BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                            Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair


          SB 1454 (Gaines) - Fish and wildlife: enforcement: patrol  
          mounted vehicle video and audio system.
          
          Amended: As introduced          Policy Vote: PS 6-0 
          Urgency: No                     Mandate: No
          Hearing Date: May 12, 2014      Consultant: Marie Liu
          
          This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
          
          
          Bill Summary: SB 1454 would authorize the Department of Fish and  
          Wildlife (DFW) to install mounted video and audio systems in  
          patrol vehicles used by wardens.

          Fiscal Impact: 
              Cost pressures, of at least several hundreds of thousands  
              of dollars, to the General Fund and various special funds to  
              DFW for dashboard cameras and associated support equipment  
              and staffing.

          Background: Existing law generally charges DFW with the  
          administration and enforcement of the Fish and Game Code. DFW  
          employees that are designated by the director of DFW (wardens)  
          as deputized law enforcement officers are peace officers as  
          provided by Penal Code �830.2.

          Proposed Law: This bill would allow DWF to install vehicle  
          mounted video and audio systems in patrol vehicles used by  
          wardens. The warden may use the system to record communications  
          and other actions involving the warden acting within the scope  
          of his or her authority.

          Staff Comments: This bill would not require the purchase of any  
          dashboard cameras; however, by authorizing their use, staff  
          anticipates that there would be pressure for DFW to exercise  
          this authority. According to DFW, dashboard systems range in  
          cost from $100-450 per unit and there currently 396 wardens.  
          Thus the camera equipment costs can be up to $180,000, noting  
          that DFW would have full flexibility in determining how many, if  
          any, cameras should be installed. DFW's enforcement costs come  
          from a mix of General Fund and special funds (Environmental  
          License Plate Fund, Big Game Fund, and the Fish and Game  








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          Preservation Fund). 

          DFW would also incur costs associated with supporting the  
          dashboard cameras, such as a database to store and catalog  
          recordings tape, data storage costs, and warden training  
          regarding the appropriate use of the cameras. These costs would  
          vary greatly 
          depending on the policies that DFW would create regarding the  
          use of the cameras.

          Staff notes that the use of dashboard cameras can create savings  
          by reducing litigation and investigation costs, which is  
          consistent with other law enforcement's experience with use of  
          recording equipment. However, these savings are uncertain and  
          unquantifiable.