AB 1836

AB1836:v98#DOCUMENT

Bill Start

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1836

An act to amend Section 8588.9 of the Government Code, relating to state government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1836, as amended, Gabriel. California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

Existing law establishes the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program under the administration of the Director of Emergency Services to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission. Existing law authorizes applicants to use grant funds for prescribed security enhancements, including security training. Existing law makes the operation of the program contingent upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. instead establish the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations and events hosted by nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes, as described above. The bill would also authorize the grant money to be used by applicants for security enhancements for security for onsite or offsite events hosted by a nonprofit organization. The bill would prohibit these provisions from limiting a nonprofit organization without a physical site from being eligible for funding for offsite events, as specified.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NO

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 8588.9 of the Government Code is amended to read:

8588.9.

(a) The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program is hereby established under the administration of the director to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations, including schools, clinics, community centers, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and similar locations locations, and events hosted by nonprofit organizations, that are at a high risk for violent attacks or hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission.

(b) The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide grants to nonprofit organizations to harden soft targets that are nonprofit organizations organizations, or events hosted by nonprofit organizations, and at a high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(A) Grant money may be distributed to an applicant for all of the following enhancements to that applicant’s security:

(i) Security guards.

(ii) Reinforced doors and gates.

(iii) High-intensity lighting and alarms.

(iv) Security training.

(v) Security for onsite or offsite events hosted by a nonprofit organization.

(v)

(vi) Any other security enhancement consistent with the purpose of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

(B) Grant money may be distributed for all of the purposes described in this subparagraph to an applicant that provides support to another nonprofit organization or a cluster of other nonprofit organizations at a high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(i) Vulnerability assessments.

(ii) Security trainings.

(iii) Mass notification alert systems.

(iv) Monitoring and response systems.

(v) Lifesaving emergency equipment.

(C) This paragraph shall not limit a nonprofit organization without a physical site from being eligible for funding for offsite events if the event is at a high risk for violent attacks or hate crimes, as described in subdivision (a).

(2) Allow award recipients to use grant funds to pay staff or third-party contractors or consultants to assist with the management and administration of the grant funds awarded. Award recipients shall use no more than 5 percent of the grant funds awarded for the purpose stated in this paragraph.

(3) Limit construction or renovation activities done in support of the target hardening activities related to security, such as installing additional emergency exits, to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of the grant funds awarded.

(c) An applicant shall not be granted an amount greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

(d) The director shall not take an applicant’s prior history with or receipt of grant funding to improve its physical security into account during the evaluation of the entity’s application.

(e) When evaluating applications, the director shall consider whether an applicant is more likely to be a target of hate-motivated violence.

(f) The operation of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for purposes of this section.

(g) The director shall adopt, as necessary, application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other requirements for purposes of implementing and administering the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. All application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other requirements developed by the director pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3).

(h) The Office of Emergency Services shall provide ongoing technical assistance for nonprofit organizations that require a vulnerability assessment for a state application to the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program or a threat assessment for a federal application to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the United States Department of Homeland Security. This assistance shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) A resource page, which includes a toll-free telephone number, on the Office of Emergency Service’s internet website that describes available resources for vulnerability assessments at no cost to the applicant.

(2) Continuous outreach to stakeholders on available resources for vulnerability assessments outside the established grant cycle.