Kern County Municipal Code Ch. 20.01 Security Screening Standards for County Buildings

Except as otherwise provided for by state law and this chapter, dangerous weapons and dangerous materials are prohibited in all county operated or occupied buildings or any portion thereof, whether owned in fee or occupied under a leasehold. Dangerous weapons and dangerous materials include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) All items prohibited under Penal Code Section 171b (including Section 17235 or 16590), which include:

1. Firearms.

2. Any knife with a blade in excess of four inches.

3. Switchblades.

4. Tear gas weapons.

5. Stun guns or tasers.

6. Any weapon capable of expelling a projectile through the force of air pressure, compressed gas (e.g. BB gun or paint ball gun).

7. Brass knuckles.

8. Martial arts items such as nunchucks or throwing stars.

9. Explosives.

(b) In addition, the following items will be prohibited from all county buildings, except as otherwise provided in this chapter:

1. Illegal drugs, including paraphernalia.

2. Plastic molded knives or letter openers.

3. Openers, shanks, spikes, etc.

4. Razors or box cutters.

5. All knives, including pocket knives and Leatherman-type tools.

6. Mace, pepper spray, dog repellants.

7. Replica or toy guns.

8. Any other items determined by law enforcement officials to pose a security risk to the public or employees within a county facility.

(Ord. No. G-8680, § 2, 1-24-17)

(a) Exception for Law Enforcement and Armed Services Pertaining to Firearms. The prohibitions on firearms in Section 20.01.010 shall not apply to law enforcement officers, military personnel in the conduct of official duties, or any other persons authorized by law to carry a firearm while performing duties in their official capacity.

(b) Exception for County Employees.

1. No county employee will be permitted to possess firearms, ammunition, or articles of a similar nature in any county building unless he or she has a valid license to carry a weapon in his or her duties and has the written authorization of his or her department head.

2. County employees are exempt from the prohibitions in Section 20.01.010(b) except as provided in subdivision (b)(1) of this section, Kern County's alcohol and drug abuse policy, and with strict adherence to Kern County's workplace violence policy, hostile work environment policy and any other county or department policy, procedure or rule. Any allowed items listed in Section 20.01.010(b) entering any county building or facility must be brought through the card-controlled employee entry points.

(c) Exception for Certain Persons Pertaining to Tools. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting building maintenance, contractors or other persons hired by the county to perform work relating to county building maintenance and construction from possessing cutting tools, knives, nail guns, or any tool necessary to perform building maintenance or construction. Any person meeting this exception may, at the discretion of the county department head, be allowed access to and from county buildings without the need to proceed through security screening or may be subject to alternative security screening procedures.

(d) Exception for Kern County Airports. Because security at airport facilities is governed primarily by federal statute and regulation, this chapter shall not apply to any airport terminal or building operated by the Kern County Department of Airports.

(Ord. No. G-8680, § 2, 1-24-17)

Except as otherwise provided in Section 20.01.020 subsection (c) and 20.01.040 all persons seeking to enter county buildings equipped with metal detectors must submit to the security screening measures established pursuant to this chapter prior to gaining access to the building. Persons who decline to submit to such security screening procedures will be denied access to the building.

(Ord. No. G-8680, § 2, 1-24-17)

(a) Access by County Employees. Employees working within a secured county building will be granted access to the building through the use of a keycard at designated card-controlled employee entry points. County employees not equipped with keycard access to the building will be required to undergo all screening measures.

(b) Alternative Screening Procedures. Law enforcement personnel may establish screening measures and procedures for vendors and delivery people, visiting dignitaries, and any persons requiring expedited access to county buildings for official business purposes.

(Ord. No. G-8680, § 2, 1-24-17)

The following conduct shall constitute a criminal misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to the maximum provided by law for such offense:

(a) No person shall enter a county building with the intent to bypass the security screening measures established under this chapter, except as provided in this chapter.

(b) No person shall intentionally disobey the lawful commands and directives of law enforcement personnel given in relation to implementing and administering the security screening measures established pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. G-8680, § 2, 1-24-17)