Sacramento, CA – The Assembly Local Government Committee passed AB 941 authored by Assemblyman Anthony Rendon and sponsored by State Controller John Chiang on a bipartisan 9-0 vote.
AB 941 was inspired by the egregious corruption in the City of Bell that is currently being prosecuted. Recently, Bell’s former mayor was found guilty on five felony charges for the misappropriation of funds. The same jury also convicted four former city council members on various counts. Prosecutors alleged that the six ex-council members, the city manager and another city staff member turned the city treasury into "their own piggy bank, which they looted at will."
Between 2006 and 2010, prosecutors have alleged that these officials received ridiculous salaries for doing no work and were paid nearly $8,000 a month for meetings on four boards that never took place or lasted just a few minutes.
This bill extends the Controller’s authority to: (1) Expedite the identification of fiscal mismanagement, (2) Establish meaningful consequences for local agencies that fail to operate with proper fiscal stewardship, and (3) provide support mechanisms for local agencies to use before they reach a crisis.
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Assembly Member Anthony Rendon was elected to the Legislature in November of 2012 to represent the 63rd Assembly District. The 63rd Assembly District covers the cities and communities of Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, North Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, and South Gate. Assembly Member Rendon serves on the following committees: Budget; Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security; Joint Legislative Audit Committee; Utilities and Commerce; and Water, Parks and Wildlife.
CONTACT: Bill Wong, Office (916) 319-3692, Cell (916) 708-2828, bill.wong@asm.ca.gov