The DeSaulnier Digest: Police Reform and Coronavirus Update

AT A GLANCE

In this week's Digest, you will find information on:

• House Democrats' plans on police reform;
• Upcoming House action; and
• County public health updates.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

House Democrats Advance Legislation on Police Reform

Democrats are hard at work on the Justice in Policing Act, an effort civil rights groups are calling the most significant police reform bill in decades. Below is a more in-depth look at how it would make meaningful change:

• Bans chokeholds;
• Stops no-knock warrants;
• Ends the qualified immunity doctrine that is a barrier to holding police officers accountable for wrongful conduct;
• Combats racial profiling;
• Mandates data collection, including body cameras and dashboard cameras;
• Establishes new standards for policing;
• Makes lynching a federal crime;
• Demilitarizes police by limiting the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement; and
• Creates a nationwide misconduct registry to prevent problematic officers from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability.

Upcoming House Action

In the coming weeks, Democrats will bring the following bills to the floor of the U.S. House:

• The Justice in Policing Act (described above), which would bring greater accountability to our nation's law enforcement.
• The INVEST in America Act, a multi-billion dollar effort to invest in our existing infrastructure while funding new, transformative projects that will create millions of jobs, reduce carbon pollution, improve safety, and spur economic activity.
• We also stand ready to advance a package to provide additional relief to the American people, businesses, and communities who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic as soon as the Senate acts. Democrats in the House passed the HEROES Act over a month ago and have been pressing the Senate to step up for the American people and do the same.

COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE

Thanks to residents' adherence to the local stay-at-home order, Contra Costa County continues to ease restrictions when it comes to businesses re-opening and services expanding throughout the county. As the county health officer continues to review and evaluate data, more adjustments will follow. Here is a brief summary of recent guidance provided by the county.

• As of June 3, indoor retail shopping, business offices, outdoor museums, and pet grooming have been allowed to re-open, though tele-working is still highly encouraged for businesses that are able to do so. Small outdoor social gatherings, as well as child care and camps for all children, are also allowed but can still only have up to 12 children in a "stable cohort."
• On June 5, outdoor religious services of up to 100 people, indoor religious services of up to 12 people, use of outdoor picnic and barbeque spaces, outdoor swimming pools, and overnight camping for people in the same household were allowed.
• On June 11, Contra Costa County was granted a variance by the state of California that allows more local control over resumption of some activities. As a result, the County has released a new timeline that outlines potential re-opening dates for businesses like hair salons and barber shops, indoor dining, bars, gyms, fitness centers, and hotels. To view that timeline, click here.

As new resources and information become available, we will continue to provide updates via social media and through the coronavirus resources section of our website here. As always, if our office can be of assistance to you, please contact us at (925) 933-2660.