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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion and, if Desired, Recommendation of a City Council Position on AB 1537 (Bryan) Peace Officers: Secondary Employment. (Introduced - 1/5/2026) ; and (2) Direction to Distribute the City’s Position Letter to State Legislators.
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Meeting Date: April 27, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Shelly Wolfberg/City Clerk’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Office of Assemblymember Isaac Bryan; Meetings and Agendas - City Council (04/23/2026)
Department Approval: Jeremy Bocchino, City Clerk (04/02/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council discuss and provide direction regarding whether to adopt a position on AB 1537 (Bryan), and, if desired, authorize the Mayor to transmit a letter reflecting the City Council’s position to the California State Legislature.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the January 26, 2026 City Council Meeting, Vice Mayor Fish discussed the active legislative platform and received consensus from Mayor Puza and Council Member McMorrin to consider Assembly Bill (AB) 1537 from Assemblymember Isaac Byran to prevent police officers from having secondary employment with ICE.
AB 1537 (attached) was introduced during the 2025-2026 California Legislative Session.
Existing law:
1. Provides that every executive or ministerial officer, employee, or appointee of the State of California, or any county or city therein, or any political subdivision thereof, who knowingly asks, receives, or agrees to receive any emolument, gratuity, or reward, or any promise thereof excepting such as may be authorized by law for doing an official act, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
2. Exempts from that offense certain employment by a peace officer while off duty, as specified.
3. Provides that a peace officer shall not be prohibited from engaging in other employment while off duty, as specified.
Notwithstanding such provisions, AB 1537 would prohibit a peace officer from being employed by, or being an independent contractor of or volunteer for, the United States Department of Homeland Security or its contractors or any other entity that assists with or engages in immigration enforcement. Further, the bill would provide that failure to comply with this provision constitutes, for certain purposes, an act of dishonesty and grounds for decertification as a peace officer. AB 1537 would require a peace officer to report to their employing law enforcement agency any secondary employment relating to immigration enforcement.
By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies to accept these reports, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also explicitly state that records related to secondary employment of peace officers are public records for the purposes of the California Public Records Act.
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. AB 1537 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 the statutory provisions noted above.
The City Council has requested that a discussion about AB 1537 be agendized to consider whether the City should take a formal position.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the decision on whether or not to adopt and distribute position letters for AB 1537.
ATTACHMENT
1. 2026-04-27 - ATT SB 1537 (Bryan) Peace officers: secondary employment. (Introduced - 1/5/2026)
recommended action
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Adopt a position on AB 1537, if desired; and/or
2. Direct the distribution of position letters for AB 1537; and/or
3. Provide other direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate regarding AB 1537.