Assembly Bill 481, Military Equipment Use


Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy

AB 481 was authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to address the funding, acquisition and use of Military Equipment by law enforcement agencies. The Assembly Bill creates more transparency, oversight, and accountability in the use and acquisition of police equipment which qualifies by definition as Military Equipment. On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 481 into law.


Requirements of AB 481

AB 481 requires each law enforcement agency's governing body to adopt a written Military Equipment Use Policy by ordinance in a public forum in order to continue the use of previously acquired Military Equipment, and commence this process by May 1, 2022. To help guide this process, the El Monte Police Department has provided the following information for our community members:

EMPD Policy 706 – Military Equipment (PDF)

California Assembly Bill 481

EMPD 2023 Military Equipment Inventory

EMPD 2023 Annual Military Equipment Report