CA bill would ban members of hate groups from being police officers Share Updated: 8:57 PM PDT Mar 16, 2021 Share Updated: 8:57 PM PDT Mar 16, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript OF THIS ARGUMENT. WRITER STORM THE US CAPITAL IN JANUARY SOME QUICKLY IDENTIFIED AS LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOW THIS BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE WOULD TIGHTEN THE TOOLS FOR THOSE IN BLUE. WELL, YOU HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE RACIST AND BIGOTED VIEWS. YOU DON’T HAVE A CONSTITUTION RIGHT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER RIGHT AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER OSHKOLARA AB 655 ALSO KNOWN AS THE CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM OR CLEAR ACT WOULD REQUIRE THAT A BACKGROUND CHECK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICANTS INCLUDE FINDING OUT IF THE CANDIDATE IS A MEMBER OF A HATE GROUP OR HAS PARTICIPATED IN HATE GROUP ACTIVITIES. IF SO, THE CANDIDATE COULD BE DISQUALIFIED AS FOR CURRENT. ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IF AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO A HATE GROUP PARTICIPATION IS FOUND TO BE TRUE THE OFFICER COULD BE FIRED THE ROLE IN RESPONSIBILITY OF PEACE OFFICER IS SO IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY HEALING FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. DON’T FEEL THAT THOSE THAT ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY. LOOK AT THEM IN A WAY THAT’S UNBIASED THAT UNDERMINES OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM BUT OPPONENTS SAY THE BILL DEFINES HATE GROUPS AND HATE SPEECH. LEE I THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT NO ONE WANTS COPS SERVING US WHO BELONG TO VIOLENT HATE GROUPS, BUT THIS THIS BILL GOES FAR BEYOND THAT IT ACTUALLY GOES AFTER INDIVIDUAL COPS WHO SIMPLY HAVE CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL VIEWS ON ISSUES LIKE MARRIAGE, SO WHAT ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS LIKE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, WE ASK PROFESSOR LESLIE JACOBS WITH THE MAJOR GEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW THE OFFICIAL EACH THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTROL AND EVEN PRIVATE SPEECH OF A POLICE OFFICER OR A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE THE GOVERNMENT THE EMPLOYER CAN POTENTIALLY CONTROL IF IT DISRUPTS THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE ENTERPRISE AND THE JOB PROFESSOR. JACOB SAYS THE BILL IS DIRECTED AT ACTIVITIES WHERE AN OFFICER IS IN EITHER AN OFFICIAL FUNCTION OR WOULD APPEAR TO BE BUT THERE ARE LEGAL LIMITS TO REQUIRING THEM TO DISCLOSE MEMBERSHIPS. SO WE’RE REALLY LOOKING AT A BALANCE BETWEEN IN THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY OR THE RIGHT TO SPEECH AND THE GOVERNMENT’S INTEREST IN BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE EMPLOYEE PERFORM THE JOB AS FOR NEXT STEPS. THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD BY THE ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE I