AB 3241: Law enforcement: police canines.

Existing law requires all law enforcement agencies to maintain a use of force policy, as specified, and requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to implement courses of instruction for the training of law enforcement officers in the use of force.

This bill would require the commission, on or before January July 1, 2026, to adopt uniform, minimum guidelines regarding the use of canines by law enforcement, and, on or before July 1, 2026, to certify courses of training for all law enforcement canine handlers and those law enforcement supervisors directly overseeing canine programs, as specified. The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, each law enforcement agency with a canine unit to maintain a policy for the use of canines by the agency that, at a minimum, complies with the guidelines adopted by POST, and would require law enforcement agencies to establish a training regimen that includes a course certified by the commission. Because the bill would impose additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. study and issue recommendations to the Legislature on the use of canines by law enforcement, as specified.

Existing law requires each law enforcement agency to monthly provide a report of, among other things, all instances of a peace officer involved in a use of force against a civilian that results in serious bodily injury or death to the Department of Justice, and requires the department to yearly post a summary of those reports on the departments OpenJustice Web portal.

This bill would require each law enforcement agency with a canine unit to annually publish a report of the use of canines, as specified, on its internet website. Because the bill would impose additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.

This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon the enactment of AB 2042 of the 202324 Regular Session.