AB 1234 Ethics Training

In October 2005, the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1234, which 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 training must encompass both general ethics principles, as well as a summary of specific laws concerning conflicts of interests, rules and limitations on gifts, and government transparency. The initial training must be completed no later than one year after the first day of service; and then the training course must be completed once every two years thereafter. The official training sessions last a minimum of two hours.

There are numerous AB 1234 training options, but the City recommends the free online training program offered by the California Fair Political Practice Commission.

After completion, it is the individual's responsibility to print the Online Proof of Participation Certificate, sign, and upload to the online portal or submit to City Clerk’s Office. Note, you are required to obtain a minimum of 2-hour training.

Both the FPPC and the California Institute of Local Government contain valuable information on their websites regarding the AB 1234 Ethics Training requirement.

The City Clerk maintains lists of those trained and notifies each person of obligations to file in a timely manner. Certificates are public record and available to view during regular business hours.