AB 1486: A bill to clarify law enforcement equipment reporting
AFSC is sponsoring a new bill authored by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer that clarifies California law on transparency in law enforcement's use of militarized equipment
SUMMARY
In 2021, a new California law – AB 481 – required law enforcement agencies that use militarized equipment to disclose what equipment they have or want to acquire, propose policies for how that equipment gets used that are considered by local governing bodies, and report annually on how the equipment has been used.
AB 1486 is a cleanup bill to clarify the intent of AB 481:
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Clarifies community engagement should occur before annual reconsideration of agency’s policy
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Clarifies need for agencies to report on holding and use of assault weapons
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Clarifies inclusion of all long range acoustic devices, not just LRAD branded devices
AB 481 describes a list of 15 types of military equipment, including: “Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including assault weapons as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the Penal Code, with the exception of standard issue service weapons .” Sections 30510 and 30515 are the state statutes that define assault weapons banned in California.
While most law enforcement agencies have included assault rifles in their use policies to comply with the new state law, ambiguous language permitted a few police and sheriff agencies to exclude assault rifles from their military equipment use policies.
Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer authored a new bill, AB 1486, to clarify the intent that assault rifles are to be included in military equipment use policies. If AB 1486 becomes law, law enforcement agencies that use assault rifles would be required to have written policies that govern their use and make annual public reports on that use.
STATUS
May 8: AB 1486 passed the State Assembly Public Safety Committee
May 15: AB 1486 passed the Assembly floor
Today: AB 1486 will be heard by the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, June 20.
HOW TO SUPPORT AB 1486
You can support AB 1486’s call for clarification by submitting a Letter of Support.
Link to AB 1486 support letter template.
Please submit your Letter of Support through the California Legislature Position Letter Portal.
Please send a copy to us at: CAHealingJustice@afsc.org