AB 508

This bill confers immunity from civil and criminal liability for performing

certain body cavity searches. Under current law, a person may be subject to a search

of his or her body, including a body cavity search, when he or she is arrested for any

felony, for certain misdemeanors, for any misdemeanor or civil violation if there is

probable cause to believe that the person is concealing a weapon or concealing

something that would constitute evidence of the offense for which he or she has been

detained, or if the person will be held or detained with another person. Under

current law, only a physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse may conduct

a body cavity search.

This bill confers immunity from civil and criminal liability to a physician,

physician assistant, or registered nurse who performs a body cavity search under the

allowed circumstances. The immunity extends to the employer of the physician,

physician assistant, or registered nurse, and to the health care facility where the

search is conducted.