BILL NUMBER: AB 2511	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bradford

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Section 26600.5 to the Government Code, relating to
the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2511, as introduced, Bradford. Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department: citizens' oversight committee.
   Existing law establishes categories of peace officers with varying
powers and authority to make arrests and carry firearms. Any sheriff
of a county is a peace officer whose authority extends to any place
in the state, as specified. Existing law requires the sheriff of a
county to preserve the peace, among other duties.
   This bill would establish in the County of Los Angeles a permanent
citizens' oversight committee for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department. The bill would require the committee to consist of an
unspecified number of members, would require the members to be
residents of the county, and would require the members of the
committee to serve terms of an unspecified number of years. The bill
would require the committee to review and evaluate the practices and
performance of the department and to prepare a report containing the
committee's findings. The bill would also require the county to
reimburse the committee for the reasonable costs incurred by the
committee.
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 26600.5 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   26600.5.  (a) There is hereby established in the County of Los
Angeles a permanent citizens' oversight committee for the Los Angeles
County Sheriff's Department. The committee shall consist of ____
members. Each member shall be a resident of the County of Los Angeles
and shall be appointed by ____. The term of each member shall be
____ years.
   (b) The committee established pursuant to this section shall
review and evaluate the practices and performance of the department
over the preceding ____. The committee shall prepare a report
containing the findings of the committee and present that report to
____ on each ____.
   (c) The reasonable costs incurred by the committee in performing
its duties shall be reimbursed by the county.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of the unique circumstances in the County of Los Angeles that
create need to strengthen transparency and accountability practices
by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.