SB 296 – Requires Local Agencies To Develop Safety Standards For Code Enforcement Officers

Existing law allows law enforcement agencies to employ “code enforcement officers,” non-sworn personnel with authority to enforce health, safety, and welfare requirements, and to issue citations or file formal complaints, but who are not peace officers. The legislature enacted SB 296 to address certain risks to the health and safety of local code enforcement officers, whom the Legislature stated are “disproportionately at risk for threat, assault, injury, and even homicide due to the nature of their obligations.”

SB 296 requires each local jurisdiction that employs code enforcement officers to develop safety standards tailored to the specific issues and risks which exist for code enforcement officers employed by that jurisdiction.

(SB 296 adds Section 829.7 to the Penal Code.)