AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 19, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Assembly Members Gabriel and Ward

February 11, 2026

An act to amend Section 8588.9 of the Government Code, relating to state government.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program under the administration of the Director of Emergency Services to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission. Existing law authorizes applicants to use grant funds for prescribed security enhancements, including security training. Existing law makes the operation of the program contingent upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act.

This bill would instead establish the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations and events hosted by nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes, as described above. The bill would also authorize the grant money to be used by applicants for security enhancements for security for onsite or offsite events hosted by a nonprofit organization. organization, as defined and specified. The bill would prohibit these provisions from limiting a nonprofit organization without a physical site from being eligible for funding for offsite events, as specified. The bill would limit security for offsite events to $25,000 of the grant funds awarded. The bill would prohibit the Office of Emergency Services from imposing monetary and percentile limits on any individual eligible security enhancement, except as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 8588.9 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8588.9.

(a) The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program is hereby established under the administration of the director to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations, including schools, clinics, community centers, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and similar locations, and events hosted by nonprofit organizations, that are at a high risk for violent attacks or hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission.

(b) The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide grants to nonprofit organizations to harden soft targets that are nonprofit organizations, or events hosted by nonprofit organizations, and at a high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(A) Grant money may be distributed to an applicant for all of the following enhancements to that applicant’s security:

(i) Security guards.

(ii) Reinforced doors and gates.

(iii) High-intensity lighting and alarms.

(iv) Security training.

(v) Security for onsite or offsite events that are hosted by a nonprofit organization. organization and are consistent with the nonprofit organization’s mission, belief, and ideology.

(vi) Any other security enhancement consistent with the purpose of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

(B) Grant money may be distributed for all of the purposes described in this subparagraph to an applicant that provides support to another nonprofit organization or a cluster of other nonprofit organizations at a high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(i) Vulnerability assessments.

(ii) Security trainings.

(iii) Mass notification alert systems.

(iv) Monitoring and response systems.

(v) Lifesaving emergency equipment.

(C) This paragraph shall not limit a nonprofit organization without a physical site from being eligible for funding for offsite events if the event is at a high risk for violent attacks or hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(2) Allow award recipients to use grant funds to pay staff or third-party contractors or consultants to assist with the management and administration of the grant funds awarded. Award recipients shall use no more than 5 percent of the grant funds awarded for the purpose stated in this paragraph.

(3) Limit construction or renovation activities done in support of the target hardening activities related to security, such as installing additional emergency exits, to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of the grant funds awarded.

(c) An applicant shall not be granted an amount greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

(d) The director shall not take an applicant’s prior history with or receipt of grant funding to improve its physical security into account during the evaluation of the entity’s application.

(e) When evaluating applications, the director shall consider whether an applicant is more likely to be a target of hate-motivated violence.

(f) The operation of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for purposes of this section.

(g) The director shall adopt, as necessary, application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other requirements for purposes of implementing and administering the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. All application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other requirements developed by the director pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3).

(h) The Office of Emergency Services shall provide ongoing technical assistance for nonprofit organizations that require a vulnerability assessment for a state application to the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program or a threat assessment for a federal application to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the United States Department of Homeland Security. This assistance shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) A resource page, which includes a toll-free telephone number, on the Office of Emergency Service’s internet website that describes available resources for vulnerability assessments at no cost to the applicant.

(2) Continuous outreach to stakeholders on available resources for vulnerability assessments outside the established grant cycle.