Public employees’ retirement: felony convictions.

Assembly Member Quirk-Silva's legislation addresses a gap in public employee misconduct investigations by requiring public employers to continue investigating potential criminal conduct even after an employee retires. The measure adds new provisions to California's existing framework for pension forfeiture in cases of work-related felony convictions.

Under the proposed requirements, public employers must maintain active investigations into misconduct related to official duties, salary, or benefits when evidence suggests criminal activity, regardless of the employee's retirement status. The bill mandates referral to law enforcement agencies when investigations indicate possible criminal conduct, after which employers may close their internal inquiries. If the former employee is subsequently convicted of a felony related to their official duties, they forfeit all accrued rights and benefits in public retirement systems as of the conviction date.

The measure creates new obligations for local government employers, qualifying it as a state-mandated program. Local agencies and school districts would receive reimbursement for associated costs through existing statutory procedures if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated expenses. These provisions complement current law requiring benefit forfeiture when public employees or elected officials are convicted of certain work-related felonies.