CaliforniaCounty probation officers may use certain unsafe handguns
County probation departments may provide certain unsafe handguns to trained sworn officers, who must qualify with them every three months and store them securely in unattended vehicles.
What it does
County probation departments may provide unsafe handguns to sworn officers who completed POST firearm training. Officers must qualify with the handgun at least every three months.
Covered county probation officers must lock an unsafe handgun out of sight when leaving it in an unattended vehicle. Violations may bring a fine of up to $1,000, with an emergency-duty exception.
Argument forMore frequent qualification could help county probation officers maintain familiarity with their service handguns.
Argument againstOfficers and departments may face added compliance work because qualification is required every three months and vehicle-storage violations can bring fines.
More detail
A county probation department may sell or buy an unsafe handgun for use as a service weapon by an eligible sworn officer. This covers sworn county probation officers who have completed the firearm portion of a POST-prescribed training course. The officer must complete a live-fire qualification set by the employing department at least once every three months. The handgun must be used as a service weapon.
A covered officer must secure an unsafe handgun when leaving it in an unattended vehicle. This applies to sworn county probation officers who obtained or use an unsafe handgun under the county probation department service-weapon exception. The handgun must be locked in the vehicle's trunk, in a locked container out of plain view, or in a locked container permanently attached inside the vehicle and out of plain view. A peace officer is exempt during official duties that require immediate aid or action. Breaking this rule is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 198, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6686.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1615 Nguyen Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 27In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1615 Nguyen et al. By Arreguín. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 20Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 19Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 10Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 10From Consent Calendar.
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 5469.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1615 Nguyen Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Mar 4From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Mar 3
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Jan 22From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.
- Jan 21Read first time. To print.Introduced
Gun PolicyPublic SafetyCriminal Justice