CaliforniaCounty boards would be allowed to create jail administrator posts
The signed law would let county boards create jail administrator posts; sheriffs would nominate candidates, and boards would vote after a public hearing.
What it does
County boards would be allowed to create a jail administrator post. If they do, the sheriff would nominate a qualified person, and the board would hold a public hearing before voting.
In a county that appoints an administrator, that person would lead all its county jails and supervise staff and people held there. The sheriff could still oversee and remove the administrator.
In counties that appoint an administrator, the rule giving the sheriff sole authority over the jail would not apply. One chapter of state jail rules that names the sheriff would also cover the administrator.
Argument forIf a county creates the post, a required public hearing could help residents learn about jail operations before the board votes on a nominee.
Argument againstIf a county appoints an administrator, the sheriff's power to direct and remove that person could limit their independence when managing the jail.
More detail
A county board would be allowed to create the post, and the sheriff would nominate a qualified person. This process would apply when a county board creates the post by resolution. Before voting, the board would hold a public hearing on jail operations. The board would approve or reject the nominee by majority vote. If it rejects the nominee, the sheriff would nominate someone else. The sheriff would have 90 days after the board creates the post to nominate someone. The board would have 60 days after the nomination to vote.
An appointed administrator would lead all jails in the appointing county and supervise their staff and people held there. These duties would apply to an administrator appointed through that county's process. The sheriff could supervise, direct, evaluate, discipline, and remove the administrator. The term would be three years. Time spent as an acting administrator before confirmation would not count toward it.
A county with an appointed administrator would be exempt from the sheriff's sole jail authority rule. In one chapter of state jail rules, “sheriff” would include that administrator. These changes would apply only in counties that appoint a jail administrator through the new process. The sheriff could still supervise, direct, evaluate, discipline, and remove the administrator.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 929, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 41. Noes 24. Page 6618.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2257 Hart Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2257 Hart By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 24. Noes 11.).Passed Senate
- Aug 3Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and L. GOV.Minor
- Jun 1In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 41. Noes 25. Page 5543.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2257 Hart Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 22Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5273.)Major
- May 19Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5153.)Major
- Apr 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 3.) (April 21).Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Apr 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 9In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 16Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
Criminal JusticeGovernment & EthicsPublic Safety