Office of Emergency Services: training: transnational repression.

Senator Caballero's legislation directs the California Office of Emergency Services to develop specialized law enforcement training for recognizing and responding to transnational repression - actions by foreign governments to intimidate or harm diaspora communities and exile groups within the state.

The training program, which must be established by July 2026 through the California Specialized Training Institute, will equip law enforcement personnel to identify various forms of transnational repression, including physical surveillance, digital threats, and cyberattacks. The curriculum will cover tactics employed by specific foreign governments, outline best practices for prevention and response, and address misinformation campaigns that target dissidents and exile communities. The Office of Emergency Services will consult with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to incorporate federal guidance on emerging threats and cultural competency approaches for engaging affected populations.

The bill defines transnational repression as any cross-border actions by foreign governments or their proxies intended to coerce, harass or harm members of diaspora communities to prevent the exercise of their constitutional rights. This includes gathering information about individuals or advocacy organizations with the intent to intimidate or threaten them. The legislation aligns with existing state policies to protect targeted communities, pursue criminal prosecution of perpetrators, and coordinate with federal transnational repression initiatives.