Changes to California Baton Permit Licensing and Training

Effective January 1, 2024

Assembly Bill (AB) 2515 (Holden, Chapter 287, Statutes of 2022) was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 13, 2022, and makes several changes to BSIS-issued baton permits, effective January 1, 2024.

New requirements for baton permits:

• Applicants must submit a complete application and fee directly to the Bureau.
• All baton permits will be subject to expiration and renewal every two years.
• Applicants for an initial baton permit, and those renewing an existing baton permit, must complete a baton training course at a licensed Baton Training Facility.
• A baton permit will be able to be associated to a Private Patrol Operator licensee, including a sole proprietor, partner, or qualified manager.
• Active-Duty Peace Officers will be provided specified training exemptions.

Initial Application/Training Requirement

The initial baton permit application will be available on the Bureau's website starting January 1, 2024. The fee for the initial baton permit is sixty dollars ($60). Prior to applying for a baton permit, applicants must complete the required baton training course specified in Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 7585.9. The baton permit application requires a licensed Baton Training Instructor to complete a certification page, included with the application, certifying completion of the training.

Renewal Application/Training Requirement

The renewal application will be available on the Bureau's website starting April 1, 2024. The renewal fee is forty dollars ($40). Permit holders need to complete the training specified in BPC Section 7585.9 within six months prior to the expiration date. The renewal application requires a licensed Baton Training Instructor to complete a certification page, included with the application, certifying completion of the training.

An expired baton permit cannot be renewed. If your baton permit expires before it is renewed, you must apply for an initial permit.

Expiration Date Implementation

Baton Permits issued on or after January 1, 2024, will expire two years from the date of issuance, if not renewed.

Baton Permits issued before January 1, 2024, will expire based on the month and year the permit was issued. Baton permits will expire the last day of the month they were issued.

The year of expiration will be based on the year the permit was issued. All permits issued in a year ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) will expire in 2024 and all permits issued in a year ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will expire in 2025.

Example 1: If your baton permit was issued in May 2020, it will expire in May 2024.

Example 2: If your baton permit was issued in June 2021, it will expire in June 2025.

Exception to this rule: Permits issued in the months of January, February, March, and April of a year ending in an even number will not expire in the month they were issued. These expiration dates will be adjusted by four months to allow all permitholders time to complete the required training and submit a renewal application.

• Permits that would have expired on January 31, 2024, will have an expiration date of May 31, 2024.
• Permits that would have expired on February 29, 2024, will have an expiration date of June 30, 2024.
• Permits that would have expired March 31, 2024, will have an expiration date of July 31, 2024.
• Permits that would have expired April 30, 2024, will have an expiration date of August 30, 2024.

Baton Training Facilities/Instructors

The Bureau will stop selling baton permits to Baton Training Facilities beginning November 1, 2023. All requests for baton permits received by the Bureau postmarked on or after November 1, 2023, will not be processed and will be returned to the facility. The Bureau will honor baton permits issued by facilities until December 31, 2023, and will continue to process baton rosters submitted by facilities.