20250AB__234799INT INTRODUCED 2026-02-19 2025 AB INT Introduced by Assembly Member Ahrens LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens

An act to add

Section 13519.65 to the Penal Code, relating to peace officers. peace officers Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training: hate crime training and guidelines. Existing law defines a “hate crime” as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including, among other things, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation.

Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), in consultation with specified subject-matter experts, to develop guidelines and a course of instruction and training for law enforcement officers addressing hate crimes. Existing law also requires POST to consult with the subject-matter experts if the guidelines or course of instruction are updated. Beginning January 1, 2027, this bill would require POST to conduct a comprehensive review of existing hate crimes training programs, as specified. The bill would require the review to be completed by January 1, 2028.

The bill would require POST to, by July 1, 2028, adopt evidence-based training requirements to address the gaps identified in the review regarding the prevention, identification, and investigation of hate crimes. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 13519.65 is added to the Penal Code , to read: 13519.65. (

a) Beginning January 1, 2027, the commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of existing hate crimes training programs, including those under

Section 13519.6, offered to law enforcement officers who are employed as peace officers, or who are enrolled in the basic course. The review shall be completed by January 1, 2028. (

b) The review shall do all the following:

(1) Evaluate disparities in hate crime data collection.

(2) Evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement’s response to hate crimes.

(3) Evaluate the efficacy of existing POST trainings on hate crimes. (

c) By July 1, 2028, the commission shall adopt evidence-based training requirements to address the gaps identified in subdivision (

b) regarding the prevention, identification, and investigation of hate crimes. (

d) For purposes of this section, the term “hate crime” has the same meaning as in

Section 422.55.