Criminal procedure: wiretapping: authorization and disclosure.

Existing law establishes a procedure for a prosecutor to apply for, and the court to issue, an order authorizing law enforcement to intercept a wire or electronic communication. Under existing law, in accordance with the procedures described above, the Attorney General, a deputy attorney general, district attorney, or deputy district attorney, or a peace officer who has obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire or electronic communication may disclose the contents, under specified circumstances, to a judge or magistrate, or to a state or federal investigative or law enforcement officer, if that disclosure is appropriate to the proper performance of the official duties of the individual making or receiving the disclosure. Existing law also prohibits a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer from disclosing or using the contents of intercepted wire or electronic communications relating to crimes other than certain enumerated crimes, such as murder, human trafficking, and violent felonies, and those specified in the order of authorization, except to prevent the commission of a public offense. This bill would authorize a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer to disclose those contents if they relate to grand theft involving a firearm or maliciously exploding or igniting a destructive device or any explosive causing bodily injury, mayhem or great bodily injury, or death. The bill would also authorize a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer to disclose those contents if they relate to a crime involving a peace officer and are disclosed in an administrative or disciplinary hearing. If an agency employing a peace officer uses those contents as evidence in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding, the bill would require the number of proceedings and the offenses for which the evidence was used to be reported to the Attorney General. The bill would require the Attorney General to report this information to the Legislature, as provided.