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CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
MUNICIPAL CODE
CAMPAIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL CONDUCT CODE
The San Francisco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 128-13, File No. 130501, approved July 3, 2013, effective August 2, 2013.
The Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code was last amended by Ordinance 9-13, File No. 120964, approved February 4, 2013, effective March 6, 2013, operative January 1, 2013.
The San Francisco Municipal Code:Charter
Administrative Code
Building, Electrical, Housing, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes
Business and Tax Regulations Code
Campaign and Governmental Conduct CodeEnvironment Code
Fire Code
Health Code
Municipal Elections Code
Park Code
Planning Code
Police CodePort Code
Public Works Code
Subdivision Code
Transportation Code
Zoning Maps
Comprehensive Ordinance Table
AMERICAN LEGAL PUBLISHING CORPORATION
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PREFACE TO THE
CAMPAIGN AND GOVERNMENTAL CONDUCT CODE
This electronic version of the City and County of San Francisco Municipal Code is updated as amending legislation is approved. New Ordinance Notices are inserted where applicable to call the user's attention to material that has been affected by legislation that has been passed but is not yet effective. Any references to such legislation are also compiled in a table at the end of this Code. The amendments are then incorporated into the Code when they become effective.
Beginning with ordinances passed in 2011, all ordinances affecting this Code are summarized in a table that lists the identifying information (ordinance and file numbers), effective date, short title, and sections affected for each such ordinance. Users should note that the operative date of an ordinance may be later than the effective date of the ordinance. A delayed operative date will be noted in the ordinance.
This Code may contain various Editor's Notes (explaining the disposition of or cross referencing various provisions), and/or Codification Notes (documenting scrivener's errors and the like found in the underlying ordinances). Such notes have been inserted by the publisher for the convenience of the user or as historical references. They have not been approved or adopted by the City and County of San Francisco, and are of no legal force or effect.
ArticleI. ELECTION CAMPAIGNSII. LOBBYINGIII. CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEESIV. PROTECTION OF WHISTLEBLOWERS
ARTICLE I:
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
Chapter1.CAMPAIGN FINANCE5.REGULATION OF CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS
CHAPTER 1:
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Sec. 1.100.Purpose and Intent. Sec. 1.102.Citation. Sec. 1.103.Amendment or Repeal of Chapter.Sec. 1.104.Definitions.Sec. 1.106.Adoption of General Law-Exceptions. Sec. 1.107.Training for Candidates and Treasurers.Sec. 1.108.Candidate Committee Campaign Contribution Trust Accounts and Campaign Contingency Accounts.Sec. 1.109.Retention of Records.Sec. 1.110.Campaign Statements-Public Access.Sec. 1.112.Electronic Campaign Disclosure. Sec. 1.113.Disclosure Requirements During Signature Gathering Periods for Initiatives, Referenda and Recalls. Sec. 1.114.Contribution Limits. Sec. 1.115.Coordination of Expenditures. Sec. 1.116.Limits on Loans to Candidates. Sec. 1.118.Payment of Accrued Expenses. Sec. 1.120.Contribution Limits-Post-Election Legal Proceedings. Sec. 1.122.Solicitation or Acceptance of Campaign Contributions-Limitations. Sec. 1.126.Contribution Limits-Contractors Doing Business with the City. Sec. 1.128.Acceptance or Rejection of Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings. Sec. 1.130.Amount of Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings.Sec. 1.134.Lifting of Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings; Supplemental Reporting in Elections for Assessor, Public Defender, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District, or the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District. Sec. 1.134.5.Lifting of Individual Expenditure Ceilings.Sec. 1.135.Supplemental Pre-Election Statements.Sec. 1.136.Public Financing of Candidates for the Board of Supervisors or Mayor.Sec. 1.138.Election Campaign Fund; Appropriation of Funds.Sec. 1.140.Eligibility to Receive Public Financing.Sec. 1.142.Process for Establishing Eligibility; Certification by the Ethics Commission. Sec. 1.143.Adjusting Individual Expenditure Ceilings. Sec. 1.144.Disbursement of Public Funds. Sec. 1.146.Termination of Payments. Sec. 1.148.Restrictions on Use of Public Funds; Unexpected Public Funds.Sec. 1.150.Audit; Repayment. Sec. 1.152.Supplemental Reporting in Elections for Board of Supervisors and Mayor. Sec. 1.154.Insufficient Funds in Election Campaign Fund. Sec. 1.156.Report to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. Sec. 1.158.Implementing Regulations; Forms.Sec. 1.160.No Limitation of Candidate Liability.Sec. 1.160.5.Disclosure and Filing for Persuasion Polls.Sec. 1.161.Disclosure and Filing Requirements for Mass Mailings.Sec. 1.161.5.Disclosure and Filing Requirements for Electioneering Communications.Sec. 1.162.Disclosure Requirements-Campaign Advertisements.Sec. 1.163.Disclosure Requirements-Recorded Telephone Messages.Sec. 1.163.5.Distribution of Campaign Advertisements Containing False Endorsements.Sec. 1.164.Duties of Ethics Commission.Sec. 1.166.Duties of Enforcement Authority.Sec. 1.168.Enforcement; Advice.Sec. 1.170.Penalties.Sec. 1.171.Issuance of Subpoenas.Sec. 1.172.Extension of Deadlines That Fall on Weekends and Holidays.Sec. 1.174.Effect of Violation on Certification of Election Results.Sec. 1.175.Implementing Regulations; Forms.Sec. 1.176.Rules of Construction.Sec. 1.178.Severability.
SEC. 1.100. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
(a) Huge sums of money often are necessary to finance American election campaigns. Inherent to the high cost of election campaigning is the problem of improper influence, real or potential, exercised by campaign contributors over elected officials. In addition, this fundraising distracts public officials seeking reelection from focusing upon important public matters, encourages contributions which may have a corrupting influence, gives incumbents an unfair fundraising advantage over potential challengers, and provides contributors with greater access to public officials than other members of the public. These developments undermine the integrity of the governmental process and the competitiveness of campaigns. The amount of money raised by many candidates and committees supporting or opposing candidates also erodes public confidence in local officials by creating the appearance that elected officials may be unduly influenced by contributors who support their campaigns or oppose their opponents' campaigns.
(b) It is the purpose and intent of the People of the City and County of San Francisco in enacting this Chapter to:
(1) Place realistic and enforceable limits on the amount individuals may contribute to political campaigns in municipal elections and to provide full and fair enforcement of all the provisions in this Chapter;
(2) Ensure that all individuals and interest groups in our city have a fair opportunity to participate in elective and governmental processes;
(3) Create an incentive to limit overall expenditures in campaigns, thereby reducing the pressure on candidates to raise large campaign war chests for defensive purposes beyond the amount necessary to communicate reasonably with voters;
(4) Reduce the advantage of incumbents and thus encourage competition for elective office;
(5) Allow candidates and officeholders to spend a smaller proportion of their time on fundraising and a greater proportion of their time dealing with issues of importance to their constituents' community;
(6) Ensure that serious candidates are able to raise enough money to communicate their views and positions adequately to the public, thereby promoting public discussion of the important issues involved in political campaigns;
(7) Limit contributions to candidates and committees, including committees that make independent expenditures, to eliminate or reduce the appearance or reality that large contributors may exert undue influence over elected officials;
(8) Assist voters in making informed electoral decisions and ensure compliance with campaign contribution limits through the required filing of campaign statements detailing the sources of campaign contributions and how those contributions have been expended;
(9) Make it easier for the public, the media and election officials to efficiently review and compare campaign statements by requiring committees that meet certain financial thresholds to file copies of their campaign statements on designated electronic media;
(10) Help restore public trust in governmental and electoral institutions; and
(11) Help ensure the integrity of the election process by prohibiting campaign advertisements that contain false endorsements of current and former public officials, candidates, political clubs, and organizations. Such false endorsements undermine the integrity of the electoral process by misleading and confusing voters about the actual support for or opposition to candidates or ballot measures and it is too burdensome for individual voters, inundated with campaign messages, to verify the accuracy of such claims and for persons whose positions are misrepresented to correct the misrepresentations close in time to the election.
(c) This Chapter is enacted in accordance with the terms of Sections 5 and 7 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California and Section 1.101 of the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 16.501; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.102. CITATION.
