Assembly Bill No. 134 Public Safety Trailer Bill (Approved on July 10, 2023)
This assembly bill was introduced by Assembly Member Ting on January 9, 2023. The current California Public Records Act permits the viewing and replication of public records, with specific exemptions for certain records like those pertaining to law enforcement officers. It establishes confidentiality for their personnel and custodial records, except in cases involving investigations by certain bodies such as grand juries or the Attorney General’s office. Additionally, it sets up the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) responsible for certifying peace officers across the state and creates a division within POST to review law enforcement agency investigations and serious misconduct cases related to peace officers. The proposed bill seeks to modify these confidentiality provisions, particularly related to peace officer investigations and proceedings conducted by POST. It aims to make certain records in the possession of POST exempt from public disclosure until January 1, 2027, although these same records may be subject to disclosure by the officer's employing agency. The bill delays the implementation of specific provisions concerning arrest and conviction record relief until July 1, 2024. It also removes the requirement for individuals participating in the California Conservation Camp program to fulfill unpaid restitution as a condition for seeking relief. Furthermore, the bill requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit reports to the Legislature to assess facility needs, particularly in decision-making about prison closures. It also introduces changes in the visitation process in prisons, including scanning documents into a database and allowing certain items during visits. Moreover, it adjusts reporting requirements for the Attorney General regarding anti-reproductive-rights crimes and alters the process and timelines for reporting by the Department of Justice concerning firearm ownership. The bill enacts new provisions related to the procurement process for the construction of new facilities and rehabilitation projects, specifically at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, exempting these from certain historical resource preservation and California Environmental Quality Act requirements. It also updates the inspection procedures for juvenile facilities and the confinement of juveniles, modifying the duration and conditions of confinement for youth transferred from the Division of Juvenile Justice. Additionally, it clarifies rules about contact between juveniles and incarcerated adults in facilities. Finally, the bill appropriates funds to establish an Advisory Council on Improving Interactions between People with Intellectual and Development Disabilities and Law Enforcement. It contains provisions specifying its effective date and possible reimbursement to local agencies for mandated costs.