Law enforcement: flash-bang grenades and explosive breaching charges.

Removed subdivision (L) of Section 13652(b)(1), which had prohibited deploying flash-bang grenades for crowd control within 300 feet of a school zone, park, or any other area where children are visibly present, unless the officer could articulate specific facts showing the use was objectively reasonable to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury and no feasible alternative existed.

The bill summary previously stated that 'kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents are not aimed at the head, neck, or any other vital organs.' This was corrected to 'kinetic energy projectiles are not aimed at the head, neck, or any other vital organs,' removing the inaccurate reference to chemical agents. The underlying statutory language in Section 13652(b)(1)(I) already only prohibited aiming kinetic energy projectiles and flash-bang grenades at vital organs, so this is a summary correction rather than a policy change.

Added an exception to the immigration enforcement ban on flash-bang grenades: they may now be used if done as part of a joint law enforcement task force (as defined in Government Code Section 7284.4(g)) or in compliance with Government Code Section 7284.6(b) or (c).

Added the same immigration enforcement exception to the ban on explosive breaching charges, allowing their use in joint task forces or in compliance with specified Government Code provisions.

Narrowed the deployment restrictions in Section 13652(b) to apply specifically to crowd control use, adding the qualifier 'for crowd control' to the main deployment provision.

Strengthened the restriction on deploying flash-bang grenades within 300 feet of areas where children are visibly present. Officers must now articulate specific facts establishing objective reasonableness AND demonstrate that reasonably available alternative tactics do not appear feasible, in addition to meeting the existing threat-to-life standard.

Added a clarifying paragraph stating that the crowd-control-specific training requirements do not relieve peace officers of any required training on these weapons in circumstances outside of crowd control.

The prohibition on flash-bang grenades within 300 feet of schools, parks, and areas with children now applies only to 'crowd control' use and includes an exception when use is objectively reasonable to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury. The Assembly version also adds specific definitions for 'school zone' (public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten through grade 12) and 'child' (person under 18).

The absolute ban on using flash-bang grenades for immigration enforcement now includes an exception: use is permitted if done as part of a joint law enforcement task force (as defined in Government Code Section 7284.4(g)) or in compliance with Government Code Section 7284.6(b) or (c).

The absolute ban on using explosive breaching charges for immigration enforcement now includes the same exception: use is permitted if done as part of a joint law enforcement task force or in compliance with Government Code Section 7284.6(b) or (c).

New definitions added for 'school zone' (area in or on grounds of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten through grade 12) and 'child' (person under 18 years of age) to clarify the geographic and population scope of the flash-bang restriction.

The separate Section 13652.05 for flashbang grenades is eliminated. All flash-bang grenade restrictions are now integrated into Section 13652 alongside kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents, creating a single unified framework for all three weapon types.

A specific 300-foot distance buffer is added: flash-bang grenades shall not be deployed 'within 300 feet of school grounds, parks, or other areas where children are visibly present at time of use,' replacing the vaguer 'near' language.

The prohibition on using force 'solely due to' a curfew violation, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a directive now applies to all three weapon types (kinetic energy projectiles, flash-bang grenades, and chemical agents) rather than only flashbangs as in the prior version.

The training requirement is broadened from requiring certification specifically by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to also accepting 'training for crowd control or special weapons and tactics certified by an equivalent entity or training facility.'

The separate definition of 'peace officer' from the old Section 13652.05 is removed. The bill now relies on the existing 'law enforcement agency' definition in Section 13652, which covers state and local agencies employing peace officers plus federal law enforcement agencies.

The commanding officer authorization requirement now explicitly covers both tear gas and flash-bang grenades in a single provision (Section 13652(b)(11)), rather than having separate authorization rules for each.

Flash-bang grenades are now added to the existing Section 13652 (which governs kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents) rather than being regulated only under a new standalone section. This subjects them to the same general crowd-control requirements already in place for other less-lethal weapons.

A new exemption was added stating that Section 13652 does not apply within any county detention facility or any correctional facility of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, carving out a significant exception to the use-of-force restrictions.

The restriction on deploying flash-bang grenades near school grounds, parks, or other areas where children are present was narrowed from 'where children may be present' to 'where children are visibly present,' making it harder to trigger the prohibition since visibility must be established.

The commanding-officer authorization requirement in Section 13652(b)(11) was expanded so that a commanding officer at the scene must now authorize both tear gas and flash-bang grenades, not just tear gas as before.

A new definition of 'law enforcement agency' was added to Section 13652, covering any state or local department or agency employing peace officers, as well as any federal law enforcement agency.

The term 'flashbang' was changed to the hyphenated 'flash-bang' throughout the bill for consistency.