This Chapter may be cited as the San Francisco Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 16.502; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.103. AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF CHAPTER.
The voters may amend or repeal this Chapter. The Board of Supervisors may amend this Chapter if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The amendment furthers the purposes of this Chapter;
(b) The Ethics Commission approves the proposed amendment in advance by at least a four-fifths vote of all its members;
(c) The proposed amendment is available for public review at least 30 days before the amendment is considered by the Board of Supervisors or any committee of the Board of Supervisors; and
(d) The Board of Supervisors approves the proposed amendment by at least a two-thirds vote of all its members.
(Added by Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006)
SEC. 1.104. DEFINITIONS.
Whenever in this Chapter the following words or phrases are used, they shall mean:
(a) "Candidate" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000, et seq., but shall include only candidates for City elective office.
(b) "Candidate committee" shall mean a committee controlled by a candidate, and primarily formed to support that candidate's election for City elective office.
(c) "Charitable organization" shall mean an entity exempt from taxation pursuant to Title 26, Section 501 of the United State Code.
(d) "City elective office" shall mean the offices of Mayor, Member of the Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, Assessor, Public Defender, Member of the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District and Member of the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District. The Board of Supervisors consists of eleven separate City elective offices, the San Francisco Community College District consists of seven separate City elective offices, and the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District consists of seven separate City elective offices.
(e) "Code" shall mean the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code.
(f) "Committee" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000, et seq.
(g) "Contribution" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000, et seq.; provided, however, that "contribution" shall include loans of any kind or nature.
(h) "Controlled committee" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000, et seq.
(i) "Election" shall mean any general, or special municipal election held in the City and County of San Francisco for City elective office or for a local measure, regardless of whether the election is conducted by district or Citywide.
(j) "Enforcement authority" shall mean the District Attorney for criminal enforcement, the City Attorney for civil enforcement, and the Ethics Commission for administrative enforcement. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as limiting the authority of any law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to enforce the provisions of this Chapter under any circumstances where such law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney otherwise has lawful authority to do so.
(k) "Ethics Commission" shall mean the San Francisco Ethics Commission.
(l) "Executive Director" shall mean the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, or the Executive Director's designee.
(m) "General purpose committee" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000 et seq.
(n) "Independent expenditure" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000 et seq. An expenditure is not considered independent and shall be treated as a contribution from the person making the expenditure to the candidate on whose behalf or for whose benefit the expenditure is made, if the expenditure is made at the request, suggestion, or direction of, or in cooperation, consultation, concert or coordination with, the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, the expenditure is made.
(o) "Individual Expenditure Ceiling" shall mean the expenditure ceiling established for each individual candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors whom the Ethics Commission has certified as eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter.
(p) "Itemized disclosure statement" shall mean a form promulgated by the Ethics Commission that provides a detailed description of the separate costs associated with a communication, including but not limited to photography, design, production, printing, distribution, and postage.
(q) "Mass mailing" shall be defined as set forth in the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000 et seq., provided that the mass mailing advocates for or against one or more candidates for City elective office.
(r) "Matching contribution" shall mean a contribution up to $500, made by an individual, other than the candidate, who is a resident of San Francisco. Matching contributions shall not include loans, contributions received more than 18 months before the date of the election, qualifying contributions or contributions made by the candidate's spouse, registered domestic partner or dependent child. Matching contributions must also comply with all requirements of this Chapter. Matching contributions under $100 that are not made by written instrument must be accompanied by written documentation sufficient to establish the contributor's name and address. The Ethics Commission shall set forth, by regulation, the types of documents sufficient to establish a contributor's name and address for the purpose of this subsection.
(s) "Measure" shall mean any City, San Francisco Unified School District or San Francisco Community College District referendum, recall or ballot proposition, whether or not it qualifies for the ballot.
(t) "Member communication" shall mean a communication made by an organization or its committee for the publication, dissemination or communication to the organization's members, employees or shareholders, or to the families of the organization's members, employees or shareholders by newsletter, letter, flyer, e-mail or similar written or spoken material, that supports or opposes a candidate or measure.
(u) "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, association, firm, committee, club or other organization or group of persons, however organized.
