Law enforcement: masks.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the impact on people interacting with law enforcement officers.

Law Enforcement Masks

The bill makes it illegal for state agency peace officers to wear masks while on duty and clarifies what items are considered facial coverings.

What This Bill Does

• Adds state agency peace officers to the list of law enforcement officers who cannot wear masks during their duties.
• Specifies that sunglasses do not count as facial coverings, but if used in a way that hides identity, they can be treated like other banned items.
• Requires all law enforcement agencies, including those run by the state, to have policies about mask use and post them online by January 1, 2027.
• Exempts certain surveillance operations related to fish and game laws from these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• Law enforcement officers working for city, county, federal agencies, other states, or now also state agencies in California.

Terms To Know

Peace Officer

A person designated by California law to enforce the law and maintain public order.

Facial Covering

An item that covers part of a person's face, like a mask or balaclava.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks the new rules.
• It is unclear how this will affect officers in specific situations where hiding identity might be necessary for safety reasons.

Official Summary Text

SB 1004, as amended, Wiener.
Law enforcement: masks.
Existing law makes it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. Existing law defines law enforcement officer for these purposes as anyone designated by California law as a peace officer who is employed by a city, county, or other local agency, and any officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency, agency or law enforcement agency of another state, or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency.
This bill would add peace officers employed by a state agency to the definition of law enforcement officers, thereby making those law enforcement officers subject to those criminal penalties.
The bill would specify that facial coverings does not include certain items,
including, among other things, sunglasses. The bill would, for all of the items excluded from the definition of facial coverings, limit that exclusion if the items are combined or otherwise used in a manner that results in, or is intended to result in, concealing or obscuring an officer’s identity.
By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires a law enforcement agency operating in California to, by July 1, 2026, maintain and publicly post a written policy limiting the use of facial coverings, as specified. Existing law defines a law enforcement agency for these purposes as any entity of a city, county, or other local agency, that employs anyone designated by California law as a peace officer, any federal law enforcement agency, or any law enforcement agency of another state.
This bill would add to the definition of law enforcement
agency, a state entity that employs a peace officer and would change the date any law enforcement agency has to comply with that requirement to January 1, 2027.
The bill would also require those policies to exempt surveillance operations related to enforcement of the Fish and Game Code.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF