Bill Text: CA AB309 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public officers: removal from office.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 543, Statutes of 2011. [AB309 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB309-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 309	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cook

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2011

   An act to amend Sections 1770 and 1771 of the Government Code,
relating to public officers.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 309, Cook. Public officers: removal from office.
   Under existing law, an office becomes vacant on the occurrence of
certain events. Existing law specifies that when a public officer is
removed, declared insane, or convicted of a felony or offense
involving a violation of his or her official duty, or when his or her
election or appointment is declared void, the body or person before
whom the proceedings are had is required to give notice thereof to
the officer empowered to fill the vacancy.
   This bill would provide that an appointed or ex officio office
becomes vacant where the appointed or ex officio individual has been
debarred, suspended, disqualified, or otherwise excluded from
participating in federal "covered transactions," as prescribed under
federal law.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to require an
individual to vacate any appointed or ex officio office that
individual holds on the governing body of any local agency that is,
or may reasonably be expected to be, a participant or principal in a
federally covered transaction, when that individual is debarred,
suspended, disqualified, or otherwise excluded from participating in
a federally covered transaction, pursuant to federal law. It is not
the intent of the Legislature to eliminate any office, seat, or
position that becomes vacant pursuant to the provisions of this act.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1770 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   1770.  An office becomes vacant on the happening of any of the
following events before the expiration of the term:
   (a) The death of the incumbent.
   (b) An adjudication pursuant to a quo warranto proceeding
declaring that the incumbent is physically or mentally incapacitated
due to disease, illness, or accident and that there is reasonable
cause to believe that the incumbent will not be able to perform the
duties of his or her office for the remainder of his or her term.
This subdivision shall not apply to offices created by the California
Constitution nor to federal or state legislators.
   (c) His or her resignation.
   (d) His or her removal from office.
   (e) His or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the state, or if the
office be local and one for which local residence is required by
law, of the district, county, or city for which the officer was
chosen or appointed, or within which the duties of his or her office
are required to be discharged.
   (f) His or her absence from the state without the permission
required by law beyond the period allowed by law.
   (g) His or her ceasing to discharge the duties of his or her
office for the period of three consecutive months, except when
prevented by sickness, or when absent from the state with the
permission required by law.
   (h) His or her conviction of a felony or of any offense involving
a violation of his or her official duties. An officer shall be deemed
to have been convicted under this subdivision when trial court
judgment is entered. For purposes of this subdivision, "trial court
judgment" means a judgment by the trial court either sentencing the
officer or otherwise upholding and implementing the plea, verdict, or
finding.
   (i) His or her refusal or neglect to file his or her required oath
or bond within the time prescribed.
   (j) The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void his or her
election or appointment.
   (k) The making of an order vacating his or her office or declaring
the office vacant when the officer fails to furnish an additional or
supplemental bond.
   (l) His or her commitment to a hospital or sanitarium by a court
of competent jurisdiction as a drug addict, dipsomaniac, inebriate,
or stimulant addict; but in that event the office shall not be deemed
vacant until the order of commitment has become final.
   (m) (1) The incumbent is listed in the Excluded Parties List
System and all of the following subparagraphs apply:
   (A) The office is one that the incumbent holds ex officio, by
virtue of holding another office, or as an appointee.
   (B) The appointed or ex officio office is on the governing board
of a local agency that is, or may reasonably be expected to be, a
participant or principal in a covered transaction, pursuant to
federal law.
   (C) A federal agency head or designee has not granted the
incumbent an exception, in writing, permitting the incumbent to
participate in a particular covered transaction in which the local
agency is, or may reasonably be expected to be, a participant or
principal.
   (2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the
following meanings:
   (A) "Excluded Parties List System" means the list maintained and
disseminated by the federal General Services Administration
containing names of, and other information about, persons who are
debarred, suspended, disqualified, or otherwise excluded from
participating in a covered transaction, pursuant to federal law.
   (B) "Local agency" includes, but is not limited to, a county,
whether general law or chartered, city, whether general law or
chartered, city and county, school district, municipal corporation,
district, political subdivision, or any board, commission, or agency
of one of these entities.
   (C) "Federal law" includes, but is not limited to, federal
regulations adopted pursuant to Section 2455 of Public Law 103-355
(108 Stat. 3327), Executive Order No. 11738, Executive Order No.
12549, and Executive Order No. 12689.
   (3) This subdivision shall not apply to an elective office.
  SEC. 3.  Section 1771 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   1771.  (a) When an officer is removed, declared insane, or
convicted of a felony or offense involving a violation of his or her
official duty, or when his or her election or appointment is declared
void, the body or person before whom the proceedings are had shall
give notice thereof to the officer or body empowered to fill the
vacancy.
   (b) When an office becomes vacant pursuant to subdivision (m) of
Section 1770, the local agency on which the vacancy occurs shall give
notice of that vacancy to the officer or body authorized to fill the
vacancy.