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AB 134 pilot would let selected tribes exercise California peace‑officer powers under strict conditions, POST explains
Summary
POST staff walked the committee through AB 134, a three‑year pilot (July 2026–July 2029) allowing up to three federally recognized tribes to participate in a tribal police pilot. Requirements include tribal adoption of public‑records and government‑claims‑style laws, waiver of sovereign immunity for certain acts, compliance with peace‑officer selection/training standards and POST/DOJ oversight; POST/DOJ may audit or remove noncompliant tribes.
Legal Affairs staff briefed the committee on Assembly Bill 134, which the presentation said was signed into law on June 27, 2025, and establishes a three‑year tribal police pilot program that begins in July 2026.
Attorney Bridal Henley summarized the legislative design as read in the statute: DOJ and POST will jointly select up to three federally recognized tribes to participate. Participating tribes must adopt local laws comparable to California’s Public Records Act and Government Claims Act provisions, waive sovereign immunity for certain claims arising from officers’ exercise of state peace‑officer powers, comply with penal‑code provisions applicable to peace officers, and meet POST selection, background and certification criteria (including the basic certification requirements cited in the statute).
Henley and other staff said officers selected under the pilot must meet minimum background, selection, medical and psychological screening requirements, and those who complete at least a 12‑month probation and the regular basic course can obtain a full POST regular basic certificate (and could later lateral to other agencies). The law requires POST and DOJ to oversee compliance, provide audits and—if a tribe cannot meet the statutory requirements—remove the tribe from the pilot, which would end the participating officers’ peace‑officer powers under state law.
Committee members asked detailed operational questions: how field training (FTO) programs would be evaluated, how prosecutions on tribal lands would be handled (state prosecution for crimes falling under the pilot when appropriate), whether sheriffs and chiefs of adjacent jurisdictions will have input into selection, and how tribes could withdraw or be removed. Staff said POST and DOJ have held listening sessions; some tribes already employ former California peace officers and have FTO programs that may meet POST requirements. Henley said selection processes will include application, review and an opportunity to ensure tribal laws align with statutory requirements and POST/DOJ oversight.
What’s next: POST and DOJ will solicit applications for tribes (applications due date referenced in the presentation), review and select up to three tribes by January/early 2026, and develop administrative and legal frameworks (including training and audit procedures) for pilot start in July 2026.
