Criminal procedure: discrimination.

Senator Caballero's legislation modifies California's criminal procedure laws to establish boundaries between findings under the Racial Justice Act and administrative actions against peace officers. The bill prevents public agencies from taking punitive actions against officers based solely on court determinations of racial bias, while preserving their ability to discipline officers for underlying misconduct.

The measure adds protections for public safety officers by prohibiting agencies from using Racial Justice Act findings as the sole basis for denying promotions or revoking certifications. Agencies must instead rely on direct evidence of misconduct when pursuing disciplinary actions. The bill requires defendants to notify individuals accused of bias before filing Racial Justice Act challenges and allows accused parties to submit amicus briefs in related proceedings.

The legislation also amends peace officer certification rules to align with these new protections. While the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training retains authority to revoke certifications for serious misconduct, including demonstrated bias, it cannot base revocation solely on Racial Justice Act determinations. The commission must independently evaluate officer conduct according to established professional standards and procedures.

These changes create distinct pathways for addressing racial bias in criminal proceedings and officer misconduct in administrative contexts. The bill maintains existing mechanisms for challenging discriminatory practices while ensuring that judicial findings about systemic bias do not automatically trigger employment consequences for individual officers.