Body armor.

Existing law provides that any person who has been convicted of a violent felony who purchases, owns, or possesses body armor, as defined in the California Code of Regulations, except as authorized, is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for 16 months or 2 or 3 years. However, the court, in People v. Saleem (102 Cal.Rptr.3d 652) , held that this provision is unconstitutionally vague in violation of due process. This bill would change the definition of "body armor" for purposes of this provision to mean any bullet-resistant material intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection for the person wearing the body armor. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would create 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 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.