Bill > AB1269

This bill, known as Wakiesha's Law, requires county and city jails to notify all people listed on an incarcerated person's medical release of information form and next of kin form within 24 hours of that person's death while in custody. The bill is modeled after existing regulations for state prisons, which already require similar notification procedures. By mandating this quick communication, the law aims to address public concerns about transparency and timely information sharing in cases of in-custody deaths. Because the bill imposes new notification requirements on local jails, it is considered a state-mandated local program, which means that if the Commission on State Mandates determines there are additional costs associated with implementation, the state will be required to reimburse local agencies. The bill is classified as an urgency statute, which means it will go into effect immediately upon passage, reflecting the legislature's view that rapid communication with families after an in-custody death is crucial for public peace, health, and safety.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1269