Oath of office: health officers.

The California Constitution requires members of the Legislature, and all public officers and employees, to take and subscribe a specified oath of office or affirmation. The California Constitution permits inferior officers and employees to be exempted by law from this requirement. Existing law, in the case of particular officers, requires the oath, after being administered, to be filed in designated offices. This bill would require a health officer, as specified, in addition to their existing filing duties, to file their oath in the office of the Secretary of State. Because this bill would impose new duties on local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Violating an oath or affirmation is a crime. Because this bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, this 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.