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Agenda Report
July 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Legislative Policy Committee (July 1,2025)
FROM: City Manager's Office
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR SB 627(WIENER, ARREGUiN. AND PEREZ): LAW ENFORCEMENT: MASKS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the action proposed herein is covered by the common sense exemption set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment;
2. Support Senate Bill 627 (Wiener, Arreguin, and Perez) - Law Enforcement: Masks, and any subsequent related legislation; and
3. Authorize the Mayor to send letters to the appropriate authorities stating Pasadena's position.
BACKGROUND:
Under existing law, it is a misdemeanor to wear a mask or any personal disguise with the purpose of evading recognition while committing a public offense, for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction. Senate Bill 627 would make it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties, except as specified. The bill would exempt an officer engaged in an undercover assignment from these provisions. The bill would define law enforcement officer as any officer of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, or any person acting on behalf of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency.
Senate Bill 627 was amended to its current form by its primary authors, Senators Wiener and Arreguin, on June 24 when Senator Sasha Renee Perez was added as an author.
MEETING OF.
7/14/2025
AGENDA ITEM NO..
10 SB 627
July 14, 2025
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement personnel involved in these actions have often worn face masks or other materials to shield their identity and the agency for which they work. This has left the public to wonder if these actions have been undertaken by actual federal agents or bad actors posing as such. Allowing officers faces to be seen will help allay these fears.
There are times when it would be appropriate for law enforcement officers to wear masks and the bill specifies exceptions for medical grade masks to be worn to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases, masks to protect against exposure to smoke from wildfires, and protective gear used by SWAT team officers.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Support of this bill helps further the City Council goals to ensure public safety.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed action has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15061 (b)(3), the Common Sense Exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There wouid be no fiscal impact to the City of Pasadena.
Respectfully submitted:
^
BRENDA HAR\^-WILLIAMS
Assistant City Manager
Approved by:
MIGU&MdARQUEZ
City Manager
Attachment A - SB 627 text