices, as specified. Current law generally requires the election to select county officers to be held with the statewide primary election at which candidates for Governor are nominated, but if no candidate for a county office receives a majority of the votes cast for that office at the primary election, the 2 candidates who received the most votes advance to the statewide general election at which the Governor is elected. This bill would instead require the election to select county officers to be held with the presidential primary and would require, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for the office at the presidential primary, the 2 candidates who received the most votes to advance to the presidential general election. The bill would make these provisions operative on January 1, 2023.	Amended Date: 3/17/2021 Status: 3/18/2021-Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS
AB 931 Assembly Member Villapudua	Peace officer training: duty to intercede. Current law requires specified categories of law enforcement officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Current law requires the course or courses of the regular basic course for law enforcement officers to include, among other things, training on the duty to intercede. This bill would require the commission to model that training on the duty to intercede on a specified program, and would require the training to include both classroom instruction and extensive simulator-based training or live scenario-based training.	Amended Date: 3/11/2021 Status: 3/15/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
SB 2 Senator Bradford	Peace Officers: certification: civil rights Would provide that a threat, intimidation, or coercion under the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act may be inherent in any interference with a civil right and would describe intentional acts for these purposes as an act in which the person acted with general intent or a conscious objective to engage in particular conduct.The bill would eliminate certain immunity provisions for peace officers and custodial officers, or public entities employing peace officers or custodial officers sued under the act.	Amended Date: 3/11/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-Set for hearing April 13
SB 16 Senator Skinner	Peace officers: release of records Would, commencing July 1, 2022, make every incident involving use of force to make a member of the public comply with an officer, force that is unreasonable, or excessive force subject to disclosure. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2022, require records relating to sustained findings of unlawful arrests and unlawful searches to be subject to disclosure. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2022, also require the disclosure of records relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in conduct involving prejudice or discrimination on the basis of specified protected classes. The bill would require the retention of all complaints and related reports or findings currently in the possession of a department or agency. The bill would require that records relating to an incident in which an officer resigned before an investigation is completed to also be subject to release.	Introduced Date: 12/7/2020 Status: 3/18/2021-March 23 hearing postponed by committee
SB 98 Senator McGuire	Public Peace: media access Would, if peace officers close the immediate area surrounding any emergency field command post or establish any other command post, police line, or rolling closure at a demonstration, march, protest, or rally where individuals are engaged primarily in constitutionally protected activity, as described, require that a duly authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network, as described, be allowed to enter those closed areas and would prohibit a peace officer or other law enforcement officer from intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing a duly authorized representative who is gathering, receiving, or processing information for communication to the public. The bill would also prohibit a duly authorized representative who is in a closed area from being cited for the failure to disperse, a violation of a curfew, or a violation of other, specified law. The bill would require that if a representative is detained by a peace officer or other law enforcement officer, the representative be permitted to contact a supervisory officer immediately for the purpose of challenging the detention.	Introduced Date: 12/22/2020 Status: 3/22/2021-March 22 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file
SB 271 Senator Wiener	County sheriffs: eligibility requirements The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for an elected county sheriff in each county. Current statutory law specifies that a person is not eligible to become a candidate for the office of sheriff in a county unless the person has an advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training or meets a combination of certain educational degree and full-time, salaried law enforcement experience requirements, as specified. Current law deems a person holding the office of sheriff on January 1, 1989, to have met those qualifications. This bill would repeal those eligibility provisions, and would make other conforming changes	Introduced Date: 1/28/2021 Status: 3/17/2021-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on GOV. & F. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (March 16). Re-referred to Com. on GOV. & F.
SB 387 Senator Portantino	Peace officers: certification, education, and recruitment Current law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish a certification program for peace officers. Current law requires the commission to establish basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory, management, and executive certificates for the purpose of fostering the education and experience necessary to perform general police service duties. Existing law requires certificates to be awarded on the basis of a combination of training, education, experience, and other prerequisites, as determined by the commission. This bill would require the commission to work with stakeholders from law enforcement, the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and community organizations to develop a list of courses to include as requirements for obtaining a basic certificate, as specified. The bill would require an applicant for a basic certificate to complete those courses before obtaining the certificate.	Introduced Date: 2/11/2021 Status: 3/24/2021-Set for hearing April 20.

