What is AB 481?
California Assembly Bill (AB) 481 requires California law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of a Military Equipment Use Policy by their applicable governing body prior to taking certain actions related to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment as defined by the legislature.
The UC Board of Regents is the governing body for the ten UC Police Departments.
Promoting Transparency
To help guide this process and create transparency for our community, the UC Merced Police Department established this webpage to provide all required materials including policy, current applicable equipment, and full text of the bill.
- UC Merced Police Department Policy 709
- California Legislature AB 481 (Full Text)
- UC Merced Police Department AB 481 Report and Inventory
Process
AB 481 states no later than May 1, 2022, a law enforcement agency seeking to continue the use of any military equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022, shall commence a governing body approval process in accordance with this section.
If the governing body does not approve the continuing use of military equipment, including by adoption pursuant to this subdivision of a military equipment use policy submitted pursuant to subdivision (b), within 180 days of submission of the proposed military equipment use policy to the governing body, the law enforcement agency shall cease its use of the military equipment until it receives the approval of the governing body in accordance with this section.
In seeking the approval of the governing body pursuant to subdivision (a), a law enforcement agency shall submit a proposed military equipment use policy to the governing body and make those documents available on the law enforcement agency’s internet website at least 30 days prior to any public hearing concerning the military equipment at issue.
Public Input Regarding AB 481
The UC Merced Police Department has uploaded its Military Equipment Use Policy (709), the UC Police Military Equipment Inventory, and the full text of AB 481 on this website 30 days prior to a public meeting to meet the requirements of AB 481.
Members of the public are encouraged to contact UC Merced PD at police@ucmerced.edu with any questions or concerns.
Note
The UC Merced Police Department has not obtained, nor does it utilize, any equipment procured from the United States Department of Defense through the Law Enforcement Support Program (also known as the 1028 or 1033 program).
