New CA Laws Affecting Law Enforcement Presented to Board

SACRAMENTO — On Tuesday, Sierra County Chief Probation Officer Chuck Henson addressed the Board of Supervisors during a timed agenda item, providing an overview of select new laws going into effect. Henson emphasized the importance of understanding changes relating to probation or justice system operations.

One notable law addresses the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement reporting. Senate Bill 524 requires all law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy mandating that any official report generated fully or partially by AI include a disclosure statement on each page, along with the signature of the officer who reviewed it for accuracy. Agencies must also retain all drafts and maintain an audit trail identifying the AI program used, edits made, and any source materials like body camera footage.

Another significant set of laws focuses on officer identification and visibility during operations. Senate Bill 627, known as the No Secret Police Act, creates an infraction or misdemeanor for law enforcement officers wearing face coverings like masks or balaclavas to conceal their identity while on duty in California. The law defines covered officers as those from city, county, local, federal, or out-of-state agencies, with exemptions for SWAT operations, undercover work, or safety requirements. Agencies must adopt and publicly post a policy limiting such coverings by July 1, 2026. Complementing this, Senate Bill 805, the No Vigilantes Act, establishes a misdemeanor for non-uniformed officers failing to display identification showing their agency name and either their name or badge number. It requires departments to create and post policies affirming commitments to transparency and accountability, with some exemptions for safety. Henson mentioned that Sierra County’s contracted law enforcement had already updated related policies.

Education standards for law enforcement officers are also evolving under new legislation. Assembly Bill 992 mandates that, starting January 1, 2031, peace officers must obtain an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, modern policing degree, or professional policing certificate within 36 months of receiving their basic Peace Officer Standards and Training certification. The law establishes a statewide recruitment task force to identify candidates and excludes probation officers, while allowing prior military or out-of-state law enforcement experience to count toward requirements. Senate Bill 385 repeals the prior mandate for developing a modern policing degree plan, citing recruitment pressures, and takes effect immediately. Henson pointed out during the meeting that this primarily affects sheriff’s departments more than probation, but it underscores broader efforts to professionalize the field.

Accountability measures for public employees convicted of felonies have been strengthened. Assembly Bill 1067 amends the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act to require employers to refer suspected criminal violations by elected or appointed officials to law enforcement and continue investigations even if the employee resigns or retires. Upon felony conviction arising from official duties, the employee forfeits all retirement benefits from the date of the offense. This builds on existing forfeiture rules but ensures probes are not halted prematurely.

Crimes committed during emergencies now carry heightened penalties. Assembly Bill 468 recasts looting to encompass first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, grand theft, trespass, and vehicle theft when occurring in an evacuation zone, including areas under warnings. Penalties include minimum sentences, community service if probation is granted, and extended coverage for residential properties up to three years if under reconstruction. Henson described this as particularly relevant amid natural disasters, noting its alignment with recent county conversations on emergency responses.

Assembly Bill 1269, dubbed Wakiesha’s Law, obligates county or city jails to notify all individuals listed on an incarcerated person’s medical release and next-of-kin forms within 24 hours of a death. The law attempts to address past failures in communication, inspired by cases where families learned of losses through media or delayed channels.

Public meeting accessibility receives a modernization boost. Senate Bill 707 updates the Ralph M. Brown Act to enhance participation, permanently allowing legislative body members to use social media for public engagement without deliberating among themselves. It mandates reasonable accommodations for disabled members to participate remotely via audio or video and, for larger jurisdictions starting July 1, 2026, requires agenda translations into applicable languages and community outreach efforts.

New standards guide interactions with federal immigration enforcement. Senate Bill 580 directs the Attorney General to publish model policies by July 1, 2026, limiting state and local agency assistance with immigration enforcement, consistent with the law. Agencies must adopt these or equivalent policies by January 1, 2027, including recommendations to restrict database information availability for such purposes.

Probation terms for certain vehicular offenses have been extended. Assembly Bill 1087 increases probation for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from a maximum of two years to between three and five years, aligning it with DUI probation lengths. Henson believes this corrects a prior oversight in legislation limiting felony probation generally.

Several other new laws, 794 in total, were signed during the legislative year and are expected to affect law enforcement and county business to varying degrees. Supervisor Lee Adams and Henson both commented on the difficulty of keeping up with the sheer number of new laws being passed by the State of California.