(v) "Qualified campaign expenditure" for candidates shall mean all of the following:
(1) Any expenditure made by a candidate, or by a committee controlled by the candidate, for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the actions of the voters for the election of the candidate to City elective office.
(2) A nonmonetary contribution provided to the candidate, officeholder or committee controlled by the candidate.
(3) The total cost actually paid or incurred by the candidate or controlled committee of the candidate for a slate mailing or other campaign literature produced or authorized by more than one candidate.
(4) Expenses incurred, but for which payment has not yet been made.
(5) Expenses associated with complying with applicable laws, including but not limited to the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq., and the provisions of this Chapter.
(6) "Qualified campaign expenditure" shall not include filing fees, expenses incurred in connection with an administrative or judicial proceeding, payments for administrative, civil or criminal fines, including late filing fees, costs incurred after the election that do not directly affect the outcome of the election, including but not limited to utility bills, expenses associated with an audit, and expenses related to preparing post-election campaign finance disclosure reports as required by the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq., and the provisions of this Chapter, or for inaugural activities or officeholder expenses.
(w) "Qualifying contribution" shall mean a contribution of not less than $10 and not more than $100 that is made by an individual who is a resident of San Francisco and that complies with all requirements of this Chapter. Qualifying contributions shall not include loans, contributions received more than 18 months before the date of the election or contributions made by the candidate or the candidate's spouse, registered domestic partner or dependent child. Qualifying contributions under $100 that are not made by written instrument must be accompanied by written documentation sufficient to establish the contributor's name and address. The Ethics Commission shall set forth, by regulation, the types of documents sufficient to establish a contributor's name and address for the purpose of this subsection.
(x) "Recorded telephone message" shall mean a recorded audio message that expressly supports or opposes a candidate for City elective office that is distributed by telephone.
(y) "Surplus funds" shall mean funds remaining in a candidate's campaign account at the time the candidate leaves City elective office, or at the end of the post-election reporting period following the defeat of the candidate for City elective office, whichever occurs last, and funds remaining in the campaign account of a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a measure at the end of the post-election reporting period following the election at which the measure appeared on the ballot.
(z) "Total Opposition Spending" shall mean the sum of any expenditures made or expenses incurred by any person or persons for the purpose of making independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications in opposition to a specific candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors.
(aa) "Total Supportive Funds" shall mean the sum of all contributions received by a candidate committee supporting a candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors, other than any funds in the candidate's Campaign Contingency Account exceeding the candidate committee's Trust Account Limit, plus the expenditures made or expenses incurred by any person or persons for the purpose of making independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications in support of that same candidate.
(bb) "Trust Account Limit" shall mean the amount of funds in the Campaign Contribution Trust Account of a candidate committee supporting a candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors whom the Ethics Commission has certified as eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter such that the expenditure of this amount would cause the candidate to reach, but not exceed, the candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceiling. The Trust Account Limit shall be reduced as the candidate spends money and shall be increased when his or her Individual Expenditure Ceiling increases.
(cc) "Unexpended public funds" shall mean all funds remaining in the candidate committee's account on the 30th day after the candidate controlling the committee is either elected or not elected to office, regardless of the source of the funds, but shall not exceed the amount of public funds provided to the candidate. Funds raised after this date are not unexpended funds.
(dd) "Voter" shall mean an individual registered to vote in San Francisco.
(ee) "Withdrawal" or "withdraw" shall mean, prior to an election, ending one's candidacy or failing to qualify for an office for which a candidate has solicited or accepted contributions.
(ff) "Written instrument" shall mean a check, credit card receipt, or record of electronic transfer of funds.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 187-01, File No. 010779, App. 8/31/2001; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 16.503; amended by Ord. 361-80, App. 8/5/80; Ord. 365-94 App. 10/28/94; Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.106. ADOPTION OF GENERAL LAW-EXCEPTIONS.
Except as otherwise provided in, or inconsistent with, this Chapter or other provisions of local law, the provisions of the Government Code of the State of California (commencing at Section 81000), relating to local elections including any subsequent amendments, are hereby incorporated as part of this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.504; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76)
SEC. 1.107. TRAINING FOR CANDIDATES AND TREASURERS.
