San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District: Office of Citizen Complaints.

This bill would require the BART board to create an Office of Citizen Complaints to investigate complaints and allegations of police misconduct by the BART police department. The bill would provide for the nomination of the director of that office by the district attorneys of the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco, subject to confirmation by the board. The bill would require the staff of the office to consist of no fewer than one line investigator for every 150 sworn members of the police department. The bill would require the office to investigate complaints of police misconduct or allegations that a member of the police department has not properly performed a duty and would require the office to recommend disciplinary action to the chief of police. The bill would authorize the director of the office to file charges with the board against members of the police department under specified circumstances. The bill would require the office to prepare monthly summaries of the complaints received and quarterly recommendations concerning policies or practices of the police department that could be changed, along with a quarterly report to the board. The bill would require all departments, officers, and employees of the district to promptly produce all records required by the office and to otherwise cooperate with the office, except as specified. The bill would require the district to implement these and other related provisions utilizing existing funds available to the district. Because the bill would impose new responsibilities on the district, it would impose a state-mandated local program. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.