TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl Bratton - County Counsel
REPORT BY: Silva Darbinian, Deputy
SUBJECT: Ordinance Reviewing and Approving Previously Adopted Ordinance No. 1476 Relating to the Sheriff's Office Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to AB 481
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt an Ordinance Reviewing and Approving Previously Adopted Ordinance No. 1476 Relating to the Sheriff's Office Military Equipment Use Policy, Pursuant to AB 481. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
On May 7, 2024, the Board of Supervisors introduced an ordinance reviewing and approving previously adopted Ordinance No. 1476 as it relates to the Sheriff's Office military equipment use policy, pursuant to AB 481. A summary of this ordinance was published in the Napa Valley Register, a newspaper of general circulation published in Napa County, at least once five days prior to the introduction. At the conclusion of public comment, the Board voted its intent to adopt the proposed ordinance. This consent calendar item requests that the Board take final action adopting the ordinance.
California State Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481) was authored by Assembly member David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to address funding, acquisition, and use of certain law enforcement equipment. The intent of AB 481 stems from the Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support 1033 Program (1033 Program), which transfers military to non-military law enforcement agencies. The Sheriff's Office does not participate in the 1033 Program. The legislation, however, also creates more transparency, oversight and accountability in the use and acquisition of other law enforcement equipment that could now be described as "military" equipment by language in AB 481. Governor Gavin Newsom added AB 481 into law on September 30, 2021.
AB 481 requires California law enforcement agencies, including the Napa County Sheriff's Office, to obtain applicable governing body approval of a military equipment use policy by ordinance and t...
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