AB 655

  • California Assembly Bill
  • 2021-2022 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Assembly
  • Passed Assembly Jan 31, 2022
  • Passed Senate Aug 25, 2022
  • Signed by Governor Sep 30, 2022

California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act.

Abstract

Existing law requires that a candidate for a peace officer position be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation. This bill would require that background investigation to include an inquiry into whether a candidate for specified peace officer positions has engaged in membership in a hate group, participation in any hate group activity, or advocacy of public expressions of hate, as specified, and as those terms are defined. The bill would provide that certain findings would disqualify a person from employment. Existing law requires a public agency that employs peace officers to have a procedure to investigate complaints by members of the public against peace officers. This bill would require an agency to investigate, as specified, any internal complaint or complaint made by the public that alleges, as specified, that a peace officer engaged in membership in a hate group, participation in any hate group activity, or advocacy of public expressions of hate. The bill would provide that certain findings would require the employing agency to remove that peace officer from appointment as a peace officer. This bill would also require the Department of Justice to adopt and promulgate guidelines for the investigation and adjudication of these complaints by local agencies. Existing law makes the personnel records of peace officers, as specified, confidential and not subject to disclosure as public records. This bill would exempt from confidentiality the record of any sustained complaint that a peace officer has engaged in membership in a hate group, participation in any hate group activity, or advocacy of public expressions of hate. By requiring local agencies to investigate certain complaints, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Sponsors (3)

Votes


Actions


Sep 30, 2022

California State Legislature

Approved by the Governor.

California State Legislature

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 854, Statutes of 2022.

Aug 31, 2022

California State Legislature

Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

Aug 25, 2022

Senate

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 0. Page 5129.).

Assembly

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 53. Noes 14.).

Assembly

Assembly Rule 77(a) suspended.

Assembly

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 27 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

Aug 22, 2022

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Aug 18, 2022

Senate

Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

Aug 11, 2022

Senate

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 11).

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Aug 02, 2022

Senate

In committee: Referred to suspense file.

  • Referral-Committee
suspense file.

Jun 22, 2022

Senate

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

May 04, 2022

Senate

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

Feb 01, 2022

Senate

In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

Jan 31, 2022

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 48. Noes 18. Page 3437.)

Jan 25, 2022

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Jan 24, 2022

Assembly

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

Jan 20, 2022

Assembly

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (January 20).

May 20, 2021

Assembly

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

Apr 28, 2021

Assembly

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  • Referral-Committee
APPR. suspense file. APPR

Apr 07, 2021

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 3.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Mar 26, 2021

Assembly

Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

Mar 25, 2021

Assembly

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

Mar 03, 2021

Assembly

Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

Mar 02, 2021

Assembly

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

Feb 25, 2021

Assembly

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on PUB. S.

Feb 13, 2021

Assembly

From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.

Feb 12, 2021

Assembly

Read first time. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
AB655 HTML
02/12/21 - Introduced PDF
03/02/21 - Amended Assembly PDF
03/25/21 - Amended Assembly PDF
01/24/22 - Amended Assembly PDF
08/18/22 - Amended Senate PDF
08/29/22 - Enrolled PDF
09/30/22 - Chaptered PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
04/05/21- Assembly Public Safety PDF
04/26/21- Assembly Appropriations PDF
01/26/22- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF
06/18/22- Senate Public Safety PDF
07/29/22- Senate Appropriations PDF
08/13/22- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF
08/22/22- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF
08/25/22- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF

Sources

Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.

If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.