California Bill Requiring Bias Assessment for Law Enforcement Officers Passed by Committee

Graduates of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Academy Class 451 stand for the pledge of allegiance at their graduation ceremony at East Los Angeles College amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Monterey Park, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2020. Mario Tama/Getty Images

SACRAMENTO—A California Assembly bill to add a bias assessment to the requirements of becoming a law enforcement officer was passed by a state assembly committee on March 29.

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2229 on Feb. 15 to ensure law enforcement officers completed an evaluation screening to include bias against race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, disability, or sexual orientation, according to the legislation.