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AB-1276 United Water Conservation District: park rangers.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 02/17/2017 09:00 PM
AB1276:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1276

Introduced by Assembly Member Limón

February 17, 2017

An act to amend Section 830.34 of the Penal Code, and to add Section 74512 to the Water Code, relating to peace officers.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1276, as introduced, Limón. United Water Conservation District: park rangers.
The Water Conservation District Law of 1931 authorizes the formation of water conservation districts and grants to those districts specified powers and purposes. Existing law sets forth provisions that apply only to water conservation districts within Ventura County.
This bill would authorize the United Water Conservation District in Ventura County to employ park rangers who would be peace officers if the primary duty of the park ranger is the protection of the properties of the district and the protection of the persons on those properties. The bill would require the district to adhere to certain standards for recruitment and training of peace officers for the purposes of exercising that authority, as specified.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the United Water Conservation District.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 830.34 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

830.34.
 The following persons are peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state for the purpose of performing their primary duty or when making an arrest pursuant to Section 836 as to any public offense with respect to which there is immediate danger to person or property, or of the escape of the perpetrator of that offense, or pursuant to Section 8597 or 8598 of the Government Code. Those peace officers may carry firearms only if authorized and under terms and conditions specified by their employing agency.
(a) Persons designated as a security officer by a municipal utility district pursuant to Section 12820 of the Public Utilities Code, if the primary duty of the officer is the protection of the properties of the utility district and the protection of the persons thereon.
(b) Persons designated as a security officer by a county water district pursuant to Section 30547 of the Water Code, if the primary duty of the officer is the protection of the properties of the county water district and the protection of the persons thereon.
(c) The security director of the public utilities commission of a city and county, if the primary duty of the security director is the protection of the properties of the commission and the protection of the persons thereon.
(d) Persons employed as a park ranger by a municipal water district pursuant to Section 71341.5 of the Water Code, if the primary duty of the park ranger is the protection of the properties of the municipal water district and the protection of the persons thereon.
(e) Persons employed as a park ranger by the United Water Conservation District in Ventura County pursuant to Section 74512 of the Water Code, if the primary duty of the park ranger is the protection of the properties of the United Water Conservation District and the protection of the persons on those properties.

SEC. 2.

 Section 74512 is added to the Water Code, to read:

74512.
 (a) The United Water Conservation District in Ventura County may employ park rangers who have the authority and powers conferred by subdivision (e) of Section 830.34 of the Penal Code upon peace officers.
(b) For the purposes of carrying out subdivision (a), the district shall adhere to the standards for recruitment and training of peace officers established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 13500) of Part 4 of the Penal Code.
(c) Every park ranger employed by the district shall conform to the standards for peace officers adopted by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

SEC. 3.

 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances of the United Water Conservation District in Ventura County with regard to its remote location and its interaction with the public.