§ 74 Public Officer Bribery Ban

Penal Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says government workers can't take money or gifts to give someone a job or let them do their job. If they do, they can be fined, lose their job, and never work for the government again.

Key Takeaways

•Government workers can't take money or gifts to give someone a job.
•If they break this law, they can be fined up to $10,000.
•They will also lose their job and can never work for the government again.

Example

A mayor takes $5,000 from a person to give them a job in city hall.

The mayor broke the law by taking money to give someone a job. They could be fined up to $10,000, lose their job as mayor, and never work for the government again.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 74 Public Officer Bribery Ban

PENAL CODE - PEN PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 - 680.4] ( Part 1 enacted 1872. ) TITLE 5. OF CRIMES BY AND AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE POWER OF THE STATE [67 - 77] ( Title 5 enacted 1872. ) 74. Every public officer who, for any gratuity or reward, appoints another person to a public office, or permits another person to exercise or discharge any of the duties of his office, is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and, in addition thereto, forfeits his office and is forever disqualified from holding any office in this state. (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 234. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

public officer gratuity or reward public office forfeits his office disqualified from holding any office

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Penal Code. Section 74.

§ 74 Public Officer Bribery Ban

Penal Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 74 Public Officer Bribery Ban

This law says government workers can't take money or gifts to give someone a job or let them do their job. If they do, they can be fined, lose their job, and never work for the government again.

Key Takeaways

•Government workers can't take money or gifts to give someone a job.
•If they break this law, they can be fined up to $10,000.
•They will also lose their job and can never work for the government again.

Example

A mayor takes $5,000 from a person to give them a job in city hall.

The mayor broke the law by taking money to give someone a job. They could be fined up to $10,000, lose their job as mayor, and never work for the government again.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 74 Public Officer Bribery Ban

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

public officer gratuity or reward public office forfeits his office disqualified from holding any office

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Penal Code. Section 74.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References