Peace officers: confidentiality of records.

Assembly Member Pacheco's legislation to amend California's peace officer records law would expand protections for certain law enforcement personnel by requiring agencies to redact identifying information in public disclosures. The bill adds new categories of officers whose names, ranks, photos and likenesses must be removed from released records, including those working undercover assignments within the past 24 months, personnel attached to federal or state task forces, and officers who have received verified death threats.

The measure maintains existing provisions that make certain peace officer personnel records publicly accessible, such as those involving use of force incidents resulting in death or serious injury, sustained findings of sexual assault or discrimination, and cases of dishonesty in reporting or investigating crimes. However, it creates additional safeguards by mandating redaction of identifying details for officers in sensitive positions or facing documented safety risks.

Under the bill's provisions, law enforcement agencies must also redact information about family members of protected officers. The legislation specifies that these new redaction requirements apply to records that are otherwise subject to disclosure under California's Public Records Act. According to the bill's legislative findings, these limitations on public access are necessary to protect officers who "willingly risk their lives in dangerous and uncertain assignments."

The measure would create new administrative responsibilities for local law enforcement agencies, requiring the Commission on State Mandates to determine if state reimbursement is needed for compliance costs. Agencies would need to implement the expanded redaction protocols while still meeting existing statutory deadlines for records disclosure.