Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act: discipline.

The Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act prohibits any punitive action, or denial of promotion on grounds other than merit, to be undertaken for any act, omission, or other allegation of misconduct if an investigation of an allegation against a public safety officer is not completed within one year of the public agency's discovery by a person authorized to initiate an investigation of the allegation of an act, omission, or other misconduct that occurred on or after January 1, 1998. Existing law requires the public agency to complete its investigation and notify the public safety officer of its proposed disciplinary action within that year if it determines that discipline may be taken. This bill would instead specify that the discovery could be made by a person authorized to initiate an investigation of the allegation of an act, omission, or other misconduct, and require the public agency, within that year, to notify the public safety officer of the proposed discipline by a specified letter or notice articulating the discipline. This bill would specify that the public agency is not required to impose the discipline within that year. To the extent that these new requirements would apply to local government employers, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.