Bill Text: CA SB230 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Law enforcement: use of deadly force: training: policies.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-5)
Status: (Passed) 2019-09-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 285, Statutes of 2019. [SB230 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB230-Chaptered.html
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Enrolled
September 12, 2019 |
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Passed
IN
Senate
September 11, 2019 |
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Passed
IN
Assembly
September 09, 2019 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
September 03, 2019 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
June 26, 2019 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
April 30, 2019 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
April 11, 2019 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 230
| Introduced by Senator Caballero (Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Borgeas, Dodd, Galgiani, Glazer, Hill, Hueso, Jones, Morrell, and Stone) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Cooper, Frazier, Gray, Grayson, Low, O’Donnell, Patterson, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, and Salas) |
February 07, 2019 |
An act to add Chapter 17.4 (commencing with Section 7286) to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, and to add Section 13519.10 to the Penal Code, relating to law enforcement.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 230, Caballero.
Law enforcement: use of deadly force: training: policies.
(1) Existing law requires each law enforcement agency to annually furnish specified information to the Department of Justice regarding the use of force by a peace officer. Existing law requires the Department of Justice, once per year, to update a summary of information contained in the reports received on its internet website. Existing law requires a department or agency that employs peace officers or custodial officers to establish a procedure to investigate complaints by members of the public against those officers.
This bill would, by no later than January 1, 2021, require each law enforcement agency to maintain a policy that provides guidelines on the use of force, utilizing deescalation techniques and other alternatives to force when feasible, specific guidelines for the application of deadly force, and factors for
evaluating and reviewing all use of force incidents, among other things. The bill would require each agency to make their use of force policy accessible to the public. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in the Department of Justice and requires the commission to adopt rules establishing minimum standards regarding the recruitment of peace officers. Existing law requires the commission to develop guidelines and implement courses of instruction regarding racial profiling, domestic violence, hate crimes, vehicle pursuits, and human trafficking, among others.
This bill would require the commission to implement a course or courses of instruction for the regular and periodic training of law enforcement officers in the use of force. The bill would require the
commission to develop uniform, minimum guidelines for adoption and promulgation by California law enforcement agencies for the use of force, as specified. The bill would require law enforcement agencies to adopt and promulgate a use of force policy and would state the intent of the Legislature that each law enforcement agency adopt, promulgate, and require regular and periodic training consistent with the agency’s policy that complies with the guidelines developed under this bill.
This bill would make findings and declarations regarding the intent of the bill, as it pertains to law enforcement agencies’ use of force polices, including that those policies may be introduced in legal proceedings and may be considered as a factor in determining the reasonableness of an officer’s actions, but do not impose a legal duty on an officer to act in accordance with the policy.
(3) 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(4) This bill would also make its provisions operative contingent on the enactment of Assembly Bill 392 of the 2019–20 Regular Session.
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.
The Legislature finds and declares:(a) The highest priority of California law enforcement is safeguarding the life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without prejudice to anyone.
(b) Law enforcement officers shall be guided by the principle of reverence for human life in all investigative, enforcement, and other contacts between officers and members of the public. When officers are called upon to detain or arrest a suspect who is uncooperative or actively resisting, may attempt to flee, poses a danger to others, or poses a danger to themselves, they should consider tactics and techniques that may persuade the suspect to voluntarily comply or may mitigate the need to
use a higher level of force to resolve the situation safely.
(c) Vesting officers with the authority to use necessary force as determined by an objectively reasonable officer and to protect the public welfare requires monitoring, evaluation, and a careful balancing of all interests.
(d) The authority to use force is a serious responsibility given to peace officers by the people who expect them to exercise that authority judiciously and with respect for human rights, dignity, and life.
(e) The intent of this act is to establish the minimum standard for policies and reporting procedures regarding California law enforcement agencies’ use of force. The purpose of these use of force policies is to provide law enforcement agencies with guidance regarding the use and application of force to ensure such applications are used
only to effect arrests or lawful detentions, overcome resistance, or bring a situation under legitimate control.
(f) No policy can anticipate every conceivable situation or exceptional circumstance which officers may face. In all circumstances, officers are expected to exercise sound judgment and critical decisionmaking when using force options.
(g) A law enforcement agency’s use of force policies and training may be introduced as evidence in proceedings involving an officer’s use of force. The policies and training may be considered as a factor in the totality of circumstances in determining whether the officer acted reasonably, but shall not be considered as imposing a legal duty on the officer to act in accordance with such policies and training.
(h) Every instance in which a firearm is discharged, including
exceptional circumstances, shall be reviewed by the department on a case-by-case basis to evaluate all facts and to determine if the incident is within policy and in accordance with training.
SEC. 2.
Chapter 17.4 (commencing with Section 7286) is added to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:CHAPTER 17.4. Law Enforcement Use of Force Policies
7286.
(a) For the purposes of this section:(1) “Deadly force” means any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury. Deadly force includes, but is not limited to, the discharge of a firearm.
(2) “Feasible” means reasonably capable of being done or carried out under the circumstances to successfully achieve the arrest or lawful objective without increasing risk to the officer or another person.
(3) “Law enforcement agency” means any police department, sheriff’s department, district attorney, county probation
department, transit agency police department, school district police department, the police department of any campus of the University of California, the California State University, or community college, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Justice.
