Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to wear a mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise, as specified, with the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification while committing a public offense, or for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction for any public offense.
This bill would make it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. The bill would define law enforcement officer as anyone designated by California law as a peace officer and any officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency, or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable as an infraction or a misdemeanor, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would also require state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, before undertaking operations that are reasonably likely to involve agency personnel wearing facial coverings, to provide advance notice to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the location where the operation takes place, as specified.
The bill would require state and local law enforcement agencies, as defined, on or before July 1, 2026, to adopt a policy to regulate the use of facial coverings pursuant to these provisions.
By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
This bill would declare its provisions to be severable.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Statutes affected:
SB 627: 65913.3 GOV
02/20/25 - Introduced: 65913.3 GOV
06/16/25 - Amended Assembly: 65913.3 GOV