CA: Bills May Reform How Police K9s are Used

California lawmakers have proposed bills that could drastically affect how police dogs are used.California lawmakers have proposed bills that could drastically affect how police dogs are used.IMAGE: Pexels, Sora Shimazaki

California may reform how police dogs are used, with regulations extending to arrest procedures, public protests, and mental health situations, according to an NBC San Diego article.

AB 2042 and AB 3241 recently passed the California State Assembly and are now under discussion in state Senate committees. Both bills call for the California police training organization (POST) to develop standards, according to the article.

One bill, backed by a policy lobbying group and unions, would also require police agencies to track and publish how they use dogs, the article reports.

The second bill initially treated K-9 use as equivalent to a lethal weapon, but police chiefs objected, and the bill has since been changed. Now, the bill calls for establishing guidelines on using dogs to help make an arrest “proportionally,” based on the severity of the suspected offense.

The article reports the bill also has some new language about minimizing harm to bystanders and making sure dog handlers have tools on them to help release a bite.

The two bills, which may eventually merge into one, are now tied together, and neither can pass without the other, NBC San Diego reported.

The Senate rules committee must approve both bills before they can be voted on again. Additional changes would require approval before the bills land on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. The deadline for the legislature to accomplish that is Aug. 30, according to the article.

The Favicon for the website, dogsandpurses(dot)com, features an all-black background with a minimalist line drawing of a puppy's head poking out of a stylish purse. The puppy's head is drawn with a cute and friendly expression, making it the focal point of the design. The purse, which the puppy is emerging from, is depicted with clean, elegant lines. The contrast between the black background and the white line drawing creates a striking and modern look for the Favicon.
Dogs and Purses Favicon

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE LATEST on PAWS and PURSES in PERFECT PROPORTION.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.