California hospitals have less than 13 months before the March 1, 2027 deadline when California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) finalizes amendments to workplace violence prevention standards. Assembly Bill 2975 mandates weapons detection systems at hospital entry points. After finalization, facilities have 90 days to achieve full compliance.
That creates a June 2027 hard deadline for operational weapons detection systems.
Healthcare facilities starting implementation now face tight but manageable timelines. Facilities waiting until spring 2027 will face equipment shortages, rushed installations, inadequate training, and potential compliance failures.
What AB 2975 Requires
These amendments include several specific requirements:
- Implementation of weapons detection devices that automatically screen individuals at three key entry points:
- Main public entrance
- Emergency department entrance
- Labor and delivery entrance (if separately accessible)
- Deployment of trained personnel (other than healthcare providers) to monitor and operate the weapons detection systems
- Establishment of response protocols for detected weapons and alternative screening methods for those who refuse standard screening
- Posting of conspicuous notices informing the public about weapons screening while affirming that medical care will not be refused
Importantly, the law specifically prohibits handheld metal detector wands as the sole screening method. Limited exceptions will be made for small and rural hospitals, facilities with space constraints, or those providing extended care for patients with complex needs.
Beyond equipment installation, AB 2975 requires:
Trained Personnel: Dedicated staff (not healthcare providers) must monitor and operate weapons detection systems. Training must cover equipment operation, response protocols, de-escalation techniques, and implicit bias awareness. Minimum 8 hours of training per operator.
Response Protocols: Documented procedures for detected weapons, including security team notification and patient safety measures during incidents.
Alternative Screening: Procedures for individuals who refuse standard screening while maintaining medical care access as required by EMTALA.
Public Notice: Conspicuous signage informing the public about weapons screening with clear statements that medical care will not be refused.
Policy Documentation: Written policies covering screening procedures, staff responsibilities, patient dignity protections, and privacy maintenance.
The 16-Month Implementation Reality
Procurement to operational deployment rarely happens quickly in healthcare settings. The timeline from budget approval to fully trained staff operating compliant systems typically spans 12-16 months.
Months 1-3: Procurement and Vendor Selection
RFP development, vendor demonstrations, technical evaluation, contract negotiation, and budget approval through hospital administration and board processes.
Months 4-6: Installation Planning
Site surveys, architectural assessments, electrical and network infrastructure upgrades, construction permits, and coordination with ongoing hospital operations to minimize disruption.
Months 7-10: Installation and Integration
Equipment delivery, installation at multiple entry points, network integration with existing security systems, testing, and validation of detection capabilities.
Months 11-12: Training and Policy Development
Staff training programs, policy documentation, protocol development, dry runs, and operational readiness verification.
California hospitals starting procurement now could reach operational status by summer 2027. Hospitals starting procurement in fall 2026 risk missing the compliance deadline.
Current Market Conditions
Equipment availability has already tightened. Vendors serving California’s 400+ hospitals face capacity constraints. Some manufacturing lead times have extended and installation teams are booking months in advance.
The procurement wave will peak in spring and summer 2026 as hospitals realize the timeline compression. Facilities waiting past April 2026 to begin vendor selection will compete for limited equipment slots and installation windows.
Budget cycles compound the timeline pressure. Hospitals operating on July fiscal years must secure funding approval by spring 2026 for equipment delivery in late 2026 or early 2027. October fiscal year hospitals need budget allocation by summer 2026.
Why Traditional Metal Detectors Won’t Work
AB 2975 prohibits handheld wands as the sole screening method, but the law’s language around “weapons detection devices that automatically screen individuals” creates ambiguity about whether traditional walk-through metal detectors meet compliance requirements.
Traditional metal detectors create operational problems that undermine AB 2975’s intent.
Emergency departments serve patients in crisis carrying pacemakers, insulin pumps, metal implants, wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility devices. Traditional metal detectors alert on all of these. Security staff conduct manual secondary screening on patients experiencing medical emergencies, which leads to bottlenecks that contradict emergency care principles.
Staff entering hospitals carry phones, laptops, tablets, keys, and medical equipment. Traditional metal detectors alert constantly on these everyday items. Processing hundreds of staff members through morning shift changes with traditional metal detectors can create extensive delays.
The operational chaos forces hospitals to choose between security effectiveness (high sensitivity creates unsustainable alert volumes) or operational flow (reduced sensitivity creates security gaps). Neither option satisfies AB 2975’s workplace violence prevention intent.
How Xtract One’s Solutions Meet Healthcare Security Needs
Xtract One offers a suite of security solutions designed to address the specific challenges of different environments, including healthcare facilities. Our advanced detection technologies go beyond traditional security approaches to provide protection that enhances rather than hinders operations.
Tailored Solutions for Different Healthcare Environments
Healthcare facilities come in various sizes and configurations, with different security needs based on patient volume, location, and specific operations. Xtract One offers two primary solutions that can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different healthcare settings:
Xtract One Gateway is ideal for hospital environments where patients and visitors carry medium volumes of personal belongings like medical devices, medications, electronics, and personal items. Its advanced object identification technology differentiates between everyday items and actual threats to dramatically reduce false alerts while maintaining effective protection.
SmartGateway delivers high-throughput security for environments where individuals typically carry fewer personal items, such as outpatient clinics, specialized treatment centers, or administrative areas. Its portable design and quick assembly make it perfect for facilities that need flexibility in their security deployment or have multiple entrances that require protection at different times.
Both platforms integrate with Xtract One View, a cloud-based management system providing centralized monitoring across multiple hospital locations. Security directors manage all entry points from a single dashboard with real-time analytics, alert management, and performance reporting.
Privacy and Dignity Considerations
AB 2975 requires weapons screening while hospital operations require dignity and privacy protection. The law’s alternative screening provisions acknowledge that some individuals may refuse standard screening for medical, religious, or personal reasons.
AI-powered detection supports dignity by eliminating invasive bag searches and manual pat-downs for most individuals. People walk through carrying their belongings without divestment. The screening happens as they pass between pillars at a natural pace.
When alerts occur, systems provide body zone localization showing approximate threat location and security receives actionable information for targeted secondary screening rather than full-body searches.
Optional camera features can be disabled entirely for facilities prioritizing visual privacy. The detection technology functions effectively without imaging capability when facilities determine cameras conflict with patient privacy standards.
Starting Implementation Now
Healthcare facilities should begin AB 2975 implementation planning immediately. The March 2027 deadline plus 90-day compliance window creates a June 2027 operational requirement. Procurement timelines, installation coordination, and training programs require 12-16 months from start to operational status.
Contact Xtract One healthcare security specialists at sales@xtractone.com to begin your assessment and planning process.