SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 827, part of Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Good Governance package, was approved by the Legislature. The bill would ensure local government officials complete ethics training within six months of commencing service, and expand the requirement to include senior-level staff. The bill would also require local government officials to complete fiscal and financial training related to their duties such as budgeting, contracting and procurement. Together, these trainings will support local officials with the tools and knowledge to uphold ethical standards and be good stewards of public funds.

The legislation is part of Senator Lena Gonzalez’s Good Governance package, which is focused on building public trust in local government by improving training for local government officials and protecting against corrupt activities. 

SB 521, which was signed into law on July 30 this year, will deter corruption and ensure that individuals who have violated public trust are barred from future public service in those same roles. Specifically, SB 521 adds a conflict of interest conviction to the existing list of felonies that trigger a five year prohibition on public employment, and prohibits city managers and city attorneys who are convicted of corruption-related felonies in their capacity as public servants from holding those positions in the future.

“Public trust is the foundation from which we build a better future. But far too many times, we’ve seen corrupt activities erode that trust,” said Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez. “Our communities deserve better, and that is why it is critical that local public officials, especially those with fiscal duties, receive training to manage public funds responsibly.”

For decades, Southeast Los Angeles communities have faced a troubling pattern of public corruption, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards to protect these predominantly Latino, working-class, and immigrant neighborhoods. Investigations and convictions have exposed abuses ranging from the misuse of public funds to inflated salaries and contracts marked by conflicts of interest, at times involving officials with prior histories of misconduct in public office.

“In Southeast Los Angeles, you can see the dedication of hardworking families everywhere, from local mom-and-pop shops to the art, activism, and events that bring people together and inspire change. We need to honor that hard work by ensuring responsible stewardship of the resources that belong to these communities. That is exactly what my Good Governance Package is about,” said Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez.

SB 827 now moves to the Governor’s desk for consideration. 

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Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. As Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, she is a dedicated advocate on key priorities that impact Californians from economic development and environmental justice to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, digital equity and more. Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez has championed major policies, including broadband for all, expanding paid sick leave, advancing clean transportation incentives, and ending neighborhood oil drilling. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more, visit www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez.