The Senate Daily Journal for the 2003-2004 Regular Session, page 2482, contained the following letter dated September 10, 2003, from Senator Jack Scott, regarding the intent of Stats.2003, c. 500 (S.B.489):
"Dear Senator Burton:
"The purpose of this letter is to clarify the intent of my bill, SB 489, that was passed by the Senate yesterday and enrolled to the Governor.
"SB 489 requires most new models of firearms introduced for sale in California after 2007 to have both a chamber load indicator (which indicates to users whether the firearm is loaded) and a magazine disconnect safety mechanism (which prevents firearms with removable magazines from discharging when the magazine is removed).
"It is my intent to clarify that nothing in SB 489 should be interpreted to increase liability or otherwise expose local governments, law enforcement agencies or peace officers to any additional theory of civil liability. Law enforcement is specifically exempted from the provisions of SB 489, as it is exempt from the current 'unsafe handgun' law in Penal Code section 12125 et seq., because peace officers have strenuous and ongoing training in use of their duty weapons.
"Also, law enforcement has special needs for and from their duty weapons. It is perfectly reasonable, for example, for law enforcement to use firearms either with or without magazine disconnect safeties. It is not the intent of SB 489 to limit or proscribe the choices of firearms available for law enforcement, or to create civil liability for law enforcement for its failure to use certain firearms.
"To prevent any possible interpretation that existing law or SB 489 exposes law enforcement to liability for using firearms that are not on the roster of 'Not Unsafe Handguns' established under Penal Code section 12131, I intend to author legislation that will preclude such a legal theory. In fact, I have amended my bill, SB 166, for that purpose. SB 166 will be heard by policy committees next year.
"Sincerely,
"JACK SCOTT