BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1227
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1227 (Cooper) - As Amended March 26, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) to study and submit a report to the Legislature,
by December 31, 2017, assessing the status of training courses
on peace officer interactions with mentally ill or
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developmentally disabled persons.
FISCAL EFFECT:
One-time minor costs to POST in the range of $50,000 (GF) to
conduct the required study.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose. According to the author, "AB 1227 directs the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to
collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to conduct a study
on mental health course offerings for peace officer basic and
continuing education training and assess whether those courses
cover all appropriate topics and identify areas where
additional training may be needed."
2.Background. POST was created by the legislature in 1959 to
set minimum selection and training standards for California
law enforcement. Their mandate includes establishing minimum
standards for training of peace officers in California. As of
1989, all peace officers in California are required to
complete an introductory course of training prescribed by
POST, and demonstrate completion of that course by passing an
examination.
AB 602 (Yamada)/ Chapter 673, Statutes of 2013 requires POST
to establish and keep updated a continuing education training
course relating to law enforcement interaction with mentally
disabled and developmentally disabled persons living within a
state mental hospital or state developmental center. The
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training course was to be developed by the commission in
consultation with appropriate community, local, and state
organizations and agencies having expertise in the area of
mental illness and developmental disability, and with
appropriate consumer and family advocate groups. The
commission is to make the course is available to all law
enforcement agencies in California, and the course is required
for law enforcement personnel serving in law enforcement
agencies with jurisdiction over state mental hospitals and
state developmental centers, as part of the agency's officer
training program.
3)Argument in Support: According to the Fraternal Order of Police,
"AB 1227 will require POST, in collaboration with relevant
stakeholders, to assess the status of the various peace officer
training courses relating to mental illness and developmental
disabilities. The bill will also require POST to assess whether
the courses cover all appropriate topics, identify areas where
additional training may be needed and report their findings to
the legislature.
"The California Fraternal Order of Police is supportive of
legislation that seeks to improve the training received by
California's peace officers and assist officers in their
interactions with various segments of the population."
4)Related Legislation: AB 1289 (Cooper), also on today's
agenda, requires POST to conduct a study on community policing
and engagement programs, and report its finding to the
Legislature by December 31, 2017.
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Analysis Prepared by:Pedro R. Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081