Peace officers: confidentiality of records.

Assembly Member Pacheco's legislation modifies California's peace officer records disclosure requirements by adding new protections for undercover officers. The bill requires courts to consider whether an officer is currently operating undercover and needs anonymity when determining if releasing their records would pose a significant safety risk.

The measure builds upon existing law that allows agencies to redact personnel records when disclosure could endanger an officer. Under current statute, agencies must demonstrate a "specific, articulable, and particularized reason" that releasing information would create a safety threat. The new provisions explicitly direct courts to weigh an officer's undercover status and operational needs for anonymity as part of this determination.

The legislation maintains the framework established by the California Public Records Act regarding which peace officer records must be disclosed, including reports on use of force incidents, sustained findings of misconduct, and other specified events. It preserves existing timelines requiring agencies to provide records within 45 days of a request, except when temporary withholding is permitted during active investigations.