Local agency officials: training.

Senator Gonzalez's local government ethics training measure expands mandatory training requirements to include managerial-level employees overseeing agency finances and accelerates completion deadlines for new officials. The legislation requires local agency officials who receive compensation or reimbursements to complete two hours of ethics, fiscal, and financial training every two years, covering topics such as financial administration, debt management, and procurement practices.

The bill modifies existing training timelines, requiring officials who begin service after January 1, 2026, to complete initial ethics training within six months rather than the current one-year allowance. Local agencies must maintain records of completed trainings for five years and, starting July 1, 2026, publish these records on their websites. The measure allows agencies to partner with training providers to offer courses or self-study materials, which must be developed in consultation with local government finance experts.

Implementation includes specific provisions for educational institution board members and exemptions for officials already meeting certain statutory education requirements. The bill designates fiscal management of local governments as a matter of statewide concern, applying these requirements to all cities, including charter cities. Local agencies may receive state reimbursement for costs associated with these new mandates, as determined by the Commission on State Mandates.