AB-992
Justice & Public Safety

Peace officers.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires California peace officers to earn a college degree or certificate within 36 months of basic training by 2031.
  • Establishes a new statewide task force to identify and recruit law enforcement candidates.
  • Creates a modern policing degree program focusing on psychology, communications, ethics, and criminal justice.
  • Exempts officers with four years of out-of-state law enforcement or military experience from education requirements.

Summary

Assembly Member Irwin's peace officer education measure establishes new degree requirements for California law enforcement personnel while creating a statewide recruitment task force. Beginning January 2031, peace officers must obtain either an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, modern policing degree, or professional policing certificate within 36 months of receiving their basic certification. The requirements exempt officers with four years of out-of-state law enforcement experience or military service, as well as those employed by the Department of State Hospitals or already serving as peace officers in California by December 2030.

The bill defines specific criteria for the modern policing degree and professional policing certificate programs. A modern policing degree requires 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited institution, while a professional policing certificate requires 16 semester units or 24 quarter units. Both programs must include coursework in communications, psychology, writing, ethics, and criminal justice. The measure allows coursework completed during military service or law enforcement training to count toward these requirements.

To support recruitment efforts, the legislation establishes a Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force comprising representatives from sheriff's departments, municipal police agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement organizations. The task force will focus on identifying and recruiting candidates for law enforcement positions across the state.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 992 Irwin Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-385
Peace officers.
February 2025
Engrossed
SB-1122
Peace officers: educational requirements.
February 2024
Failed
AB-852
Peace officers.
February 2023
Failed
Peace officers: minimum qualifications.
December 2020
Passed
Showing 4 of 4 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jacqui Irwin
Jacqui IrwinD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/15/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires California peace officers to earn a college degree or certificate within 36 months of basic training by 2031.
  • Establishes a new statewide task force to identify and recruit law enforcement candidates.
  • Creates a modern policing degree program focusing on psychology, communications, ethics, and criminal justice.
  • Exempts officers with four years of out-of-state law enforcement or military experience from education requirements.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jacqui Irwin
Jacqui IrwinD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Irwin's peace officer education measure establishes new degree requirements for California law enforcement personnel while creating a statewide recruitment task force. Beginning January 2031, peace officers must obtain either an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, modern policing degree, or professional policing certificate within 36 months of receiving their basic certification. The requirements exempt officers with four years of out-of-state law enforcement experience or military service, as well as those employed by the Department of State Hospitals or already serving as peace officers in California by December 2030.

The bill defines specific criteria for the modern policing degree and professional policing certificate programs. A modern policing degree requires 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited institution, while a professional policing certificate requires 16 semester units or 24 quarter units. Both programs must include coursework in communications, psychology, writing, ethics, and criminal justice. The measure allows coursework completed during military service or law enforcement training to count toward these requirements.

To support recruitment efforts, the legislation establishes a Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force comprising representatives from sheriff's departments, municipal police agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement organizations. The task force will focus on identifying and recruiting candidates for law enforcement positions across the state.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/15/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 992 Irwin Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-385
Peace officers.
February 2025
Engrossed
SB-1122
Peace officers: educational requirements.
February 2024
Failed
AB-852
Peace officers.
February 2023
Failed
Peace officers: minimum qualifications.
December 2020
Passed
Showing 4 of 4 items
Page 1 of 1