Bill Text: CA AB1920 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Impersonation: search and rescue personnel.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-05 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 252, Statutes of 2018. [AB1920 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1920-Chaptered.html
| Assembly Bill No. 1920 |
| CHAPTER 252 |
An act to add Section 538h to the Penal Code, relating to impersonation.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 05, 2018.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 05, 2018.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1920, Grayson.
Impersonation: search and rescue personnel.
Existing law makes it a crime for a person who is not a peace officer, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a peace officer, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that he or she is a peace officer, to willfully wear, exhibit, or use the badge, authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing, of a peace officer.
This bill would make it a misdemeanor for a person who is not an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating an officer or member, as defined, of a government agency managed or affiliated search and
rescue unit or team, as defined, to willfully wear, exhibit, or use the badge, authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for
making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 538h is added to the Penal Code, to read:538h.
(a) Any person, other than an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses the authorized uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing of an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that he or she is an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, or uses the same to obtain aid, money, or assistance within this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor.(b) (1) Any person, other than the one who by law is given the authority of an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, who willfully wears, exhibits, or uses the badge of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team with the intent of fraudulently impersonating an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, or fraudulently inducing the belief that he or she is an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(2) Any person who willfully wears or uses any badge that falsely purports to be authorized for the use of one who by law is given the authority of an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, or that resembles the authorized badge of an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team as would deceive any ordinary reasonable person into believing that it is authorized for the use of one who by law is given the authority of an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, for the purpose of fraudulently impersonating an officer or
member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that he or she is an officer or member of a government agency managed or affiliated search and rescue unit or team, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(c) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Member” means any natural person who is registered with an accredited disaster council for the purpose of engaging in disaster service without pay or other consideration. Food and lodging provided, or expenses reimbursed for these items, during a member’s activation do not constitute other consideration.
(2) “Search and rescue unit or team” means an entity engaged in the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine, or air activity, any person that becomes lost, injured, or is killed while outdoors or as a result of a
natural or manmade disaster, including instances involving searches for downed or missing aircraft.
