Excessive Bell salaries prompt bills in California

Under one bill going before the Legislature this week, all city, county and school district employees would have to report their compensation each year and have it posted on a public website.

The secretary of state would develop a form for employees to report salaries, stipends and other reimbursement.

"We have all heard about the pillaging in the city of Bell," Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, co-sponsor of the bill, told colleagues in a recent address. "This is one measure ... that will be coming through the process so that we will never see this situation again."

That bill will be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Another bill would restrict the compensation that employees of charter cities can earn.