Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes counties to establish a sheriff oversight board and allows the inspector general to issue subpoenas from sheriff's departments.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a county to create a sheriff oversight board either by action of the board supervisors or a vote of county residents (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that members of the oversight board shall be civilians appointed by the board of supervisors and that one member shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to serve as chairperson of the board (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the chair of the sheriff oversight board shall have the authority to issue subpoenas in order to review and examine the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Any individual as a witness upon any subject within the jurisdiction of the board;

• Any officer of the county in relation to the discharge of their official duties on behalf of the sheriff department; and

• Any books, papers, or documents in the possession of or under the control or an individual or officer relating to the affairs of the sheriff's department.

• Authorizes the chair of the oversight board to, in cases where a subpoena fails to force a witness to testify, bring forth facts to a superior court detailing their investigation, and authorizes the court to force a witness to testify as to why the should not be forced to comply with the subpoena (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a county, either through action of the board of supervisors or vote by county residents to appoint an inspector general and gives the inspector general the power to issue a subpoena (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes counties to establish a sheriff oversight board and allows the inspector general to issue subpoenas from sheriff's departments.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a county to create a sheriff oversight board either by action of the board supervisors or a vote of county residents (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that members of the oversight board shall be civilians appointed by the board of supervisors and that one member shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to serve as chairperson of the board (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that the chair of the sheriff oversight board shall have the authority to issue subpoenas in order to review and examine the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Any individual as a witness upon any subject within the jurisdiction of the board;

• Any officer of the county in relation to the discharge of their official duties on behalf of the sheriff department; and

• Any books, papers, or documents in the possession of or under the control or an individual or officer relating to the affairs of the sheriff's department.

• Authorizes the chair of the oversight board to, in cases where a subpoena fails to force a witness to testify, bring forth facts to a superior court detailing their investigation, and authorizes the court to force a witness to testify as to why the should not be forced to comply with the subpoena (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a county, either through action of the board of supervisors or vote by county residents to appoint an inspector general and gives the inspector general the power to issue a subpoena (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text