California lawmakers are advancing Assembly Bill 2760, which aims to prohibit the use of wearable electroshock devices by law enforcement, including federal agencies such as ICE. The bill seeks to prevent state and local law enforcement from using state funds to purchase these devices and requires them to revise their use-of-force policies accordingly.
The proposed legislation comes as the Department of Homeland Security plans to spend up to $20 million to equip ICE agents with the devices, known as the G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), manufactured by Compliant Technologies, a Kentucky-based company. Proponents, including ICE and federal officials, argue that the technology can help agents manage combative individuals without resorting to lethal force. In contrast, California lawmakers and civil rights groups oppose the technology, with Assemblymember Alex Lee describing it as a tool that could “brutalize and hurt.”
The G.L.O.V.E. is already in use in some correctional facilities and local police departments, including the Nelson County Jail in Kentucky. If the federal purchase proceeds, thousands of ICE agents are expected to be equipped with the devices by March 2027.
AB 2760 was introduced by Democratic Assembly Member Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins on February 20 and amended on August 21 to specifically target wearable electroshock devices. The bill's definition includes any clothing or accessory item. On August 26, the California Senate voted 30-9 to suspend certain procedural rules, allowing the bill to advance without standard deadlines as the legislative session nears its conclusion. The bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee and must pass remaining procedural steps before a final vote.