Attorney General: assurance of voluntary compliance.

Existing law authorizes a court, upon motion, to enter judgment pursuant to the terms of a settlement stipulated by parties to pending litigation. Existing law defines an injunction as a writ or order requiring a person to refrain from a particular act, and authorizes a court to grant an injunction in specified cases, including, among others, when pecuniary compensation would not afford adequate relief. Under existing law, the Attorney General has charge, as attorney, of all legal matters in which the state is interested, except as specified. Existing law, the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act, authorizes the Attorney General to accept an assurance of voluntary compliance through which a person alleged to be engaged in a method, act, or practice in violation of the act, as specified. This bill would specify that the Attorney General is authorized to accept an assurance of voluntary compliance, in lieu of a stipulated judgment, to resolve an action brought in the name of the people of the state. The bill would require an assurance of voluntary compliance accepted by the Attorney General to be filed with and subject to approval by the court. The bill would require an assurance of voluntary compliance filed with and approved by the court to be enforceable in the same manner, with the same remedies, and to the same extent, as a stipulated judgment or a permanent injunction.