How's this different from the current iOS capability to remote-wipe your phone via iCloud?
• New smartphones (the law does not apply to feature phones or messaging phones or other phone-like devices) have to include at the time of sale a technological solution that can remotely "render the essential features of the smartphone inoperable to an unauthorized user when the smartphone is not in the possession of an authorized user"
Apple already does this.
• "The smartphone shall, during the initial device setup process, prompt an authorized user to enable the technological solution. The technological solution shall be reversible, so that if an authorized user obtains possession of the smartphone after the essential features of the smartphone have been rendered inoperable, the operation of those essential features can be restored by an authorized user"
Apple already does almost all of this. I don't know if they do the required prompting during initial setup.
• "A technological solution may consist of software, hardware, or a combination of both software and hardware, and when enabled, shall be able to withstand a hard reset or operating system downgrade and shall prevent reactivation of the smartphone on a wireless network except by an authorized user"
iOS 7 does this.
The law also says:
• "An authorized user of a smartphone may affirmatively elect to disable or opt-out of enabling the technological solution at any time. However, the physical acts necessary to disable or opt-out of enabling the technological solution may only be performed by the authorized user or a person specifically selected by the authorized user to disable or opt-out of enabling the technological solution"
Apple does this. I believe I've read that Samsung's version works almost identically to Apple's.
Here's a link to the bill [1]. It's not long, and not very complicated. You should read it.
[1] http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?...
Section 7908 : http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=puc&gr...
It doesn't give them the keys, it just gives them yet another avenue to disrupt service if :
(A) That probable cause exists that the service is being or will be used for an unlawful purpose or to assist in a violation of the law. (B) That absent immediate and summary action to interrupt communications service, serious, direct, and immediate danger to public safety, health, or welfare will result. (C) That the interruption of communications service is narrowly tailored to prevent unlawful infringement of speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution, or a violation of any other rights under federal or state law.
That's probably easier than trying to use a kill switch, since the phone carrier is the one actually providing phone service.
Also, note that nothing in the law requires the phone maker to implement the kill switch in a way that makes it possible for the government to use it. As far as I can see, they are free to implement it in a secure (for the owner) way if they want.