SB1210 - Gang databases.

Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1210 Introduced by Senator Weber Pierson February 19, 2026 An act to amend Section 137 of the Health and Safety Code, Sections 186.34, 186.35, and 186.36 of the Penal Code, relating to public health. criminal gangs. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1210, as amended, Weber Pierson. Public health: women’s health. Gang databases. Existing law, the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act (act), provides specified punishments for certain crimes committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang, as specified. The act defines a “shared gang database” as a database accessed by a law enforcement agency that designates a person as a gang member or associate, or includes or points to information, including, but not limited to, fact-based or uncorroborated information, that reflects a designation of that person as a gang member or associate that is accessed by an agency or person outside of the agency that created the records that populate the database. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to regulate and oversee any shared gang databases in which California law enforcement agencies, participate, as specified. This bill would remove the term “shared gang database” and make the provisions under the act applicable to all gang databases, regardless of whether a gang database is accessed by an agency or person outside of the agency that created the database. The bill would make specified regulations applicable to all gang databases beginning on January 1, 2027. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop a coordinated state strategy for addressing the health-related needs of women and makes the department responsible for approved programmatic costs associated with this strategy. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 186.34 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 186.34. (a) For purposes of this section and Sections 186.35 and 186.36, the following definitions apply: (1) “Criminal street gang” means an ongoing organization, organized association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of crimes enumerated in paragraphs (1) to (25), inclusive, and paragraphs (31) to (33), inclusive, paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 186.22 who have a common identifying sign, symbol, or name, and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of definable criminal activity. (2) “Gang database” means any database accessed by a law enforcement agency that designates a person as a gang member or associate, or includes or points to information, including, but not limited to, fact-based or uncorroborated information, that reflects a designation of that person as a gang member or associate. (3) “Law enforcement agency” means a governmental agency or a subunit of a governmental agency, and its authorized support staff and contractors, whose primary function is detection, investigation, or apprehension of criminal offenders, or whose primary duties include detention, pretrial release, posttrial release, correctional supervision, or the collection, storage, or dissemination of criminal history record information. (4) “Shared gang database” means a gang database that is accessed by an agency or person outside of the agency that created the records that populate the database. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the following are not subject to this section, or Sections 186.35 and 186.36: (1) Databases that designate persons as gang members or associates using only criminal offender record information, as defined in Section 13102, or information collected pursuant to Section 186.30. (2) Databases accessed solely by jail or custodial facility staff for classification or operational decisions in the administration of the facility. (c) (1) To the extent a local law enforcement agency elects to utilize a shared gang database prior to a local law enforcement agency designating a person as a suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate in a shared gang database, or submitting a document to the Attorney General’s office for the purpose of designating a person in a shared gang database, or otherwise identifying the person in a shared gang database, the local law enforcement agency shall provide written notice to the person, and shall, if the person is under 18 years of age, provide written notice to the person and the person’s parent or guardian, of the designation and the basis for the designation, unless providing that notification would compromise an active criminal investigation or compromise the health or safety of the minor. (2) The notice described in paragraph (1) shall describe the process for the person, or, if the person is under 18 years of age, for the person’s parent or guardian, or an attorney working on behalf of the person, to contest the designation of the person in the database. The notice shall also inform the person of the reason for the person’s designation in the database. (d) (1) (A) A person, or, if the person is under 18 years of age, the person’s parent or guardian, or an attorney working on behalf of the person, may request information of any law enforcement agency as to whether the person is designated as a suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate in a shared gang database accessible by that law enforcement agency and the name of the law enforcement agency that made the designation. A request pursuant to this paragraph shall be in writing. (B) If a person about whom information is requested pursuant to subparagraph (A) is designated as a suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate in a shared gang database by that law enforcement agency, the person making the request may also request information as to the basis for the designation for the purpose of contesting the designation as described in subdivision (e). (2) The law enforcement agency shall provide information requested under paragraph (1), unless doing so would compromise an active criminal investigation or compromise the health or safety of the person if the person is under 18 years of age. (3) The law enforcement agency shall respond to a valid request pursuant to paragraph (1) in writing to the person making the request within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request. (e) Subsequent to the notice described in subdivision (c) or the law enforcement agency’s response to an information request described in subdivision (d), the person designated or to be designated as a suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate, or the person’s parent or guardian if the person is under 18 years of age, may submit written documentation to the local law enforcement agency contesting the designation. The local law enforcement agency shall review the documentation, and if the agency determines that the person is not a suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate, the agency shall remove the person from the shared gang database. The local law enforcement agency shall provide the person and, if the person is under 18 years of age, the person’s parent or guardian, with written verification of the agency’s decision within 30 days of submission of the written documentation contesting the designation. If the law enforcement agency denies the request for removal, the notice