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AB 614

Claims against public entities.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alex Lee

AB 614 standardizes public-entity claim deadlines to one year from accrual (instead of 6 months), harmonizing timing for injuries, deaths, or property claims.

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
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Bill Summary · AB 614

AB 614 — Claims against public entities (Lee) — Summary

Status: In committee — Held under submission (Assembly Appropriations, last action 2025-05-23)
Introduced: February 13, 2025
Code section amended: Government Code § 911.2
Classification: Bill; Fiscal Committee: Yes; Appropriation: No

Purpose / Intent

AB 614 seeks to standardize and lengthen the statutory deadline for presenting claims against public entities under the California Government Claims Act by eliminating a shorter six‑month presentation window that currently applies to certain injury/death claims. The bill aims to require a one‑year presentation period for all causes of action, unless another law specifies a different period.

Key provisions

  • Amends Government Code § 911.2:
    • Replaces the existing rule that claims for death or injury to person, personal property, or growing crops must be presented within 6 months with a uniform requirement that a claim relating to any cause of action must be presented no later than one year after accrual of the cause of action, “unless otherwise specified by law.”
    • Clarifies how the date of presentation to the Department of General Services (DGS) is determined:
    • The date the claim is submitted with a $25 filing fee.
    • If a fee waiver is granted, the date the claim is submitted with the affidavit requesting waiver.
    • If a fee waiver is denied, the date the claim was submitted with the affidavit requesting the waiver provided the filing fee is paid to DGS within 10 calendar days of mailing of the denial notice.

Who is affected

  • Claimants (persons or entities seeking damages from public entities): Would generally have a longer time window (one year) to present claims for injury, death, property damage, etc.
  • Public entities and their insurers: May face a longer exposure period during which claims must be accepted, investigated, or rejected.
  • Department of General Services and local government claims units: Administrative processing rules clarified (fee/waiver timing); potential change in workload.

Practical/legal effects

  • Harmonizes presentation deadlines across claim types, reducing the risk that claimants miss a 6‑month deadline for certain injury/death claims.
  • Does not alter statute-of-limitations rules for filing suit; the Government Claims Act’s presentation requirement remains a prerequisite to filing suit against a public entity and failure to present timely can bar suit.
  • Could increase number of claims presented to public entities and slightly extend the administrative/financial exposure window for government defendants.
  • The bill does not appropriate funds; the Assembly Fiscal Committee has reviewed it.

Legislative status / timeline

  • Introduced 02/13/2025; referred to Judiciary (03/03/25); amended and re‑referred to Appropriations (late March 2025).
  • Set for Appropriations suspense file and, as of 05/23/2025, was held under submission.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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