IDA is sponsoring SB 942 – Private Detention Facility Oversight and Standards Act of 2026. The bill closes this regulatory gap by requiring private detention facilities to obtain a state license through the State Department of Public Health as a condition of operating in California. Licensure would be tied to compliance with the health and safety standards already required under federal contracts. The bill authorizes license issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation, and establishes strong enforcement tools including civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation per day and mandatory corrective action plans. It also includes whistleblower protections to prohibit retaliation against anyone who reports health or safety violations.
Summary of the bill: https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB942
