Under existing law, the Office of Emergency Services contracts for and regulates specified programs addressing community violence prevention and conflict resolution.

This bill would create the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program to provide grants to local law enforcement agencies to allow those agencies to subscribe to gunshot detection technologies designed to aid law enforcement in responding to and preventing gun violence. The Office of Emergency Services would implement and maintain the grant program, as provided.

Under existing law, the Office of Emergency Services contracts for and regulates specified programs addressing community violence prevention and conflict resolution.

This bill would create the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program to provide grants to municipal police departments local law enforcement agencies to allow those departments agencies to subscribe to gunshot detection technologies designed to aid law enforcement in responding to and preventing gun violence. The Office of Emergency Services would implement and maintain the grant program, as provided.

Under existing law, the Office of Emergency Services contracts for and regulates specified programs addressing community violence prevention and conflict resolution.

This bill would create the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program to provide grants to municipal police departments to allow those departments to subscribe to gunshot detection technologies designed to aid law enforcement in responding to and preventing gun violence. The Office of Emergency Services would implement and maintain the grant program, as provided.

Date of Hearing: May 17, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1559

Author:(Eduardo Garcia) – As Amended Ver:May 10, 2017

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill creates the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program, to be administered by the Office of Emergency Services (OES), to provide competitive grants to local law enforcement agencies in order for those departments to subscribe gunshot detection technologies designed to aid law enforcement in responding to and preventing gun violence. Funding for the program is subject to a Budget Act appropriation.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. GF pressures in the $3 to 3.5 million range to provide grants to local agencies to acquire or lease the technology necessary for gunshot detection. The assumptions is that each grant will be for approximately $230,000 the first year (includes training) and $200,000 the second year, and beyond, for three-square miles of service. This also assumes 15 grants will be awarded.
2. Annual ongoing administrative costs pressures in the $100,000 to $120,000 to OES for every 20 grants awarded to local agencies.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, this bill “would support local implementation and evaluation of unique approaches to chronic crime problems, emerging crime problems, or barriers to police agencies’ ability to address such problems.”
2. Background. Current law authorizes the OES to contract for and regulate specified grant programs addressing violence prevention and conflict resolution, such as the California Domestic Violence Victims Fund, California Community Crime Resistance Program, Local Assistance Centers for Victims and Witnesses, and Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program.
3. Gunshot Detection Effectiveness. In a compilation of studies, the National Institute of Justice reviewed field test data from several gunshot detection technology providers and found that the technology corrects under-reporting of gunshots, increases response time, decreases time spent on calls, and provides data to help police locate hot spots for random gunfire and devise strategies to address these areas. However, the studies also determined that the technology may be burdensome due to the cost of implementation and maintenance, as well as the increased workload for officers responding to incidents that would previously go unreported.

The technology allows the identification of the location, within a few yards, of where a firearm was discharged. However, there is some concern the technology may not lead to a significant increase in arrests because suspects often quickly disperse after firing a weapon and gunshot detection technology may not provide enough immediate information to track a suspect past the initial location of the gunshot. However, it could be useful when the firearms are discharged in a backyard, or during special holidays, such New Year’s Day.

Subject to a Budget Act appropriation, this bill would require OES to establish a grant program to for local agencies to fund technology that will assist in detecting, and identifying the location of gunshots.

1. Support. In support of one vendor of the technology, the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs’ Association states,“Shot Spotter technology is a force-multiplier for law enforcement. While gunfire may be reported to 911 dispatchers from varying locations, Shot Spotter enables law enforcement to dispatch responding officers to a focused area, saving crucial investigative time and resources.”
2. Prior Legislation: AB 2624 (Cooper), of the 2015-16 Legislative Session, would have required the LAO to create a report regarding the effectiveness of community policing programs. AB 2624 was held in this Committee.
   

AB 1979 (Aghazarian), of the 2007-08 Legislative Session, would have allocated funding to the Office of Emergency Services to create a pilot program for firearm violence education. AB 1979 was held in this Committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 4, 2017

Consultant: Adam Smith

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON

Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr., Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:

Author:() – As Ver:February 17, 2017

As Proposed to be Amended in Committee

SUMMARY:

Creates the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program. Specifically, this bill:

1. Creates the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program to provide grants to local law enforcement agencies in order for those departments to subscribe gunshot detection technologies designed to aid law enforcement in responding to and preventing gun violence.
   
2. Establishes grant preferences for a technology-based system that does the following:
   
   1. Provides immediate awareness of gunfire activity to law enforcement for its response and service to affected communities, including active shooter incidents inside coverage areas.
      
