SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation changing California's definition of racial profiling and requiring that local law enforcement agencies collect demographic data on the people they stop.
Brown announced Saturday he has acted on the bill that became a rallying cry for supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement in California. More than a half-dozen states have passed bills addressing racial biases or police profiling following Michael Brown's shooting death last year in Ferguson, Missouri.Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber of San Diego says her measure would give the public and police data to back up anecdotes of profiling. Supporters say the $9 million annual cost could help avoid costly settlements when police unlawfully kill people. Republicans say collecting data might be unnecessary as police begin using body cameras.
Gov. Jerry Brown signs anti-racial profiling bill