Bill Text: CA SB385 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Peace officers.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17. [SB385 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB385-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 385

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Introduced by Senators Seyarto and Wahab

February 14, 2025

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An act to amend Section 1031.4 of the Government Code, relating to peace officers, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 385, as introduced, Seyarto. Peace officers.

Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish a certification program for specified peace officers, including officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law requires the commission to establish, among others, basic 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.

Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by no later than June 1, 2023, outlining a plan to implement the program.

Existing law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including age and education requirements.

This bill would require a peace officer who is hired on or after January 1, 2029, to attain a modern policing degree, as specified, or a bachelor’s or other advanced degree from an accredited college or university within 36 months of commencing their employment as a peace officer.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Digest Key

Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 1031.4 of the Government Code is amended to read:

1031.4.

 (a) In addition to the standards in Section 1031, each state officer and employee person designated as a peace officers officer as described in Section 830.1, 830.1 of the Penal Code, with the exception of those a person described in subdivision (c) of that section, 830.2, Section 830.2 of the Penal Code, with the exception of those a person described in subdivision (d) of that section, 830.3, 830.32, or Section 830.3 of the Penal Code, Section 830.32 of the Penal Code, or Section 830.33 of the Penal Code, or any other peace officer employed by an agency that participates in the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program shall be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.

(b) This section Subdivision (a) shall not apply to any person who, as of December 31, 2021, is currently enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California.

(c) A peace officer specified in subdivision (a) who is hired as a peace officer by a public entity on or after January 1, 2029, shall attain one of the following degrees within 36 months of commencing their employment as a peace officer:

(1) A modern policing degree, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 13511.1 of the Penal Code, from a California Community College.

(2) A bachelor’s degree or other advanced degree from an accredited college or university.

(d) Subdivision (c) does not apply to any person who, as of December 31, 2028, is currently enrolled in a basic academy or was employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California.

SEC. 2.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

In order to assist community colleges that are in the process of developing a curriculum and avoid affecting law enforcement recruitment efforts, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.