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Updated:   2026-02-04

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                <ns0:Id>20250AB__153899INT</ns0:Id>
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                                <ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
                                <ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-05</ns0:ActionDate>
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                        <ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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                        <ns0:MeasureNum>1538</ns0:MeasureNum>
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                <ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Krell</ns0:AuthorText>
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                        <ns0:Legislator>
                                <ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
                                <ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
                                <ns0:Name>Krell</ns0:Name>
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                <ns0:Title> An act to add Section 177 to the Penal Code, relating to crimes. </ns0:Title>
                <ns0:RelatingClause>crimes</ns0:RelatingClause>
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                        <ns0:Subject>Crimes: corruption.</ns0:Subject>
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                        <html:p>Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten another person in the free exercise or enjoyment of a right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States in whole or in part because of one or more of specified actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including disability, gender, religion, race, or sexual orientation.</html:p>
                        <html:p>This bill would make it a crime for any elected or appointed official, under color of authority, to retaliate, punish, or exert political retribution against any person for exercising a constitutionally protected right. The bill would make a violation of this crime punishable by forfeiture of office and disqualification from holding any office in this state or a
                political subdivision thereof. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
                        <html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
                        <html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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                <ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
                <ns0:BillSection id="id_13F4A120-D335-43CD-9A69-5937D68D2675">
                        <ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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                                Section 177 is added to the
                                <ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
                                , to read:
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                                        <ns0:Num>177.</ns0:Num>
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                                                                (a)
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                                                                It is unlawful for any elected or appointed official, under color of authority, to retaliate, punish, or exert political retribution against any person for exercising a constitutionally protected right.
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                                                                (b)
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                                                                A violation of this section is punishable by forfeiture of office and disqualification from holding any office in this state or a political subdivision thereof.
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                        <ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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                                        No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
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                                        B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
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                                        B of the California Constitution.
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