(a) The office shall hire the necessary personnel to perform the functions of the ombudsperson. In hiring decisions, priority shall be given to people who were formerly detained or committed to a juvenile justice facility.

(b) When exercising the investigative, complaint resolution, and technical assistance functions of the ombudsperson of the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, the ombudsperson and their staff shall have all immunities under Article 2 (commencing with Section 815) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code afforded to the discharge of discretionary duties by public entities and their employees.

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(c) If the ombudsperson believes, based on information received during the exercise of their official duties, that there is a breach of duty or misconduct by an employee of a state or local agency or their contractors in the conduct of the employees’ official duties, the ombudsperson shall refer the matter to the agency director or other responsible officer, and, if the conduct would constitute a crime, to an appropriate law enforcement body or agency.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 31. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)