Plain English Breakdown
The official text states the program must be implemented by January 1, 2030, but does not specify funding sources or detailed curriculum requirements.
AB-2151: New Rules for State Employee Discipline and Correctional Officer Training
This law requires that state employee discipline be related to job performance and mandates a training program as an alternative to fines for correctional officers.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits disciplining employees unless the conduct is reasonably related to their fitness, qualifications, or ability to do their job duties.
- States that these new rules cannot be used to limit existing protections provided by other laws, regulations, or agreements.
- Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to create a training or diversion program as an alternative to fines for correctional peace officers by January 1, 2030.
- Requires managers to check if an officer qualifies for this program before issuing monetary penalties like fines.
- Allows managers to skip the training option only if they write down why serious and grave misconduct makes it inappropriate.
- Requires annual reports on the new program be sent to legislative committees starting in 2031.
Who It Names or Affects
- State employees covered by the State Civil Service Act.
- Correctional peace officers working under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
- Appointing authorities who decide on employee discipline.
- Legislative policy and fiscal committees that receive program reports.
Terms To Know
- Monetary disciplinary penalties
- Fines or financial punishments given to an employee for breaking rules.
- Appointing authority
- The manager or official with the power to hire, fire, or discipline employees.
- Diversion program
- A training plan offered instead of a punishment like a fine.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not list the specific topics that will be taught in the new training or diversion program.
- It is unclear how much money will be needed to create and run this program by 2030.
- The text does not define exactly what counts as 'serious and grave misconduct' beyond general terms.