Bill Text: CA AB1506 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Police use of force.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 46-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 326, Statutes of 2020. [AB1506 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB1506-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 1506
CHAPTER 326
An act to add Section 12525.3 to the Government Code, relating to the Department of Justice.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 30, 2020.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 30, 2020.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1506, McCarty.
Police use of force.
Existing law requires law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy on the use of force, as specified. Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to implement courses of instruction for the regular and periodic training of law enforcement officers in the use of force.
Existing law requires law enforcement agencies to report to the Department of Justice, as specified, any incident in which a peace officer is involved in a shooting or use of force that results in death or serious bodily injury.
This bill would create a division within the Department of Justice to, upon the request of a law enforcement agency, review the use-of-force policy of the agency and make recommendations, as specified.
This bill would require a state prosecutor to investigate incidents of
an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian, as defined. The bill would make the Attorney General the state prosecutor unless otherwise specified or named.
The bill would authorize the state prosecutor to prepare a written report, and would require the state prosecutor to post any reports made on a public internet website.
The bill would require, commencing July 1, 2023, the Attorney General to operate a Police Practices Division within the department to review, upon the request of a local law enforcement agency, the use of deadly force policies of that law enforcement agency and make recommendations, as specified.
The bill would require the department to implement these provisions subject to an appropriation for this purpose.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12525.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:12525.3.
(a) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:(1) “Deadly weapon” includes, but it not limited to, any loaded weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or other serious physical injury, may be discharged, or a switchblade knife, pilum ballistic
knife, metal knuckle knife, dagger, billy, blackjack, plastic knuckles, or metal knuckles.
(2) “Unarmed civilian” includes anyone who is not in possession of a deadly weapon.
(b) (1) A state prosecutor shall investigate incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian. The Attorney General is the state prosecutor unless otherwise specified or named.
(2) The state prosecutor is authorized to do all of the following:
(A) Investigate and gather facts in an incident involving a shooting by a peace officer that results
in the death of an unarmed civilian.
(B) For all investigations conducted, prepare and submit a written report. The written report shall include, at a
minimum, the following information:
(i) A statement of the facts.
(ii) A detailed analysis and conclusion for each investigatory issue.
(iii) Recommendations to modify the policies and practices of the law enforcement agency, as applicable.
(C) If criminal charges against the involved officer are found to be
warranted, initiate and prosecute a criminal action against the officer.
(3) The state prosecutor shall post and maintain on a public internet website each written report prepared by the state prosecutor pursuant to this subdivision, appropriately redacting any information in the report that is required by law to be kept confidential.
(c) (1) Commencing on July 1, 2023, the Attorney General shall operate a Police Practices Division within the Department of Justice to, upon request of a local law enforcement agency, review the use of deadly force policies of that law enforcement agency.
(2) The program described in paragraph (1) shall make specific and customized recommendations to any law enforcement agency that requests a
review pursuant to paragraph (1), based on those policies identified as recommended best practices.
(d) This section does not limit the Attorney General’s authority under the California Constitution or any applicable state law.
(e) Subject to an appropriation for this purpose by the Legislature, the department shall implement this section.
