TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Oscar Ortiz - Sheriff-Coroner
REPORT BY: Rollie Soria - Sheriff's Administrative Manager
SUBJECT: Annual AB 481 Use Policy and Equipment Report
RECOMMENDATION
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PUBLIC HEARING - Law Enforcement Equipment
Introduction and intention to adopt a Napa County 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
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 to seek approval for continued use of any qualifying equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022. On April 19, 2022, the Board of Supervisors conducted a first reading of Ordinance No. 1476, approving the Sheriff's Office military equipment use policy and authorizing the continued use of certain law enforcement equipment. A Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1476 occurred on May 3, 2022. The Policy is available to the public on the Sheriff's Office website and has continuously been made available since March 21, 2022.
AB 481 also requires the Board of Supervisors to annually revi...
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