Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: citizens' oversight committee.

Existing law establishes categories of peace officers with varying powers and authority to make arrests and carry firearms. Any sheriff of a county is a peace officer whose authority extends to any place in the state, as specified. Existing law requires the sheriff of a county to preserve the peace, among other duties. This bill would establish in the County of Los Angeles a permanent citizens' oversight committee for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The bill would require the committee to consist of an unspecified number of members, would require the members to be residents of the county, and would require the members of the committee to serve terms of an unspecified number of years. The bill would require the committee to review and evaluate the practices and performance of the department and to prepare a report containing the committee's findings. The bill would also require the county to reimburse the committee for the reasonable costs incurred by the committee. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles. 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.