AB 2257: Corrections: jail administrators.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law authorizes a board of supervisors of any county to, by resolution, establish a department of corrections, to be headed by an officer appointed by the board, which has jurisdiction over all county functions, personnel, and facilities, or so many as the board names in its resolution, relating to institutional punishment, care, treatment, and rehabilitation of prisoners, including, but not limited to, the county jail and industrial farms and road camps, their functions and personnel. Existing law, except as specified, requires the sheriff to take charge of and be the sole and exclusive authority to keep the county jail and the prisoners in it, as specified, and generally imposes requirements and duties on sheriffs for the keeping of jails.

This bill would authorize a board of supervisors to, by resolution, establish the position of jail administrator and impose procedures for the nomination and confirmation or denial of a candidate for the position. The bill would prescribe the powers and duties of jail administrators. The bill would provide that the sheriff retains specified authority with respect to the jail administrator, including the authority to remove the jail administrator, as specified. The bill would also revise the provision requiring the sheriff to take charge of and be the sole and exclusive authority to keep the county jail and the incarcerated persons to state that the provision does not apply in counties that have appointed a jail administrator pursuant to the authority described above. The bill would also specify that “sheriff” includes a jail administrator for the purposes of requirements and duties imposed on sheriffs for the keeping of jails, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 929, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 3, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 26, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 41. Noes 24. Page 6618.).
5. August 24, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 24. Noes 11.).
7. August 3, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
8. July 2, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (July 1).
9. June 24, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
10. June 10, 2026Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and L. GOV.
11. June 1, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
12. May 28, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 41. Noes 25. Page 5543.)