AB-992
Justice & Public Safety

Peace officers.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires California peace officers to obtain a college degree or equivalent credentials by 2031.
  • Establishes new educational pathways including a modern policing degree and professional certificate.
  • Creates a statewide task force to improve law enforcement recruitment efforts.
  • Exempts current officers and academy enrollees as of December 2030 from new requirements.

Summary

Assembly Member Irwin's peace officer education reform legislation establishes new qualification requirements for California law enforcement officers while creating a dedicated recruitment task force. Beginning January 1, 2031, peace officers must obtain specified credentials within 36 months of receiving their basic certification, choosing from options that include an associate's or bachelor's degree, two years of military or out-of-state law enforcement experience, a modern policing degree, or a professional policing certificate.

The bill defines two new educational pathways tailored to law enforcement. A modern policing degree requires 60 semester units including coursework in communications, psychology, writing, ethics, and criminal justice. Alternatively, officers can pursue a 16-unit professional policing certificate covering the same core subjects. Credits from POST-certified academy training can count toward these requirements, though academy coursework alone cannot fulfill the professional certificate. Officers employed or enrolled in basic training as of December 31, 2030 are exempt from the new standards.

To support recruitment under these enhanced requirements, the legislation establishes a Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force comprising representatives from sheriff's departments, police agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement organizations. The task force will work to identify and recruit qualified candidates while the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges develops implementation plans for the modern policing degree program, with input from law enforcement stakeholders, university representatives, and community organizations.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
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
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 7 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
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

May 15, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6901079PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires California peace officers to obtain a college degree or equivalent credentials by 2031.
  • Establishes new educational pathways including a modern policing degree and professional certificate.
  • Creates a statewide task force to improve law enforcement recruitment efforts.
  • Exempts current officers and academy enrollees as of December 2030 from new 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 reform legislation establishes new qualification requirements for California law enforcement officers while creating a dedicated recruitment task force. Beginning January 1, 2031, peace officers must obtain specified credentials within 36 months of receiving their basic certification, choosing from options that include an associate's or bachelor's degree, two years of military or out-of-state law enforcement experience, a modern policing degree, or a professional policing certificate.

The bill defines two new educational pathways tailored to law enforcement. A modern policing degree requires 60 semester units including coursework in communications, psychology, writing, ethics, and criminal justice. Alternatively, officers can pursue a 16-unit professional policing certificate covering the same core subjects. Credits from POST-certified academy training can count toward these requirements, though academy coursework alone cannot fulfill the professional certificate. Officers employed or enrolled in basic training as of December 31, 2030 are exempt from the new standards.

To support recruitment under these enhanced requirements, the legislation establishes a Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force comprising representatives from sheriff's departments, police agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement organizations. The task force will work to identify and recruit qualified candidates while the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges develops implementation plans for the modern policing degree program, with input from law enforcement stakeholders, university representatives, and community organizations.

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 Public Safety
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
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

May 15, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6901079PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 7 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
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