   2. Improves management of law enforcement resources by enabling focused and defined responses to gunfire incidents.
      
   3. Provides an increased opportunity to build trust between law enforcement and residents.
      
   4. Targets enforcement areas most affected by gun violence.
      
   5. Provides scientific and forensically sound evidence, admissible in court, to strengthen prosecutions of the worst offenders of gun violence.
      
   6. Has the ability to measure and report outcomes and results.
      
   7. Supports patrol responses, investigations, analyses, and prosecutions.
      
3. Provides that the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) shall, to the extent funds are available for this purpose, allocate and award funds, and administer the Community Engagement and Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program.
   
4. Requires CalOES to adopt guidelines for the award and distribution of these funds and requires the funds to be allocated on a competitive basis.
   
5. States that the program shall be funded by an appropriation made in the annual Budget Act.
   
6. Defines “local law enforcement agency” as a “municipal police department or a county sheriff’s department, including a sheriff’s department that provides law enforcement services within the boundaries of an incorporated city pursuant to a contract.”

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) within the office of the Governor and specifies the responsibilities of the office, including the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. (Govt. Code, § 8585.)
   
2. Authorizes the CalOES to contract for and regulate specified grant programs addressing violence prevention and conflict resolution, such as the California Domestic Violence Victims Fund, California Community Crime Resistance Program, Local Assistance Centers for Victims and Witnesses, and Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program. (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 18713; Pen. Code, §§ 13843, 13835.10, 13823.15.)

FISCAL EFFECT:

Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Author's Statement: According to the author, "The nation’s current policing environment is prompting law enforcement agencies across the country to change the tactics and strategies they use to respond to pressing and chronic public safety issues. Concurrently, many law enforcement agencies are confronting increases in crime and violence within their jurisdictions, and are doing so with limited resources. To successfully confront these challenges, jurisdictions require problem-solving approaches that are data-driven, evidence-based, effective, and efficient.

“AB 1559 would support local implementation and evaluation of unique approaches to chronic crime problems, emerging crime problems, or barriers to police agencies’ ability to address such problems.”

1. Gunshot Detection Effectiveness: In a compilation of studies, the National Institute of Justice reviewed field test data from several gunshot detection technology providers and found that the technology corrects under-reporting of gunshots, increases response time, decreases time spent on calls, and provides data to help police locate hot spots for random gunfire and devise strategies to address these areas. However, the studies also determined that the technology may be burdensome due to the cost of implementation and maintenance, as well as the increased workload for officers responding to incidents that would previously go unreported. Furthermore, the use of gunshot detection technology did not lead to a significant increase in arrests, due to the fact that suspects often quickly disperse after firing a weapon and gunshot detection technology may not provide enough immediate information to track a suspect past the initial location of the gunshot. (Travis, Random Gunfire Problems and Gunshot Detection Systems (1999) Nat. Inst. Of Justice <https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/179274.pdf> (as of March 27, 2017).)
   
   AB 1114 will allow underfunded departments to receive the benefits of the system while minimizing the burden of implementing this technology by providing grants. In addition, the requirements for eligibility set forth in AB 1114, such as the ability to report outcomes of gunshot detection responses, will ensure that funds are allocated to gunshot technology systems that provide important information for improvement and measuring success of the programs.
   
2. Argument in Support: According to the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs’ Association, “Shot Spotter technology is a force-multiplier for law enforcement. While gunfire may be reported to 911 dispatchers from varying locations, Shot Spotter enables law enforcement to dispatch responding officers to a focused area, saving crucial investigative time and resources.

“Research has shown that the majority of shootings are done by a very small percentage of the population. In Contra Costa County, law enforcement engages in ‘focused deterrence’ to help us identify the ‘shooters.’ Shot Spotter technology has been invaluable in these efforts.

“In addition to the investigative benefits that Shot Spotter brings to law enforcement, it is a tremendous tool in the prosecution of homicides and shootings on our streets. The technology enables prosecutors to identify the number and calibers of firearms used during such incidents, and the sequence of the shots fired, countering claims of self-defense and secondary shooters.

“Grant funding for Shot Spotter technology will allow Contra Costa County law enforcement to incorporate this tremendous investigative asset as we continue to combat gun violence through intervention, prevention and education in our communities.”

1. Prior Legislation:
   
   1. AB 2624 (Cooper), of the 2015-2016 Legislative Session, would have required the LAO to create a report regarding the effectiveness of community policing programs. AB 2624 died in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
      
   2. AB 1979 (Aghazarian), of the 2007-2008 Legislative Session, would have allocated funding to the Office of Emergency Services to create a pilot program for firearm violence education. AB 1979 was held in Assembly Appropriations.
      

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Contra Costa County Police Chiefs’ Association

Opposition

None

Analysis Prepared by: