Addis Introduces Bill Barring Sex Offenders and Traffickers From Public Office

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), introduced Assembly Bill 2691, The Public Trust Protection Act, aimed at updating California's standards for eligibility to serve in elected office by ensuring that individuals convicted of felony convictions including sexual assault, and human trafficking are barred from running or holding state or local office.

AB 2691 adds sexual assault and human trafficking to the list of disqualifying convictions to hold elected office in California and ensures that out-of-state and international convictions are included regardless of where the crimes were committed. Under current State law, disqualifying convictions include bribery, embezzlement of public funds, extortion, theft of public money, perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.

"AB 2691 draws a clear line, one that's been needed for far too long and is too urgent to ignore: those convicted of felony sexual assault or human trafficking should not be on the ballot to hold positions of public office. It's a matter of trust." said Addis.

AB 2691 will be heard in Assembly Elections Committee later this week.

Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.

CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832