Indemnification of public officers and employees: antitrust awards.

The Government Claims Act, except as provided, requires a public entity to pay any judgment or any compromise or settlement of a claim or action against an employee or former employee of the public entity if the employee or former employee requests the public entity to defend him or her against any claim or action against him or her for an injury arising out of an act or omission occurring within the scope of his or her employment as an employee of the public entity, the request is made in writing not less than 10 days before the day of trial, and the employee or former employee reasonably cooperates in good faith in the defense of the claim or action. That act prohibits the payment of punitive or exemplary damages by a public entity, except as specified. This bill would require a public entity to pay a judgment or settlement for treble damage antitrust awards against a member of a regulatory board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for an act or omission occurring within the scope of the member's official capacity as a member of that regulatory board. The bill would specify that treble damages awarded pursuant to a specified federal law for violation of another federal law are not punitive or exemplary damages within the act.