Assembly Bill No. 979

CHAPTER 619

An act to add Section 13518.5 to the Penal Code, relating to peace officers.

[Approved by Governor October 7, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State October 7, 2013.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 979, Weber. Peace officers: Maritime Peace Officer Standards Training Act of 2013.

Existing law establishes in the Department of Justice, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Existing law requires the commission to adopt, and authorizes the commission to amend, rules establishing minimum standards relating to physical, mental, and moral fitness that govern the recruitment of various peace officers, including city police officers and peace officer members of a county sheriff’s office. Existing law also requires the commission to carry out various duties related to peace officer education and training, including, among other duties, establishing a certificate program for peace officers, making inquiries to ensure adherence to standards for the recruitment and training of peace officers, and implementing specified courses of instruction in procedures applicable in specific circumstances, such as domestic violence and child abuse or neglect. Existing law authorizes the commission to adopt those regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of these provisions relating to peace officer standards and training.

This bill would require each peace officer who is assigned in a jurisdiction that includes navigable waters, who serves as a crew member on a waterborne law enforcement vessel, and who meets other specified criteria to complete a course in basic maritime operations for law enforcement officers. The bill would require the course of instruction to include, among other things, boat handling, navigation rules, and comprehensive training regarding maritime boardings, arrest procedures, and counterterrorism practices and procedures. The bill would require that the curriculum be consistent with federal standards and tactical training. The provisions of the bill would become operative in a city, county, city and county, or district contingent upon the appropriation of federal funds for these purposes, as specified, and the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of that city, county, city and county, or district, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 13518.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

13518.5.  

(a) Each peace officer in California who meets the criteria specified in subdivision (b) shall complete a course in basic maritime operations for law enforcement officers. The course of instruction shall include boat handling, chart reading, navigation rules, and comprehensive training regarding maritime boardings, arrest procedures, vessel identification, searches, and counterterrorism practices and procedures. The curriculum shall be consistent with applicable federal standards and tactical training.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall apply to a peace officer who meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Is employed by a city, county, city and county, or district that has adopted a resolution pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).

(2) Is within a classification identified in the resolution adopted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).

(3) Is assigned in a jurisdiction that includes navigable waters.

(4) Serves as a crew member on a waterborne law enforcement vessel.

(c) This section shall become operative in a city, county, city and county, or district when both of the following apply:

(1) The federal Department of Homeland Security has provided funding to a law enforcement agency in a city, county, city and county, or district to implement this section.

(2) The governing body of the city, county, city and county, or district, such as the board of supervisors of a county or the city council, has adopted a resolution agreeing to implement this section and identifying the specific classifications of peace officers in the jurisdiction that will be subject to training pursuant to this section.



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