If passed, a new California bill would ban members of hate groups to be hired as law enforcement officers.
Assembly Bill 655, also known as the California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform, or the CLEAR Act, allows a law enforcement candidate to be disqualified if during their background check it’s found that they are a member of a hate group or have been involved in hate group activities.
"You have a constitutional right to have racist and bigoted views. You don’t have a constitutional right to be a police officer," Assemblymember Ash Kalra, author of the bill told KSBW 8.
"The role and responsibility of peace officers is so important for a community healing — for a community’s 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," Kalra said.
Additionally, the law allows for the firing of a member of law enforcement if a background check finds hate group participation.
Opponents of the bill, say that as it’s written now, it is too broad and could also ban officers from being allowed to express their personal views.
"I think everyone can agree that no one wants cops serving us who belong to violent hate groups, but this bill goes far beyond that. It actually goes after individual cops who simply have conservative social views on issues like marriage," California Family Council Director of Capitol Engagement Greg Burt said. "I think there’s a mistake in assuming that Christians who have conservative views on moral issues are going to be a threat to folks who disagree with them."
The bill is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 6.