SACRAMENTO — Today, Assemblymember Alanis announced that two of his bills, AB 1572 (Mandatory Background Checks and Training Standards for CIF Sports Officials) and AB 1612 (Safe Disposal of Seized Narcotics), passed the Senate Committee on Public Safety on consent.
“AB 1572 is about one thing: protecting our students,” said Assemblymember Alanis. “This bill closes a loophole left by previous background check laws in California, which did not include sports officials. Any adults who interact with our student-athletes must be held to the same standard of clearance and should meet standardized training requirements.”
AB 1572 establishes statewide standards for high school sports officials by codifying the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) existing background check requirements and creating consistent safety training expectations across California. By placing these safeguards into state law, the bill helps ensure that all officials who interact with students meet the same standards expected of other adults working in school-related activities, such as coaches and educators.
“AB 1612 solves a growing and very real problem here in California,” added Alanis. “Law enforcement agencies are seizing increasing quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and other dangerous narcotics, yet due to unintended consequences of relatively recent environmental laws, there is no statewide standard for how these substances should be managed and disposed of.”
AB 1612 addresses a growing challenge facing law enforcement agencies by requiring the California Department of Justice to develop statewide regulations governing the management and disposal of seized controlled substances. The bill is intended to provide law enforcement agencies with a consistent framework for safely handling dangerous narcotics once they are no longer needed as evidence.
Following the closure of California’s remaining in-state narcotics destruction facilities, many agencies have been left navigating inconsistent disposal practices with little statewide direction. The lack of uniform guidance has created operational challenges for law enforcement agencies responsible for safely storing and disposing of increasingly hazardous controlled substances.
Both bills will now advance to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
Assemblymember Juan Alanis represents the 22nd Assembly District, which includes the communities of Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Denair, Patterson, Gustine, Newman, Hilmar, Ballico, Snelling, Keyes, Grayson, Crows Landing, Diablo Grande, Stevinson, & Empire.