Bill # and Author

Title and Summary

Status of Bill

AB 17

Assembly Member Cooper

Peace officers: disqualification from employment

Would disqualify a person from being a peace officer if the person has been discharged from the military for committing an offense that would have been a felony if committed in California or if the person has been certified as a peace officer and has had that certification revoked by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Amended: 1/12/2021

Status: 1/13/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 26

Assembly Member Holden

Peace officers: use of force

Current law requires each law enforcement agency, on or before January 1, 2021, to maintain a policy that provides a minimum standard on the use of force. Current law requires that policy, among other things, to require that officers report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer believes to be unnecessary, and to require that officers intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as specified. This bill would require those law enforcement policies to require those officers to immediately report potential excessive force, and to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force, as defined.

Introduced Date: 12/7/2020

Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR.

AB 48

Assembly Member Gonzalez, Lorena

Law enforcement: kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents

Would prohibit the use of kinetic energy projectiles or chemical agents by any law enforcement agency to disperse any assembly, protest, or demonstration, except in compliance with specified standards set by the bill, and would prohibit their use solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. The bill would include in the standards for the use of kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents to disperse gatherings the requirement that, among other things, those weapons only be used to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury to any individual, including a peace officer.

Amended Date: 3/16/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR.

AB 57

Assembly Member Gabriel

Hate crimes

Would require the Department of Justice to carry out various duties relating to documenting and responding to hate crimes, including conducting reviews of all law enforcement agencies every 3 years to evaluate the accuracy of hate crime data provided and agencies’ hate crime policies, implementing a school-based program in conjunction with school districts and local law enforcement agencies aimed at educating students regarding how to report all suspected hate crimes to prevent future hate crimes, submitting specified hate crime reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the national crime repository for crime data, and sending advisory notices to law enforcement agencies when the department determines that hate crimes are being committed in multiple jurisdictions.

Amended Date: 2/25/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar.

AB 60

Assembly Member Salas

Law enforcement

Would disqualify a person from being employed as a peace officer if that person has been convicted of, or has been adjudicated by a military tribunal as having committed an offense that would have been a felony if committed in this state. The bill would also disqualify any person who has been certified as a peace officer by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and has had that certification revoked by the commission.

Amended Date: 3/16/2021

Status: 3/17/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 89

Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer

Peace officers: minimum qualifications

Current law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including age and education requirements. This bill would increase the minimum qualifying age from 18 to 25 years of age. This bill would permit an individual under 25 years of age to qualify for employment as a peace officer if the individual has a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited college or university. The bill would provide legislative findings in support of the measure.

Amended Date: 2/17/2021

Status: 2/18/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S

AB 118

Assembly Member Kamlager

Emergency services: community response: grant program

Would, until January 1, 2026, enact the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems Act or the C.R.I.S.E.S. Act for the purpose of creating, implementing, and evaluating the 3-year C.R.I.S.E.S. Grant Pilot Program, which the act would establish. The bill would require the office to establish rules and regulations for the program with the goal of making grants to community organizations, over 3 years, for the purpose of expanding the participation of community organizations in emergency response for specified vulnerable populations. The bill would require that grantees receive a minimum award of $250,000 per year. The bill would require a community organization receiving funds pursuant to the program to use the grant to stimulate and support involvement in emergency response activities that do not require a law enforcement officer, as specified. The bill would require the Director of Emergency Services (director) to assemble staff and resources to carry out certain duties in support of the program

Introduced Date: 12/18/2020

Status: 1/11/2021-Read first time. Referred to Com. on E.M.

AB 481

Assembly Member Chiu

Law enforcement agencies: military equipment: funding, acquisition, and use.

Would require a law enforcement agency, defined to include specified state and local entities, to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment impact statement and a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined. The bill would also require similar approval for the continued use of military equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022. The bill would allow the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the military equipment meets specified standards.

Introduced Date: 2/8/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-VOTE: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

AB 490

Assembly Member Gipson

Law enforcement agency policies: arrests: positional asphyxia.

Would prohibit a law enforcement agency from authorizing techniques or transport methods that involve a substantial risk of positional asphyxia, as defined.By requiring local agencies to amend use of force policies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Amended Date: 3/18/2021

Status: 3/22/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 594

Assembly Member McCarty

Law enforcement policies

Current law requires each law enforcement agency to maintain a policy that provides guidelines on the use of force, and to annually furnish specified information to the Department of Justice regarding the use of force by peace officers employed by that agency. Current law requires the Attorney General to investigate incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian, as specified. deadly use of force incidents other than those required to be investigated by the Attorney General, require an agency to cause a criminal investigation of these incidents to be conducted, and would prohibit a law enforcement agency from having primary responsibility for conducting the criminal investigation into those incidents involving an officer employed by that agency. This bill would instead provide alternative protocols for investigations of those incidents, including investigation by the district attorney’s office, another law enforcement agency, or a multidisciplinary and multiagency task force. The bill would specify that these requirements apply only to a criminal investigation and not to any administrative or disciplinary investigation.

Amended Date: 3/16/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR

AB 603

Assembly Member McCarty

Law enforcement settlements and judgments: reporting.

Would require municipalities, as defined, to annually post on their internet websites specified information relating to settlements and judgments resulting from allegations of improper police conduct, including, among other information, amounts paid, broken down by individual settlement and judgment, information on bonds used to finance use of force settlement and judgment payments, and premiums paid for insurance against settlements or judgments resulting from allegations of improper police conduct. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to annually post the same information on its internet website regarding settlements and judgments against the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

Introduced Date: 2/11/2021

Status: 2/18/2021-Referred to Coms. on PUB. S.

AB 655

Assembly Member Kalra

California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act.

Current law requires that a candidate for a peace officer position be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.This bill would require that background investigation to include an inquiry into whether a candidate for specified peace officer positions has engaged in membership in a hate group, participation in hate group activities, or public expressions of hate, as those terms are defined. The bill would provide that certain findings would disqualify a person from employment.

Amended Date: 3/2/2/2021

Status: 3/3/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 669

Assembly Member Lackey

Firearms: unsafe handguns

Current law prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale, or transfer of an unsafe handgun, as defined. Current law exempts from this prohibition sales to specified law enforcement agencies or other specified government agencies for use by specified employees and sales to specified peace officers. Current law further requires that the sale of an unsafe handgun to certain specified entities, including a county probation department, and members of those entities, is only authorized if the handgun is to be used as a service weapon by a peace officer who has successfully completed the basic course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and who qualifies with the handgun, as specified, at least every 6 months. This bill would instead exempt sales to or purchases by a county probation department and sworn members thereof who have completed specified firearms training prescribed by POST.

Introduced Date: 2/12/2021

Status: 2/25/2021-Referred to Com. on PUB. S

AB 718

Assembly Member Cunningham

Peace officers: investigations of misconduct

Would require a law enforcement agency or oversight agency to complete its investigation into an allegation of the use of force resulting in death or great bodily injury, sexual assault, discharge of a firearm, or dishonesty relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime or misconduct by another peace officer or custodial officer, despite the peace officer’s or custodial officer’s voluntary separation from the employing agency. The bill would require the investigation to result in a finding that the allegation is either sustained, not sustained, unfounded, or exonerated, as defined. The bill would also require an agency other than an officer’s employing agency that conducts an investigation of these allegations to disclose its findings with the employing agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation

Introduced Date: 2/16/2021

Status: 2/25/2021-Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 759

Assembly Member McCarty

Elections: county sheriff

The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for an elected county sheriff, elected district attorney, and elected assessor in each county. Current law also provides that the county treasurer, clerk, auditor, tax collector, recorder, public administrator, and coroner are elective offices unless a county makes them appointive offices, as specified. Current law generally requires the election to select county officers to be held with the statewide primary election at which candidates for Governor are nominated, but if no candidate for a county office receives a majority of the votes cast for that office at the primary election, the 2 candidates who received the most votes advance to the statewide general election at which the Governor is elected. This bill would instead require the election to select county officers to be held with the presidential primary and would require, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast for the office at the presidential primary, the 2 candidates who received the most votes to advance to the presidential general election. The bill would make these provisions operative on January 1, 2023.

