AB 2065 Summary

• Establishes the Legislative Employee Whistleblower Protection Act prohibiting Members of the Legislature and legislative employees from using official authority to interfere with or retaliate against legislative employees for making protected disclosures of ethics violations.

• Defines "protected disclosure" as filing complaints alleging violations of legislative ethics standards or conduct rules established by either house of the Legislature.

• Creates civil and criminal penalties including fines up to $10,000 and county jail imprisonment up to one year for intentional acts of reprisal, retaliation, threats, or coercion against legislative employees who make protected disclosures.

• Allows legislative employees to file written complaints with their house of the Legislature within one year of improper acts and to pursue civil damages without first filing a complaint, with punitive damages available if acts are proven malicious.

• Exempts Members of the Legislature from liability to the extent they are protected by legislative immunity doctrine and provides no reimbursement is required for state-mandated local program costs under the California Constitution.