(b) Each law enforcement agency shall, by no later than January 1, 2021, maintain a policy that provides a minimum standard on the use of force. Each agency’s policy
shall include all of the following:
(1) A requirement that officers utilize deescalation techniques, crisis intervention tactics, and other alternatives to force when feasible.
(2) A requirement that an officer may only use a level of force that they reasonably believe is proportional to the seriousness of the suspected offense or the reasonably perceived level of actual or threatened resistance.
(3) A requirement that officers report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer believes to be beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances based upon the totality of information actually known to
the officer.
(4) Clear and specific guidelines regarding situations in which officers may or may not draw a firearm or point a firearm at a person.
(5) A requirement that officers consider their surroundings and potential risks to bystanders, to the extent reasonable under the circumstances, before discharging a firearm.
(6) Procedures for disclosing public records in accordance with Section 832.7.
(7) Procedures for the filing, investigation, and reporting of citizen complaints regarding use of force incidents.
(8) A requirement that an officer intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as
determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances, taking into account the possibility that other officers may have additional information regarding the threat posed by a subject.
(9) Comprehensive and specific guidelines regarding approved methods and devices available for the application of force.
(10) An explicitly stated requirement that officers carry out duties, including use of force, in a manner that is fair and unbiased.
(11) Comprehensive and specific guidelines for the application of deadly force.
(12) Comprehensive and detailed requirements for prompt internal reporting and notification regarding a use of force incident,
including reporting use of force incidents to the Department of Justice in compliance with Section 12525.2.
(13) The role of supervisors in the review of use of force applications.
(14) A requirement that officers promptly provide, if properly trained, or otherwise promptly procure medical assistance for persons injured in a use of force incident, when reasonable and safe to do so.
(15) Training standards and requirements relating to demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the law enforcement agency’s use of force policy by officers, investigators, and supervisors.
(16) Training and guidelines regarding vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, children, elderly persons, people who are pregnant, and people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
(17) Comprehensive and specific guidelines under which the discharge of a firearm at or from a moving vehicle may or may not be permitted.
(18) Factors for evaluating and reviewing all use of force incidents.
(19) Minimum training and course titles required to meet the objectives in the use of force policy.
(20) A requirement for the regular review and updating of the policy to reflect developing practices and procedures.
(c) Each law enforcement agency shall make their use of force policy adopted pursuant to this section accessible to the public.
(d) This section does not supersede the collective bargaining procedures established pursuant to the Myers-Milias-Brown Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4), the Ralph C. Dills Act (Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512) of Division
4), or the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4).
SEC. 3.
Section 13519.10 is added to the Penal Code, immediately following Section 13519.9, to read:13519.10.
(a) (1) The commission shall implement a course or courses of instruction for the regular and periodic training of law enforcement officers in the use of force and shall also develop uniform, minimum guidelines for adoption and promulgation by California law enforcement agencies for use of force. The guidelines and course of instruction shall stress that the use of force by law enforcement personnel is of important concern to the community and law enforcement and that law enforcement should safeguard life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without prejudice to anyone. These guidelines shall be a resource for each agency executive to use in the creation of the use of force policy that the agency is required to adopt and promulgate pursuant to Section 7286 of the Government Code, and that reflects the needs of the agency, the jurisdiction it serves, and the law.(2) As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” includes any peace officer of a local police or sheriff’s department or the California Highway Patrol, or of any other law enforcement agency authorized by law to use force to effectuate an arrest.
(b) The course or courses of the regular basic course for law enforcement officers and the guidelines shall include all of the following:
(1) Legal standards for use of force.
(2) Duty to intercede.
(3) The use of objectively reasonable force.
(4) Supervisory responsibilities.
(5) Use of force review and analysis.
(6) Guidelines for the use of deadly force.
(7) State required reporting.
(8) Deescalation and interpersonal communication training, including tactical methods that use time, distance, cover, and concealment, to avoid escalating situations that lead to violence.
(9) Implicit and explicit bias and cultural competency.
(10) Skills including deescalation techniques to effectively, safely, and respectfully interact with people with disabilities or behavioral health issues.
(11) Use of force scenario training including simulations of low-frequency, high-risk situations and calls for service, shoot-or-don’t-shoot situations, and real-time force option decisionmaking.
(12) Alternatives to the use of deadly force and physical force, so that deescalation tactics and less lethal alternatives are, where reasonably feasible, part of the decisionmaking process leading up to the consideration of deadly force.
(13) Mental health and policing, including bias and stigma.
(14) Using public service, including the rendering of
first aid, to provide a positive point of contact between law enforcement officers and community members to increase trust and reduce conflicts.
(c) Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to include, as part of their advanced officer training program, periodic updates and training on use of force. The commission shall assist where possible.
(d) (1) The course or courses of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for the training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the commission in consultation with appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field on use of force. The groups and individuals shall include, but not be limited to, law enforcement agencies, police academy instructors, subject matter experts, and members of the public.
(2) The commission, in consultation with these groups and individuals, shall review existing training programs to determine the ways in which use of force training may be included as part of ongoing programs.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that each law enforcement agency adopt, promulgate, and require regular and periodic training consistent with an agency’s specific use of force policy that, at a minimum, complies with the guidelines developed under subdivisions (a) and (b).
