The Wire · CalGunHub

Governor signs AB 1252, codifying the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within DOJ

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AB 1252 (Wicks), Chapter 529, Statutes of 2024, places the Office of Gun Violence Prevention in statute and directs it to coordinate prevention efforts.

Written by the CalGunHub desk from public reporting

Who this affects: The Office of Gun Violence Prevention now exists in California statute rather than only by administrative action. Per the bill text, it coordinates prevention programs across the Department of Justice, advises the Attorney General, and must deliver a report and prevention strategy, with the statutory report due July 1, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1252 (Wicks) on September 24, 2024, as Chapter 529 of the Statutes of 2024, according to California Legislative Information and the governor's signing release. The bill adds Penal Code section 14245, codifying the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Justice. The office had been created administratively in 2022. Under the new statute, the office is directed to coordinate gun violence prevention efforts and to advise the Attorney General, and it is required to produce a report and a prevention strategy. The law took effect January 1, 2025, and the statutory report is due July 1, 2026. The office is currently operating, and issuance of the report has not been verified; the latest development is the July 1, 2026 report deadline.

Sources

  1. California Legislative Information: AB 1252 bill status
  2. Office of Governor Gavin Newsom: Governor Newsom signs bipartisan legislation to strengthen California's gun laws

Informational only, not legal advice. Facts are attributed to the sources listed above.