A potentially lifesaving bill just passed on the California State Senate floor Monday, one that will hopefully reduce fatal police shootings. 

Assembly Bill 392 aims to increase the standard for law enforcement’s protocol to use deadly force as only when “the officer reasonably believes … that deadly force is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury."  

HuffPost reports that the bill passed in a 34-3 vote and will soon go to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has already shown support of the legislation. 

Numerous fatal police shootings have caught global attention over the past 10 years, including that of Oscar Grant, who was killed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer on New Year’s Day 2009, and Stephon Clark, who was gunned down in Sacramento last year. 

"We can now move a policy forward that will save lives and change the culture of policing in California," said Assemblywoman Shirley Weber. Weber introduced the bill to the Senate. 

NPR reported in May that The American Civil Liberties Union also helped negotiate the bill, and if passed, the legislation can break down across the United States. 

“If this bill passes and is signed by the governor, California will have one of the most restrictive use-of-force laws in the nation — if not the most restrictive,” ACLU representative Lizzie Buchen said. 

The unanimously passed Senate Bill 230, which could work in tandem with this legislation, would require law enforcement to have clear guidelines on the use of force and require agencies to give officers proper training on the use of force and de-escalation tactics. 

CaliforniaPolice brutalityPolice Shootings