Amended Date: 3/17/2021

Status: 3/18/2021-Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS

AB 931

Assembly Member Villapudua

Peace officer training: duty to intercede.

Current law requires specified categories of law enforcement officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Current law requires the course or courses of the regular basic course for law enforcement officers to include, among other things, training on the duty to intercede. This bill would require the commission to model that training on the duty to intercede on a specified program, and would require the training to include both classroom instruction and extensive simulator-based training or live scenario-based training.

Amended Date: 3/11/2021

Status: 3/15/2021-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

SB 2

Senator Bradford

Peace Officers: certification: civil rights

Would provide that a threat, intimidation, or coercion under the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act may be inherent in any interference with a civil right and would describe intentional acts for these purposes as an act in which the person acted with general intent or a conscious objective to engage in particular conduct.The bill would eliminate certain immunity provisions for peace officers and custodial officers, or public entities employing peace officers or custodial officers sued under the act.

Amended Date: 3/11/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-Set for hearing April 13

SB 16

Senator Skinner

Peace officers: release of records

Would, commencing July 1, 2022, make every incident involving use of force to make a member of the public comply with an officer, force that is unreasonable, or excessive force subject to disclosure. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2022, require records relating to sustained findings of unlawful arrests and unlawful searches to be subject to disclosure. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2022, also require the disclosure of records relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in conduct involving prejudice or discrimination on the basis of specified protected classes. The bill would require the retention of all complaints and related reports or findings currently in the possession of a department or agency. The bill would require that records relating to an incident in which an officer resigned before an investigation is completed to also be subject to release.

Introduced Date: 12/7/2020

Status: 3/18/2021-March 23 hearing postponed by committee

SB 98

Senator McGuire

Public Peace: media access

Would, if peace officers close the immediate area surrounding any emergency field command post or establish any other command post, police line, or rolling closure at a demonstration, march, protest, or rally where individuals are engaged primarily in constitutionally protected activity, as described, require that a duly authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network, as described, be allowed to enter those closed areas and would prohibit a peace officer or other law enforcement officer from intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing a duly authorized representative who is gathering, receiving, or processing information for communication to the public. The bill would also prohibit a duly authorized representative who is in a closed area from being cited for the failure to disperse, a violation of a curfew, or a violation of other, specified law. The bill would require that if a representative is detained by a peace officer or other law enforcement officer, the representative be permitted to contact a supervisory officer immediately for the purpose of challenging the detention.

Introduced Date: 12/22/2020

Status: 3/22/2021-March 22 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file

SB 271

Senator Wiener

County sheriffs: eligibility requirements

The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for an elected county sheriff in each county. Current statutory law specifies that a person is not eligible to become a candidate for the office of sheriff in a county unless the person has an advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training or meets a combination of certain educational degree and full-time, salaried law enforcement experience requirements, as specified. Current law deems a person holding the office of sheriff on January 1, 1989, to have met those qualifications. This bill would repeal those eligibility provisions, and would make other conforming changes

Introduced Date: 1/28/2021

Status: 3/17/2021-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on GOV. & F. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (March 16). Re-referred to Com. on GOV. & F.

SB 387

Senator Portantino

Peace officers: certification, education, and recruitment

Current law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish a certification program for peace officers. Current law requires the commission to establish basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory, management, and executive certificates for the purpose of fostering the education and experience necessary to perform general police service duties. Existing law requires certificates to be awarded on the basis of a combination of training, education, experience, and other prerequisites, as determined by the commission. This bill would require the commission to work with stakeholders from law enforcement, the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and community organizations to develop a list of courses to include as requirements for obtaining a basic certificate, as specified. The bill would require an applicant for a basic certificate to complete those courses before obtaining the certificate.

Introduced Date: 2/11/2021

Status: 3/24/2021-Set for hearing April 20.

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