BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 303 Page 1 Date of Hearing: July 3, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 303 (Knight) - As Amended: March 21, 2013 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote: 7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill provides that if the agency from which a peace officer has retired honorably is no longer providing law enforcement services, the successor agency shall issue an identification certificate to that retired officer if (a) the successor agency has the retired officer's personnel records or can otherwise verify the retired officer's honorably-retired status, and (b) the retired officer meets the requirements of the successor agency for a retirement identification card and a concealed weapon endorsement. FISCAL EFFECT Negligible state and local cost. The mandate is not reimbursable as a local agency has the authority to charge a service fee to cover its costs. COMMENTS Rationale . Current law provides that a retired peace officer shall be issued an identification certificate by the law enforcement agency from which the officer has retired, with an endorsement stating the issuing agency approves the officer's carrying of a loaded gun. After the initial certification, retired peace officers are required to petition the issuing agency to renew the privilege to carry a loaded gun. Current law, however, is silent as to any procedure if the employing agency ceases to exist. This bill establishes the successor agency as the arbiter of SB 303 Page 2 identification certificates and concealed weapons endorsements. According to the author, "This measure ensures that peace officers who honorably retired from an agency that no longer exists will receive the same privileges that are available to all other retired officers in California. Many small towns are saving costs by disbanding their own police departments and contracting out for public safety services." Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081