Leginfo

Bill

Home - Bills - Bill - Authors - Dates - Keywords - Tags - Locations

Measure

SB 521

Authors

Gonzalez
Coauthors: Arreguín

Subject

Public employment: disqualification.

Relating To

relating to public employment.

Title

An act to amend Section 1021.5 of, and to add Section 1021.6 to, the Government Code, relating to public employment.

Last Action Dt

2025-07-30

State

Chaptered

Status

Chaptered

Active?

Vote Required

Majority

Appropriation

Fiscal Committee

Yes

Local Program

Substantive Changes

None

Urgency

Tax Levy

Leginfo Link

Bill

Actions

2025-07-30		Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 92, Statutes of 2025.
2025-07-30		Approved by the Governor.
2025-07-18		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-07-14		In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-07-14		Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2539.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-07-03		Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-07-02		From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (July 2).
2025-06-25		From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-25		Coauthors revised.
2025-05-29		Referred to Com. on P. E. & R.
2025-05-08		Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1050.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-08		In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-06		Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-05-05		From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
2025-04-29		Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-24		Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-23		From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 870.) (April 23).
2025-04-04		Set for hearing April 23.
2025-04-02		Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2025-03-26		From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-26		Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-20		From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2025-02-19		Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Keywords

Tags

Versions

Chaptered		2025-07-30
Enrolled		2025-07-16
Amended Senate		2025-04-24
Amended Senate		2025-03-26
Introduced		2025-02-19

Last Version Text

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<ns0:MeasureDoc xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:ns0="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1#" xmlns:ns3="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1# xca.1.xsd">
	


	<ns0:Description>
		<ns0:Id>20250SB__052195CHP</ns0:Id>
		<ns0:VersionNum>95</ns0:VersionNum>
		<ns0:History>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-03-26</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-04-24</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>PASSED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-14</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>PASSED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-05-08</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>ENROLLED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-16</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>CHAPTERED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-30</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>APPROVED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-30</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>FILED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-30</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
		</ns0:History>
		<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
			<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
			<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
			<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
			<ns0:MeasureNum>521</ns0:MeasureNum>
			<ns0:MeasureState>CHP</ns0:MeasureState>
			<ns0:ChapterYear>2025</ns0:ChapterYear>
			<ns0:ChapterType>CHP</ns0:ChapterType>
			<ns0:ChapterSessionNum>0</ns0:ChapterSessionNum>
			<ns0:ChapterNum>92</ns0:ChapterNum>
		</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Gonzalez</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthor: Senator Arreguín)</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:Authors>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Gonzalez</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Arreguín</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
		</ns0:Authors>
		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 1021.5 of, and to add Section 1021.6 to, the Government Code, relating to public employment.</ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>public employment</ns0:RelatingClause>
		<ns0:GeneralSubject>
			<ns0:Subject>Public employment: disqualification.</ns0:Subject>
		</ns0:GeneralSubject>
		<ns0:DigestText>
			<html:p>Existing law disqualifies a public employee, as defined, from any public employment for 5 years if the employee is convicted of any felony involving accepting or giving, or offering to give, a bribe, the embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy to commit any of those crimes arising directly out of their official duties. </html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would expand that provision to include any felony involving a conflict of interest. The bill would also disqualify a city manager or city attorney, as defined, including
		an individual acting under contract with the city for those services, who is convicted of any of the above-described felonies, from any future public employment in an equivalent role.</html:p>
			<html:p>The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.</html:p>
		</ns0:DigestText>
		<ns0:DigestKey>
			<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
			<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
			<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
			<ns0:LocalProgram>NO</ns0:LocalProgram>
		</ns0:DigestKey>
		<ns0:MeasureIndicators>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
				<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
				<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
				<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
				<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
				<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
				<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
			</ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
		</ns0:MeasureIndicators>
	</ns0:Description>
	<ns0:Bill id="bill">
		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_BBE7401F-B316-4144-8CF1-2F7634ADAD75">
			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:GOV:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'4.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'1021.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 1021.5 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Government Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_9D7E2001-220D-43F3-AB6C-B9774FD014B8">
					<ns0:Num>1021.5.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_E96E91CF-58B8-4F14-8165-C015457A5494">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If a public employee is convicted of any felony involving accepting or giving, or offering to give, any bribe, conflict of interest, the embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy to commit any of those crimes arising directly out of their official duties as a public employee, the public employee shall be disqualified for five years from any public employment, including, but not limited to, employment with a city, county, district, or any other public agency of the state.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The five-year disqualification period described in subdivision (a) shall begin on the later of either of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The date of final conviction.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The date on which the public employee is released from any incarceration.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								For purposes of this section, “public employee” means any person employed at will for the purposes of providing services to an elected public officer who takes public office, or is reelected to public office, on or after January 1, 2013.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_4A5FEF1C-1C56-4B31-9CC5-D8F5E46F52B8">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:GOV:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2F%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'1021.6'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 1021.6 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Government Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_8424D8A7-B106-4875-8799-0DB85851DEDD">
					<ns0:Num>1021.6.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_AAFD2C5F-6D80-4778-97E2-14452B63BBE7">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A city manager or city attorney, including an individual acting under contract with the city for those services, who is convicted of any felony set forth in Section
				  1021.5, shall be disqualified from any future public employment in an equivalent role.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“City attorney” means any person employed pursuant to Section 41801 on or after January 1, 2026.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“City manager” means any person employed pursuant to Section 34851 on or after January 1, 2026.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_C6BE548A-7268-4089-B437-C29E89F6F6C4">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:Content>
				<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares that the integrity of public employees is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Sections 1 and 2 of this act, which amend Section 1021.5 of, and add Section 1021.6 to, the Government Code apply to all cities, including charter cities.</html:p>
			</ns0:Content>
		</ns0:BillSection>
	</ns0:Bill>
</ns0:MeasureDoc>

Last Version Text Digest

Existing law disqualifies a public employee, as defined, from any public employment for 5 years if the employee is convicted of any felony involving accepting or giving, or offering to give, a bribe, the embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy to commit any of those crimes arising directly out of their official duties. This bill would expand that provision to include any felony involving a conflict of interest. The bill would also disqualify a city manager or city attorney, as defined, including an individual acting under contract with the city for those services, who is convicted of any of the above-described felonies, from any future public employment in an equivalent role. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.