California Assembly Bill AB2626 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2626AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 25, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Jones-Sawyer and Bonta FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to add Section 13519.45 to the Penal Code, relating to peace officer standards and training. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2626, as amended, Jones-Sawyer. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training: procedural justice training. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and requires it to develop and disseminate guidelines and training for law enforcement officers, as described. This bill would require the commission to develop and disseminate  guidelines and  training for peace officers on principled policing, which would include the subjects of procedural justice and implicit bias, as defined. The bill would require this training  as part of the basic training course for   for specified  peace officers. The bill would also require the commission to  develop and disseminate guidelines and training   certify and make training available  to train peace officers to teach the course of  basic  training on principled policing to other officers in their agencies. The bill would require the commission to offer the  basic  principled policing course and the training course  semiannually   quarterly  commencing in June 2017.  The bill would require the commission, no later than June 1, 2018, to evaluate its current course of basic training and promulgate a plan to incorporate the concepts of principled p   olicing into its course of basic training and   would require each peace officer to complete a refresher course no less than every 5 years.  By requiring additional  basic  training for peace officers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:   (a) The relationship between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect must be grounded in trust in order to ensure safety and protection for all.   (b) Despite the ongoing challenges to fostering strong relationships of trust between law enforcement and communities, the practice of principled policing, specifically procedural justice and implicit bias, is one strategy shown to improve police-community relationships.   (c) It is in the interest of California's communities and the thousands of men and women who are sworn to serve and protect the public that the State of California support evidence-based strategies to improve the relationship of trust between law enforcement and communities.   (d) Understanding and implementing the practice of principled policing, specifically procedural justice and implicit bias, offers an opportunity for law enforcement and communities to collaboratively build trust and improve safety for all.   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.  Section 13519.45 is added to the Penal Code, to read: 13519.45. (a) (1) The commission shall develop and disseminate  guidelines and  training on principled policing, specifically procedural justice and implicit bias, for all peace officers described in subdivision (a) of Section 13510. (2) "Procedural justice" means  the procedures used by police officers where citizens are treated fairly and with proper respect as human beings.   an approach to policing based on giving people the opportunity   to tell their side of the story, remaining neutral in decisionmaking and behavior, treating people with respect, and explaining actions in a way that communicates caring for people's concerns so as to demonstrate trustworthiness.  (3) "Implicit bias" means thoughts or feelings about  people of which one is unaware and can influence one's own and others' actions.   social groups that can influence people's perceptions, decisions, and actions without awareness.  (4) The course or courses of instruction  and the guidelines  shall stress procedural justice as a strategy for improving the relationship of trust between law enforcement and communities and how implicit bias can be a barrier to procedural justice. (b) The course of  basic  training for peace officers shall include adequate instruction on procedural justice and implicit bias in order to foster mutual respect and cooperation between law enforcement and communities. The curriculum shall be evidence-based and shall be developed in consultation with appropriate groups and individuals who have expertise in procedural justice or implicit bias, including, but not limited to, law enforcement agencies that have demonstrated experience in procedural justice or implicit bias training, university professors who specialize in addressing and reducing racial and identity bias towards individuals and groups, and community organizations or members who specialize in civil or human rights and criminal justice. The course of instruction shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of each of the following subjects: (1) Procedural justice as a strategy for improving the relationship of trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they are sworn to serve. (2) Implicit bias as a barrier to procedural justice. (3) Historical and generational effects of policing. (4) Interactive nature of policing goals, procedural justice, and implicit bias. (c) The commission shall also  develop and disseminate guidelines and training   certify and make training available  to train peace officers to be able to effectively teach the course of  basic  training on principled policing. The training course shall be structured so that experts on procedural justice and implicit bias train  small groups from  law enforcement agencies to be able to effectively teach the concepts, principles, and research behind procedural justice and implicit bias to colleagues within their departments. Participating law enforcement agencies  shall   are encouraged to  send at least one police executive  or manager  and one training officer to the training course. Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to attend the training course with at least one community member. Upon completion of the training course, peace officers from participating law enforcement agencies shall be  certified   qualified  by the commission to conduct the course  of basic training  on principled policing for colleagues in their respective agencies. (d) The commission shall offer the course  of basic training  on principled policing and the training  course  on a  semiannual   quarterly  basis in regional training centers across the state commencing in June 2017.  (e) No later than June 1, 2018, the commission shall evaluate its current course of basic training and promulgate a plan to incorporate the concepts of principled policing, as set forth in this section, into its course of basic training and shall require each peace officer described in subdivision (a) of Section 13510 to complete a refresher course no less frequent than every five years.   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.