Existing law, the California Public Records Act, authorizes the inspection and copying of any public record except where specifically prohibited by law. Existing law, with specified exemptions, makes confidential the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and certain other records maintained by their employing agencies. Existing law provides that this exemption from disclosure does not apply to investigations of these officers or their employing agencies or to related proceedings conducted by a grand jury, a district attorney's office, or the Attorney General's office.
This bill would additionally grant access to the confidential personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and records maintained by their employing agencies, as specified, to civilian law enforcement oversight boards or commissions during investigations or related proceedings concerning the conduct of those officers. The bill would require those oversight boards to maintain the confidentiality of those records, and would authorize them to conduct closed sessions, as specified, to review confidential records. The bill would additionally authorize a county inspector general to access those personnel records, as specified.

Statutes affected:
AB 847: 26 PEN
02/19/25 - Introduced: 26 PEN
03/28/25 - Amended Assembly: 832.7 PEN, 832.7 PEN, 26 PEN
04/21/25 - Amended Assembly: 25303.7 GOV, 25303.7 GOV, 832.7 PEN
05/01/25 - Amended Assembly: 25303.7 GOV, 832.7 PEN
05/22/25 - Amended Assembly: 25303.7 GOV, 832.7 PEN