AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 29, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

Introduced by Assembly Member Pacheco

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ahrens, Alanis, Ramos, and Michelle Rodriguez)

February 4, 2025

An act to add and repeal Section 13514.7 of the Penal Code, relating to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training within the Department of Justice and requires the commission to, among other things, develop and disseminate guidelines for all peace officers in California.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2028, the commission to study and issue recommendations to the Legislature on the use of canines by law enforcement. The bill would require the commission to consider in its recommendations, among other things, instances of appropriate patrol use with a canine, as specified, and instances of appropriate use with a canine for detection, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on July 1, 2031.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 13514.7 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

13514.7.

(a) On or before July 1, 2028, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training shall study and issue recommendations to the Legislature on the use of canines by law enforcement. The commission shall consider all of the following in its recommendations:

(1) The use of canines by law enforcement personnel is of important concern to the community and law enforcement and law enforcement should safeguard the life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without prejudice to anyone.

(2) Officers shall carry out duties, including use of force with respect to canines, in a manner that is fair and unbiased.

(3) Instances of appropriate patrol use with a canine, including standards for obedience, search, apprehension, and handler protection.

(4) Instances of appropriate use with a canine for detection, including standards for control, alert, and odor detection.

(5) Factors for evaluating and reviewing all canine use of force incidents.

(6) Other considerations that will keep the public, the handler, and the canine safe, including how to provide a warning to a suspect within a deployment area upon the potential release of a canine.

(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on July 1, 2031.