(a) Training Requirements.
(1) Candidates. Every candidate for City elective office and his or her treasurer shall attend a training program conducted or sponsored by the Ethics Commission within one year prior to any election at which the candidate's name will appear on the ballot.
(2) Treasurers. Every committee treasurer shall attend the next training program conducted or sponsored by the Ethics Commission after the date the committee files either its original statement of organization or an amendment to a statement of organization designating a new treasurer.
(b) Exception. An individual who serves as the treasurer for more than one committee is not required to attend a training required by Subsection (a) if that individual has attended such a training within the previous 12 months.
(c) Definition. For the purposes of this section, "committee" shall mean any committee that: (1) qualifies as committee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 82013 of the California Government Code; and (2) is required to file its semi-annual campaign statements with the Ethics Commission.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.108. CANDIDATE COMMITTEE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TRUST ACCOUNTS AND CAMPAIGN CONTINGENCY ACCOUNTS.
(a) CANDIDATE COMMITTEE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TRUST ACCOUNTS.
(1) Establishment of Account. Each treasurer for a candidate committee shall establish a Campaign Contribution Trust Account for the candidate committee at an office of a bank located in the City and County of San Francisco. All expenditures by the candidate committee for the City elective office sought shall be made from that account.
(2) Prohibition on Multiple Officeholder Accounts. All funds, services or in-kind contributions received by a candidate committee for expenses incurred directly in connection with carrying out the candidate's usual and necessary duties of holding office shall be deposited, credited or otherwise reported to the candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account. Such contributions shall be subject to the contribution limits in Section 1.114 of this Chapter. An elected officeholder may not establish or control any other committees or accounts for the purpose of making officeholder expenses. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit an officer from spending personal funds on official activities.
(3) Account Limits. A candidate committee controlled by a candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors whom the Ethics Commission has certified as eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter shall not, at any time before the date of the election for which the candidate has been certified, have an amount of funds greater than the candidate committee's Trust Account Limit in its Campaign Contribution Trust Account, unless those contributions are immediately transferred into the candidate committee's Campaign Contingency Account.
(b) CAMPAIGN CONTINGENCY ACCOUNTS FOR CANDIDATE COMMITTEES FOR MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
(1) Notwithstanding any other section of this Code, including Subsection (a)(2), a candidate committee controlled by a candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors whom the Ethics Commission has certified as eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter may maintain a Campaign Contingency Account separate from its Campaign Contribution Trust Account into which it may deposit money contributions in anticipation that the Ethics Commission will raise the candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceiling. All money contributions deposited into this account shall be reported as if it were deposited into the candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account.
(2) No candidate committee may deposit any funds into its Campaign Contingency Account if the amount of funds in the candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account is less than the candidate committee's Trust Account Limit.
(3) No expenditures shall be made from a Campaign Contingency Account established pursuant to this section. Funds may be transferred from the candidate committee's Campaign Contingency Account to the candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account, provided that the amount of funds in the Campaign Contribution Trust Account does not exceed the candidate committee's Trust Account Limit. All funds that qualify as matching contributions and are transferred from the Campaign Contingency Account to the Campaign Contribution Trust Account shall be eligible to be matched with public funds in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Chapter. Within ten days after the date of the election, the candidate committee shall turn over all funds in the Campaign Contingency Account to the Election Campaign Fund.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 74-08, File No. 080278, 4/30/2008; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.505; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; Proposition N, 11/7/95; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95)
SEC. 1.109. RETENTION OF RECORDS.
(a) All candidates and committees that are required to file statements prescribed by this Chapter shall maintain detailed accounts, records, bills, and receipts as necessary to prepare those statements. Each candidate or committee shall retain for a period of four years detailed information and original source documentation supporting those statements. The Ethics Commission may by regulation describe the information and documentation required to be retained for each type of statement.
(b) Within ten business days of a request by the Ethics Commission, a committee shall provide the Ethics Commission with any documents required to be retained under this Section or state law, including but not limited to California Code of Regulations, Title 2, section 18401 and any subsequent amendments, modifications or administrative or judicial interpretations of that regulation. When the Ethics Commission requests documents under this subsection, it shall provide the committee with the reasons for the request in writing.
