Public Utilities Commission: organization.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, as defined. Existing law establishes within the commission an ethics officer within the legal division of the commission who is designated by the general counsel of the commission. Existing law requires the ethics officer to institute a program of enhanced ethics training for all commissioners and employees of the commission and to provide confidential advice to commissioners and employees of the commission relative to the commission's Conflict of Interest Code, Statement of Incompatible Activities, and limitations on ex parte communications. This bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2026, to establish an online portal or email address to report ethics concerns to the commission. This bill would prohibit a staff member who is employed by the commission from working on a proceeding at the commission for which the staff member, before their employment by the commission, was listed on a formal filing for the proceeding or sponsored testimony within the proceeding.