Under current law, the independent ethics commission created in
article XXIX of the state constitution does not have jurisdiction over officials or employees of special districts or school districts. The bill gives the independent ethics commission jurisdiction to hear complaints, issue findings, assess penalties, and issue advisory opinions on ethics issues concerning a special district official or employee or school district official or employee. However:
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Officials include only members of a school district or special district board;
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School district employee includes only the superintendent or head administrative officer designated by a school board to execute its policy decisions who is appointed or hired by, directly reports to, and is subject to the direction of the school district board; and
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Special district employee includes only an employee of a special district who is appointed or hired by, directly reports to, and is subject to the direction of the special district's board.
Existing law establishes ethical standards for a special district
official or employee or school district official or employee. The bill incorporates those standards under the independent ethics commission's jurisdiction and expands the standards to include those described in article XXIX of the state constitution.
