SB 519: Corrections.

Existing law, the California Public Records Act, generally requires public records to be open for inspection by the public. Existing law provides numerous exceptions to this requirement. Under existing law, the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection. Existing law provides certain exemptions to this confidentiality, including the reports, investigations, and findings of certain incidents involving the use of force by a peace officer.

This bill would, beginning on July 1, 2024, make records relating to an investigation conducted by a local detention facility into a death incident, as defined, available to public inspection, as specified. By increasing duties on local governments, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.

Existing law establishes the Board of State and Community Corrections, with the mission of providing statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in Californias adult and juvenile criminal justice system.

This bill would expand the boards mission to include the promotion of legal and safe conditions for youth, inmates, and staff in local detention facilities. The bill would create the position of Director of In-Custody Death Review (director) within the Board of State and Community Corrections. The bill would require the Governor to appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, the director to a 6-year term. The bill, beginning on July 1, 2024, would require the director to review investigations of any death incident occurring within a local detention facility, as specified. The bill would require, upon that review, the director to make specific recommendations to the sheriff or administrator of the local detention facility who operates the local detention facility regarding those incidents, including, among other things, changes to policies, procedures, and practices, as specified. The bill, within 90 days of receipt of the recommendations of the director, would require the sheriff or administrator of the local detention facility to identify the recommendations that will be implemented and provide a timeline for implementation and the anticipated cost of implementing those recommendations. The bill would require these recommendations and responses to be made available to the public, and would give the director and the sheriff or administrator of the local detention facility the discretion to redact these disclosures, as specified. The bill, beginning on July 1, 2024, would require the Board of State and Community Corrections to employ a sufficient number of licensed medical professionals and licensed behavioral health professionals to participate in the reviews, assist with establishing and implementing health and behavioral health standards for local detention facilities, and review the delivery of medical and behavioral health services within local detention facilities.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

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.