of its determination shall state the reason for the denial. If the law enforcement agency does not provide a verification of the agency’s decision within the required 30-day period, the request to remove the person from the gang database shall be deemed denied. The person or, if the person is under 18 years of age, the person’s parent or guardian may petition the court to review the law enforcement agency’s denial of the request for removal and order the law enforcement agency to remove the person from the shared gang database pursuant to Section 186.35. (f) Nothing in this section shall require a local law enforcement agency to disclose any information protected under Section 1040 or 1041 of the Evidence Code or any provision listed in Section 7920.505 of the Government Code. SEC. 2. Section 186.35 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 186.35. (a) A person who is listed by a law enforcement agency in a shared gang database as a gang member, suspected gang member, associate, or affiliate and who has contested his or her their designation pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 186.34, may petition the court to review the law enforcement agency’s denial of the request for removal and to order the law enforcement agency to remove the person from the shared gang database. The petition may be brought by the person or the person’s attorney, or if the person is under 18 years of age, by his or her their parent or guardian or an attorney on behalf of the parent or guardian. (b) The petition shall be filed and served within 90 calendar days of the agency’s mailing or personal service of the verification of the decision to deny the request for removal from the shared gang database or the date that the request is deemed denied under subdivision (e) of Section 186.34. A proceeding under this subdivision is not a criminal case. The petition shall be filed in either the superior court of the county in which the local law enforcement agency is located or, if the person resides in California, in the county in which the person resides. A copy of the petition shall be served on the agency in person or by first-class mail. Proof of service of the petition on the agency shall be filed in the superior court. For purposes of computing the 90-calendar-day period, Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be applicable. (c) The evidentiary record for the court’s determination of the petition shall be limited to the agency’s statement of the basis of its designation made pursuant to subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 186.34, and the documentation provided to the agency by the person contesting the designation pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 186.34. (d) If, upon de novo review of the record and any arguments presented to the court, the court finds that the law enforcement agency has failed to establish the person’s active gang membership, associate status, or affiliate status by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall order the law enforcement agency to remove the name of the person from the shared gang database. (e) The fee for filing the petition is as provided in Section 70615 of the Government Code. The court shall notify the person of the appearance date by mail or personal delivery. The court shall retain the fee under Section 70615 of the Government Code regardless of the outcome of the petition. If the court finds in favor of the person, the amount of the fee shall be reimbursed to the person by the agency. SEC. 3. Section 186.36 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 186.36. (a) (1) The Department of Justice is responsible for establishing regulations for shared gang databases. All shared gang databases shall comply with those regulations. (2) The regulations set forth in Chapter 7.6 of Division 1 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successor regulations thereto, shall constitute compliance with this subdivision. (3) Commencing January 1, 2027, the regulations in Chapter 7.6 of Division 1 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successor regulations thereto, shall apply to all gang databases, regardless of whether such databases are accessed by an agency or person outside of the agency that created the database. (b) The department shall administer and oversee the CalGang database. Commencing January 1, 2018, the CalGang Executive Board shall not administer or oversee the CalGang database. (c) The department shall establish the Gang Database Technical Advisory Committee. (d) Each appointee to the committee, regardless of the appointing authority, shall have the following characteristics: (1) Substantial prior knowledge of issues related to gang intervention, suppression, or prevention efforts. (2) Decisionmaking authority for, or direct access to those who have decisionmaking authority for, the agency or organization he or she represents. (3) A willingness to serve on the committee and a commitment to contribute to the committee’s work. (e) The membership of the committee shall be as follows: (1) The Attorney General, or his or her their designee. (2) The President of the California District Attorneys Association, or his or her their designee. (3) The President of the California Public Defenders Association, or his or her their designee. (4) A representative of organizations that specialize in gang violence intervention, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (5) A representative of organizations that provide immigration services, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (6) The President of the California Gang Investigators Association, or his or her their designee. (7) A representative of community organizations that specialize in civil or human rights, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (8) A person who has personal experience with a shared gang database as someone who is or was impacted by gang labeling, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (9) The chairperson of the California Gang Node Advisory Committee, or his or her their designee. (10) The President of the California Police Chiefs Association, or his or her their designee. (11) The President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, or his or her their designee. (f) The committee shall appoint a chairperson from among the members appointed pursuant to subdivision (e). The chairperson shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the committee. (g) Each member of the committee who is appointed pursuant to this section shall serve without compensation. (h) If a committee member is unable to adequately perform his or her their duties, he or she the committee member is subject to removal from the board by a majority vote of the full committee. (i) A vacancy on the committee as a result of the removal of a member shall be filled by the appointing authority of the removed member within 30 days of the vacancy. (j) Committee meetings are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (k) The department, with the advice of the committee, shall promulgate regulations governing the use, operation, and oversight of shared gang databases. The regulations issued by the department shall, at minimum, ensure the following: (1) The system integrity of a shared gang database [Text truncated for display. 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