Electronic control weapons.

Existing law regulates the use and possession of less lethal weapons and stun guns, which are defined to include weapons able or intended to stun or immobilize a person, like the electrical weapons commonly known as tasers. This bill would codify the holding of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Bryan v. McPherson (2009) 590 F.3d 767, relating to the use of tasers by law enforcement, would make findings and declarations about electronic control weapons, and would encourage law enforcement agencies to establish use of force policies regarding those weapons, as specified. The bill would provide that an electronic control weapon, as defined, may only be used when objectively reasonable and compatible with specified constitutional provisions and may not be used in the absence of a threat of imminent physical harm to the officer or to others.