Bill to Create More Education Requirements for Potential Peace Officers Passes Sen. Committee

A bill to clarify education requirements for those entering law enforcement in California continued to move up through legislative committees this week, passing through the Senate Appropriations Committee 6-0.

Assembly Bill 992, authored by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), would specifically require that a peace officer attain one or more specified degrees or certificates within 36 months of receiving their basic policing certificate from a police academy. These include getting an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree, a modern policing degree, or a professional policing certificate. However this requirement can be waived if the officer is employed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or is a deputy sheriff of specified counties and is employed to perform duties relating to custodial facilities, has at least 4 years of law enforcement experience from another state or at least 4 years of military service in the Armed Forces of the United States as military policeman (MP), is employed as a peace officer by the State Department of State Hospitals, or, through the end of 2030, is enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California.

The requirements of AB 992 would also formally go into effect January 1, 2031, giving several years for officers to either get a degree or enter grandfathered in.

Previously, in 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 89, which raised the minimum age for new police officers from 18 to 21 (amended down from 25), and pushed forward a modern police degree program. However, many in law enforcement said that a single, degree-based pathway would not be tenable for many interested in law enforcement, and ignored other pathways in which potential police officers can get experience without a degree, like being an MP in the military. AB 992 was designed as a way for there to be multiple paths to becoming a police officer in California to help let more qualified people in and keep up recruitment.

“AB 992 is the necessary next step in enacting the statewide education requirements for law enforcement, following the release in 2023 of recommendations made by a working group of police chiefs, sheriffs, higher education professionals, and other stakeholders, as directed by prior legislation,” said the California Police Chiefs Association in a statement. “While the working group recommendations focused on one specific pathway – the creation of a modern policing degree – AB 992 looks to broaden the opportunities to satisfy higher education requirements, including through various associates’ degrees, professional certificates, prior military experience, and others. Additionally, AB 992 would establish a statewide task force focused on recruitment efforts across the state.”

More options for potential peace officers

“Public safety is core to Californians’ quality of life, so ensuring we have officers who have completed thorough preparation is of critical importance,” added Assemblywoman Irwin. “I am excited to carry this legislation supporting multiple pathways that will lead to better experiences for officers and our community members throughout California.”

However, former Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who wrote AB 89, charged that AB 992 would undo his bill, and reopen pathways where officers don’t need degrees or certificates to be accepted as police officers.

“AB 992 does not make policing better, it makes it devolve back into what it used to be,” said Jones-Sawyer. “It undermines the original intent behind my 2021 law by allowing a loophole for incoming peace officers to satisfy the education requirement without going to school.”

Despite this, lawmakers and law enforcement groups alike have agreed that AB 992 is needed.

“The goal of AB 992 is to clarify the elevated education requirements for the policing profession in a way that is meaningful and more achievable, while not impeding our recruitment efforts,” noted Sheriff Don Barnes, President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association.  “The current mandate requiring a separate degree in addition to a bachelor’s degree is both unnecessary and duplicative.”

In the legislature, AB 992 moved swiftly through the Assembly, passing 69-0 with 10 abstentions in May. Earlier this week, the bill also continued to climb in the Senate, passing the Senate Appropriations Committee 6-0. While it is currently in the suspense file, it is expected to be reactivated later this year for a full Senate vote and then  brought to Governor Newsom to sign.

As of mid-July 2025, there continues to be no serious opposition against AB 992, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle not wanting to overly limit recruiting classes in the state as many police departments are struggling to keep officer numbers up.