BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1289 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 29, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1289 (Cooper) - As Amended April 16, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy | Public Safety |Vote:|7 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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 AB 1289 Page 3 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 Page 4