BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1289
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1289 (Cooper) - As Amended April 16, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Commission of Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) to conduct a study on community policing and
engagement programs, and report its finding to the Legislature
by December 31, 2017.
AB 1289
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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 1289 helps California
take stock of community policing efforts, programs, policies
and best practices statewide in order to reevaluate, recommit,
and renew a focus on sustaining and enhancing trusting
community-police relationships with all segments of the
community."
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. POST is also tasked with developing and
implementing programs to increase the effectiveness of law
enforcement.
Community policing is generally defined as involving three key
components: a) developing community partnerships, b) engaging
in problem solving, and c) implementing community policing
organizational features. A recent report from the United
States Conference of Mayors notes, "Recent events have
demonstrated that, despite instituting community policing in
many departments and realizing substantial reductions in the
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crime rate in many cities, mistrust between the police and the
communities they serve and protect continues to be a challenge
that must be addressed."
3)Argument in Support. According to the Fraternal Order of
Police, California State Lodge, "The purpose of collecting and
analyzing this information is to ultimately improve community
outreach programs. These programs are critical in ensuring
that the community and local law enforcement agencies work in
partnership to improve public safety.
"The studies to be conducted pursuant to AB 1289 will provide
much needed data for the legislature to consider in their
future deliberations regarding the maintenance, funding and
establishment of such programs. Better information will
hopefully result in better programs."
4)Related Legislation: AB 1227 (Cooper), also on today's
committee agenda, requires that POST study and submit a report
to the Legislature assessing the status of training courses on
peace officer interactions with mentally ill or
developmentally disabled persons.
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro R. Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1289
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