<p>Legislation unveiled Friday in California would require smartphones and other mobile devices to have a "kill switch" to render them inoperable if lost or stolen a move that could be the first of its kind in the country.</p><p>State Sen. Mark Leno, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, and other elected and law enforcement officials said the bill, if passed, would require mobile devices sold in or shipped to California to have the anti-theft devices starting next year.</p><p>Leno and Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, both Democrats, co-authored the bill to be introduced this spring. They joined Gascon, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and other authorities who have been demanding that manufacturers create kill switches to combat surging smartphone theft across the country.</p><p>Leno called on the wireless industry to step up as smartphone robberies have surged to an all-time high in California.</p><p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/california-leaders-outline-kill-switch-bill-22408045">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/02/07/california-lawmakers-urge-adoption-of-smartphone-kill-switch-legislation/">California Lawmakers Urge Adoption Of Smartphone &#039;Kill Switch&#039; Legislation</a> (CBS Local)</p><p><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/smartphone-stolen-calif-bill-would-make-kill-switch-mandatory-n25141">Smartphone Stolen? Calif. Bill Would Make &#039;Kill Switch&#039; Mandatory</a> (NBCNews.com)</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/07/california-smartphone-kill-switches/">California Could Require a &#039;Kill Switch&#039; for Every Smartphone</a> (Mashable)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=di337g3r92cTTRM2CNuJZuiZ9hK_M&authuser=0&ned=us">219 additional articles.</a></p>