HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB-3 - 26-151 - Training Requirements for City Officials - 2/17/2026CITY OF COSTA MESA
Agenda Report
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
File #:26-151 Meeting Date:2/17/2026
TITLE:
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS
DEPARTMENT: CITY ATTORNEY
PRESENTED BY:KIMBERLY HALL BARLOW, CITY ATTORNEY
CONTACT INFORMATION:KIMBERLY HALL BARLOW, CITY ATTORNEY (714) 446-1400
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File a report on updated Training Requirements for Elected and Appointed Officials.
BACKGROUND:
Commencing in 2005,State law has required that local elected and appointed officials who are
members of legislative bodies receive ethics training covering laws relating to personal financial gain,
perquisites of office,government transparency laws,and laws relating to fair processes.Effective
January 1,2026,this requirement has been extended to Department Heads and other designated
officials,by passage of SB 827.The time period for initial training after assuming office has been
shortened, and new website posting requirements were implemented as well.
In addition to the changes to the ethics training requirements,SB 827 requires new training for local
officials on fiscal and financial administration,with existing local officials to be trained by January 1,
2028,and those assuming office on or after January 1,2026 to be trained within six months of
assuming office.
In addition to these training requirements,since 2005,employers with more than fifty employees
have been required to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisors and
employees pursuant to AB 1825.In 2019,SB 1343 revised this requirement to apply to all employers
with five or more employees.The training requirement is at least one hour for employees,and two
hours for supervisory employees.
ANALYSIS:
Senate Bill 827,effective January 1,2026,revises the requirements of AB 1234 to expand existing
ethics training requirements to department heads and other officials designated by the City Council to
receive that training.
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File #:26-151 Meeting Date:2/17/2026
The ethics training requirement covers:
(1)Laws relating to personal financial gain by public servants,including,but not
limited to, laws prohibiting bribery and conflict-of-interest laws.
(2)Laws relating to claiming perquisites of office,including,but not limited to,gift and
travel restrictions,prohibitions against the use of public resources for personal or
political purposes,prohibitions against gifts of public funds,mass mailing restrictions,
and prohibitions against acceptance of free or discounted transportation by
transportation companies.
(3)Government transparency laws,including,but not limited to,financial interest
disclosure requirements and open government laws.
(4)Laws relating to fair processes,including,but not limited to,common law bias
prohibitions,due process requirements,incompatible offices,competitive bidding
requirements for public contracts,and disqualification from participating in decisions
affecting family members.
Government Code section 53234.
Anyone serving as a local agency official before January 1,2026 must have initial ethics training
within one year of assuming office,and every two years thereafter.Those who commence service
with the City on or after January 1,2026,shall receive the required training no later than six months
from the first day of service, and every two years thereafter.
The City must maintain records of compliance with this training requirement for at least five years.In
addition,commencing July 1,2026,the City must post on its website clear instructions and contact
information for the purpose of requesting such records.
Senate Bill 827 also adds an entirely new requirement for training of local officials on fiscal and
financial administration,including laws and principles relating to financial administration and
management,financial policies,municipal budgets and budget processes,and financial reporting and
auditing;laws and principles relating to capital financing and debt management,agency revenues,
pensions and other postemployment benefits,cash management and investments,the prudent
investor standard,and the ethics of safeguarding public resources;and general fiscal and financial
planning principles and laws relevant to official’s role in overseeing the local agency’s operations and
procurement and contracting practices and responsibilities.The requirement applies to all elected
officials,executive officers (including department heads)and all appointees who “as part of their
official duties,makes decisions or recommendations regarding financial administration,budgeting,or
the use of public resources.” Government Code section 53238.
Existing local officials must take this fiscal and financial training by January 1,2028 unless they will
no longer be in office as of that date.Individuals assuming office on or after January 1,2026 must
complete the training within six months of assuming office.After initial training,each affected official
must take the training at least once every two years.The law exempts certain financial professionals
in good standing from its requirements.
As with the proof of compliance with ethics training,the City must maintain records of compliance
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File #:26-151 Meeting Date:2/17/2026
As with the proof of compliance with ethics training,the City must maintain records of compliance
with the finance training requirements for at least five years and provide information on its website as
to how to obtain copies of these records.
The City Attorney’s Office and the Finance Department will collaborate on developing training specific
to the financial rules,processes and procedures applicable to the City of Costa Mesa.The complete
text of SB 827 is included in Attachment 1.
Finally,all elected and appointed officials who oversee or provide direction to staff are required to
receive two hours of sexual harassment prevention training which is required to cover:information
and practical guidance regarding the federal and state statutory provisions prohibiting and the
prevention and correction of sexual harassment,the remedies available to victims of sexual
harassment in employment,practical examples aimed at instructing supervisors in the prevention of
harassment,discrimination,and retaliation,prevention of abusive conduct in the workplace,and
prevention of harassment based on gender identity,gender expression,and sexual orientation.This
training must be repeated at least every two years.Non-supervisory employees are also required to
receive at least one hour of sexual harassment training every two years.The complete text of SB
1343 is included in Attachment 2.
The City Attorney’s Office works with the City Clerk and the Human Resources Division on ensuring
compliance of mandatory trainings. In addition, the League of California Cities offers ethics training at
its annual conference. Sexual harassment prevention training is also available on the Department of
Fair Employment and Housing website at <https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/shpt/>.
The City Attorney will collaborate with the City Clerk to implement the new retention and posting
requirements and to bring forward for future City Council consideration a list of designated officials
and employees required to obtain the new fiscal and financial administration training.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council is requested to receive and file this report.The City Council could give alternative
direction to the City Attorney or staff.
FISCAL REVIEW:
The costs associated with the training is available in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund (Fund
101) operating budget.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office prepared this report.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item is administrative in nature,but supports the City’s core values of safety,inclusivity,fiscal
sustainability, and transparency in government.
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File #:26-151 Meeting Date:2/17/2026
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is requested to receive a presentation on the updated training requirements for
elected and appointed officials and to receive and file this report.
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