Bill > AB1173

This bill makes several changes to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to enhance ethics and transparency. The bill requires the PUC to establish an online portal or email address by July 1, 2026, where individuals can report ethics concerns confidentially. It also modifies existing rules about staff movement between the Public Advocate's Office and the commission, prohibiting new commission employees from working on proceedings where they previously filed formal documents or provided sponsored testimony while working in the Public Advocate's Office. The bill maintains the existing role of the ethics officer within the legal division, who is responsible for providing confidential ethics advice to commissioners and employees and instituting enhanced ethics training. These provisions aim to prevent potential conflicts of interest and improve ethical standards within the PUC by creating more transparent mechanisms for reporting concerns and restricting staff from working on matters in which they previously had direct involvement.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1173