Plain English Breakdown
The provided text distinguishes between existing law regarding elected officials and specific crimes (bribery, etc.) versus the new requirements for continuing investigations after retirement.
AB-1067: Public Employee Retirement and Felony Convictions
This law requires public employers to keep investigating employees for crimes even after they retire if a crime is suspected, report those cases to police, and confirms that convicted felons lose their retirement benefits.
What This Bill Does
- Requires public employers to continue investigations into employee misconduct related to official duties or obtaining benefits, even if the employee retires while under investigation, provided the investigation suggests a crime may have occurred.
- Mandates that employers refer cases to law enforcement agencies when an investigation indicates a crime may have been committed.
- Authorizes public employers to close their internal investigations after referring the matter to police.
- Confirms that employees convicted of felonies related to job duties or obtaining benefits must forfeit all retirement rights and benefits earned from the time of the offense until conviction.
Who It Names or Affects
- Public employers, including local government agencies and school districts.
- Current public employees who are under investigation for misconduct or crimes related to their duties.
- Retired public employees whose conduct is being investigated after they leave their jobs if a crime may have been committed.
Terms To Know
- Public employee
- An officer (elected or appointed) or an employee of a public employer, as defined for these provisions.
- Forfeit
- To lose all accrued rights and benefits in any public retirement system from the date of the offense to the conviction.
- State-mandated local program
- A new duty required by the state that imposes costs on local governmental entities, which may be reimbursed if determined by the Commission on State Mandates.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law applies only when an investigation indicates a crime may have been committed.
- Reimbursement for costs to local agencies depends on a future determination by the Commission on State Mandates.
- An effective date is not specified in the provided text.