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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 1.8§ 53227 Employee Officeholding Resignation Rule

§ 53227 Employee Officeholding Resignation Rule

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 53227 Employee Officeholding Resignation Rule

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't work for a local government and also be a boss (like a council member) there at the same time. You have to quit your job first.
  • •If you were already doing both jobs before 1996, you could keep doing it until you got re-elected or re-appointed after 1996.
  • •Volunteer firefighters who don’t get paid (or get insurance instead of pay) don’t have to follow this rule.

Example

A city worker, like someone who fixes roads, decides to run for city council and wins.

They have to quit their road-fixing job before they can start being a council member. If they don’t quit, they automatically lose their job when they get sworn in.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 53227 Employee Officeholding Resignation Rule

(a) An employee of a local agency may not be sworn into office as an elected or appointed member of the legislative body of that local agency unless he or she resigns as an employee. If the employee does not resign, the employment shall automatically terminate upon his or her being sworn into office. (b) For any individual who is an employee of a local agency and an elected or appointed member of that local agency’s legislative body prior to January 1, 1996, this section shall apply when he or she is reelected or reappointed, on or after January 1, 1996, as a member of the local agency’s legislative body. (c) This section does not apply to any volunteer firefighter who does not receive a salary, or where the salary the volunteer firefighter would otherwise receive is applied directly by the local agency toward the purchase of disability, life, health, or similar insurance coverage. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 364, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

insuranceemploymentdisabilityfirecoveragehealthemployeesalary

Related Statutes

  • § 31003 County Employee Insurance Benefits
  • § 3142 Strike Health Coverage Protection
  • § 70046.4 Lake County Court Reporters
  • § 19826 State Civil Service Salaries
  • § 19831 Nonpermanent Employee Benefits Fund

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 53227.
View Official Source