Local government officials are required to take two types of training, Ethics Training or as it is commonly referred to AB 1234 Ethics Training for Local Officials and Sexual Harassment Prevention training or AB 1666 AB 1661 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. The SMFD Board renews their certificates for required training every two years. Below is more information on the compliance requirements.
AB 1234 - Ethics Training
On October 7, 2005, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 1234. AB 1234 requires that if a local agency provides any type of compensation, salary, or stipend to, or reimburses the expenses of a member of its 'legislative body' (as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 54952), that local agency's officials must receive training in ethics. The bill also provides that if an entity develops criteria for the ethics training required by AB 1234, then the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorney General shall be consulted regarding any proposed course content. Other than the consultation requirement regarding the training course, the Commission has no jurisdiction to interpret or advise on the requirements of AB 1234. In response to AB 1234's requirement that the Commission be consulted regarding proposed course content, the Commission has implemented Regulation 18371. Please see Regulation 18371 for information on what the Commission has determined should be included in a local ethics training course. A link to Regulation 18371 and the Attorney General's Office's AB 1234 information can be found below.
AB 1661 - Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
A new sexual harassment training mandate is now effective in California. AB 1661 was signed by Governor Brown on September 29, 2016, and it mandates local agencies to train officers and elected officials in sexual harassment prevention. Local agencies are any “city, county, city and county, charter city, charter county, charter city, and county, or special district” in California. AB 1661 requires only compensated, elected officials or members of legislative bodies to be trained.
