On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law seven major peace officer reform bills, including Assembly Bill 481.  AB 481 was authored by Assembly member David Chieu (D-San Francisco) to address the funding, acquisition, and use of items lawmakers deemed to be considered “military equipment.”

This bill requires law enforcement agencies, including the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, “to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, as specified, by ordinance at a regular meeting held pursuant to specified open meeting laws, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment, as defined.”  The full text of AB 481 is available here:

Assembly Bill 481: Full Text

Furthermore, AB 481 requires similar approval for the continued use of “military equipment” acquired by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office prior to January 1, 2022, and allows the governing body to approve the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment within its jurisdiction only if it determines that the military equipment meets specified standards.

AB 481 Definition of Military Equipment (Government Code 7070)

The Assembly Bill has created Government Code 7070 to designate the following 15 categories of items as military equipment:

• Category 1: Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
• Category 2: Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles or armored personnel carriers
• Category 3: High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles that have a breaching or entry apparatus attached
• Category 4: Tracked armored vehicles that provide ballistic protection to their occupants
• Category 5: Command and control vehicles that are either built or modified to facilitate the operational control and direction of public safety units
• Category 6: Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
• Category 7: Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
• Category 8: Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or greater, excluding standard-issue shotguns and standard-issue shotgun ammunition
• Category 9: Specialized firearms and ammunition of less than .50 caliber, including firearms and accessories identified as assault weapons in Penal Code § 30510 and Penal Code §30515, with the exception of standard-issue handguns
• Category 10: Any firearm or firearm accessory that is designed to launch explosive projectiles
• Category 11: Noise-flash diversionary devices and explosive breaching tools
• Category 12: Munitions containing tear gas or OC, excluding standard, service-issued handheld pepper spray
• Category 13: TASER® Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic devices
• Category 14: Kinetic energy weapons and munitions
• Category 15: Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or a state agency to require additional oversight

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is in current possession of items in Categories 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14 from the above list.  All items currently in possession of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office have been approved during the associated budgetary periods commensurate with the items purchased.

Requirements of AB 481

AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum by April 30, 2022, in order to continue the use of this previously acquired military equipment effective May 1, 2022. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is providing information to our residents on following required materials:

• The Madera County Sheriff’s Office’s Military Equipment Policy §706 is available to view here.  The AB 481 newly defined list of “military equipment” currently in the Madera County Sheriff’s Office’s possession is included in the draft Military Equipment Policy.
• Establish a concern or complaint process. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office always has had a means for the public to submit complaints in any form, including in writing, by email, in-person or by telephone.  Further information is also available by viewing the Madera County Sheriff Policy Manual, specifically §1009.
• Members of the public may also register complaints or concerns or submit questions about the use of each specific type of military equipment by contacting the Military Equipment Coordinator at ab481@maderacounty.com.  These complaints, concerns, or questions will be promptly handled within 10 days absent extraordinary circumstances.
• Prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits or other information about violations of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office Military Policy §706, the cost of such use and other similar information. This webpage will be utilized for distribution of any updates to the above materials as well as the Annual Report.

Public Input Regarding AB 481

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770, or via email at ab481@maderacounty.com with any questions or concerns.  Also, visit the County of Madera’s webpage here for information on all upcoming public meetings pertaining to this matter.