Representative Mark Takano, a Democrat from Riverside, introduced a bill today aimed at holding law enforcement officers accountable for attacks on journalists.
The bill would create an electronic system within the Department of Justice for members of the press to report violent interactions with law enforcement.
It would also require law enforcement agencies that are subject to complaints to respond within 60 days.
In a statement, Takano said that members of the press “should be able to lawfully record and cover matters of the public without interference by law enforcement” and that “police accountability is more important than ever before.”
The bill’s introduction comes after several incidents of journalists being targeted during protests for racial justice, including the arrest of KPCC reporter Josie Huang last month.
The bill is endorsed by the Radio Television Digital News Association and The Society of Professional Journalists.