The Madera County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 approved a draft military equipment policy for the District Attorney's Office consistent with Assembly Bill 481 and authorized an agreement with the City of Fowler to purchase nine surplus rifles at $350 apiece.

Presentation and legal context: staff said AB 481 requires law enforcement agencies to list and get board approval for the acquisition and use of specified equipment and to hold public hearings. The item proposed adding a parallel ordinance to the county code to authorize the DA's office to acquire and use the listed equipment consistent with AB 481.

Weapons purchase and funding: staff said the nine surplus rifles total $4,900; funding will come 50% from forfeiture proceeds and 50% from the District Attorney's welfare fraud investigations fund. Staff stated there will be no impact to the general fund.

Board concerns and safeguards: supervisors asked whether DA investigators had a rifle policy, whether they would follow the sheriff's policy, and whether rifles would be stored securely or taken home. A supervisor said: "I just get weary when people who don't normally deploy rifles are now gonna be... we're gonna have 9 rifles floating around..." Another supervisor emphasized ensuring deputies and investigators have the equipment to address violent incidents. Staff responded that investigators will implement Lexipol policy standards or mirror the sheriff's policy and that rifles will be secured in safes or secured in vehicles with anti‑theft measures.

Motion condition and vote: a motion recorded in the transcript (mover listed as "Supervisor Wallnoff") included the caveat that, before rifles are implemented in the field, the DA's office must have a take‑home/secure storage policy that either mirrors the sheriff's policy or provides an equivalent standard; the motion was seconded and the board approved the purchase and policy by roll call vote.

Why it matters: AB 481 requires transparency and public notification around certain law enforcement equipment; the board’s actions formalize the DA's policies and the planned acquisition and set a storage/training condition intended to reduce the risk of misplacement or misuse.

Provenance: presentation, Q&A, public discussion and motion recorded in the transcript.