Assembly Bill 481
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2023 SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT REPORT
On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law seven major peace officer reform bills, including Assembly Bill 481. AB 481 was authored by Assembly member David Chieu (D-San Francisco) to address the funding, acquisition, and use of items lawmakers deemed to be considered “military equipment.” (AB 481 Bill)
This bill requires law enforcement agencies, including the Beaumont Police Department, “to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined.” (AB 481 Ordinance)
The first reading of the Proposed Ordinance by the Beaumont City Council can be viewed here:
April 19, 2022 City Council Meeting
Furthermore, AB 481 requires similar approval for the continued use of Controlled Equipment “military equipment” acquired by the Beaumont Police Department prior to January 1, 2022, and allows the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the equipment meets specified standards.
AB 481 Definition of Military Equipment (Government Code 7070)
The Assembly Bill has created Government Code 7070 to designate the following 15 categories of items as military equipment:
Category 1: Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
Category 2: Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles or armored personnel carriers
Category 3: High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached
Category 4: Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants
Category 5: Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
Category 6: Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
Category 7: Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
Category 8: Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns and standard-issue shotgun ammunition
Category 9: Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including firearms and accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code § 30510 and Penal Code §30515, with the exception of standard-issue handguns
Category 10: Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
Category 11: Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools
Category 12: Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper spray
Category 13: TASER® Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic devices
Category 14: Kinetic energy weapons and munitions
Category 15: Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight
The Beaumont Police Department is in current possession of items in Categories 1, 5, 10, 12, 14 and 15. from the above list (AB 481 Inventory) All items currently in possession of the Beaumont Police Department have been approved during the associated budgetary periods commensurate with the items purchased prior to the passage of AB 481.
Requirements of AB 481
AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency’s governing body to initiate adoption of a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum by April 30, 2022, in order to continue the use of this previously acquired military equipment effective May 1, 2022. The Beaumont Police Department is providing information to our residents on the following required actions under AB 481:
Post a draft of the military equipment policy: The Beaumont Police Department’s draft Controlled Equipment “military equipment” Policy is available to view at the following link: (AB 481 Policy). The AB 481 newly defined list of “military equipment” currently in the Beaumont Police Department’s possession is included in the draft Controlled Equipment Policy.
Establish a concern or complaint process. The Beaumont Police Department always has had a means for the public to submit complaints online or in-person.
Prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits or other information about violations of the Beaumont Police Department’s Controlled Equipment Policy, the cost of such use and other similar information. This webpage will be utilized for distribution of any updates to the above materials as well as the Annual Report. The first Annual Report will be distributed on or around May 2023.
Public Input Regarding AB 481
Documents were uploaded to this website within 30 days of a public meeting to hold the first reading of the AB 481 ordinance, in order to meet the requirements of AB 481. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Beaumont Police Department’s at PIO@beaumontpd.gov, with any questions or concerns.