Senate Bill 271 restores California’s long-standing
eligibility criterion for candidates seeking the office
of Sheriff. Specifically, SB 271 allows all registered
voters to run for Sheriff. From our state’s founding
in 1850 until 1989 — 139 years — California
operated under what SB 271 proposes: anyone could
run for Sheriff. In 1989, the law changed to allow
only law enforcement officers to run for Sheriff. This
severe restriction is unreasonable, dramatically
shrinks the pool of eligible candidates, and
effectively eliminates accountability for Sheriffs
since so few people can challenge them for
reelection. This dysfunction plays out regularly in
California, with some Sheriffs refusing to enforce
state law around immigration or refusing to enforce
public health orders around COVID-19.

SB 271 simply reverts California law to what it was
from the State’s founding until 1989 and thus allows
voters to choose from a broader pool of candidates
with more diverse backgrounds and skill sets and
greater accountability. This bill will not prevent
candidates with law enforcement experience from
seeking or occupying the office. Instead, SB 271 will
allow for a broader pool of candidates with more
diverse skill sets, lead to greater gender and ethnic
diversity in candidates, and provide for better
management of Sheriff departments.