(Added by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.110. CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS-PUBLIC ACCESS.
(a) INSPECTION AND COPYMAKING. Campaign statements are to be open for public inspection and reproduction at the Office of the Ethics Commission during regular business hours and such additional hours as the Ethics Commission determines appropriate. The Commission shall provide public notice of the hours that the office is open for inspection and reproduction.
(b) RETENTION. Every campaign statement required to be filed in accordance with Section 1.106 shall be preserved by the Ethics Commission for the period required under Section 81009 of the California Government Code and any subsequent amendments thereto, or such additional periods as the Ethics Commission determines appropriate, provided that the period of retention is not less than eight years from the date the statement was required to be filed.
(Formerly Secs. 1.110 and 1.112; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.506; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95)
SEC. 1.112. ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE.
(a) FILING ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS.
(1) Filing Electronic Copies of Campaign Statements Required by State Law. Whenever any committee that meets the requirements of Subsection (b) of this Section is required by the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000 et seq., to file a campaign disclosure statement or report with the Ethics Commission, the committee shall file the statement or report in an electronic format with the Ethics Commission, provided the Ethics Commission has prescribed the format at least 60 days before the statement or report is due to be filed.
(2) Filing Electronic Copies of Campaign Statements Required by Local Law. Whenever any committee is required to file a campaign disclosure statement or report with the Ethics Commission under this Chapter, the committee shall file the statement or report in an electronic format, provided the Ethics Commission has prescribed the format at least 60 days before the statement or report is due to be filed.
(3) Continuous Filing of Electronic Statements. Once a committee is subject to the electronic filing requirements imposed by this Section, the committee shall remain subject to the electronic filing requirements, regardless of the amount of contributions received or expenditures made during each reporting period, until the committee terminates pursuant to this Chapter and the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000 et seq.
(4) Disclosure of Expenditure Dates. All electronic statements filed under this Section shall include the date any expenditure required to be reported on the statement was incurred, provided that the Ethics Commission's forms accommodate the reporting of such dates.
(b) COMMITTEES SUBJECT TO ELECTRONIC FILING REQUIREMENTS.
(1) A committee must file electronic copies of statements and reports if it receives contributions or makes expenditures that total $1,000 or more in a calendar year and is:
(A) a committee controlled by a candidate for City elective office;
(B) a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a local measure or a candidate for City elective office; or
(C) a general purpose recipient, independent expenditure or major donor committee that qualifies, under state law, as a county general purpose committee in the City and County of San Francisco; or
(D) a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a person seeking membership on a San Francisco county central committee, including a committee controlled by the person seeking membership on a San Francisco county central committee.
(2) The Ethics Commission may require additional committees not listed in this Section to file electronically through regulations adopted at least 60 days before the statement or report is due to be filed.
(c) VOLUNTARY ELECTRONIC FILING. Any committee not required to file electronic statements by this Section may voluntarily opt to file electronic statements by submitting written notice to the Ethics Commission. A committee that opts to file electronic statements shall be subject to the requirements of this Section.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 8-13, File No. 120817, App. 2/4/2013, Eff. 3/6/2013)
(Former Sec. 1.112 was added by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; amended by Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; renumbered by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000)
SEC. 1.113. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS DURING SIGNATURE GATHERING PERIODS FOR INITIATIVES, REFERENDA AND RECALLS.
In addition to the requirements of this Chapter and State law, any committee that is raising or spending funds to support or oppose a measure during the circulation of the measure shall file supplemental campaign statements with the Ethics Commission under this Section. Such committees shall file supplemental campaign statements on the 5th and 20th day of every month in which a measure is circulating in the City and County for signatures, and on the 5th day of the month following the end of the circulation period if necessary to disclosure contributions received or expenditures made during the signature-gathering period. Each such statement shall disclose contributions received and expenditures made between the end of the reporting period for the last campaign statement filed by the committee and the period ending five calendar days prior to the date of filing.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.114. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.
(a) LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES.
(1) Per Candidate Limit. No person other than a candidate shall make, and no campaign treasurer for a candidate committee shall solicit or accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount contributed by such person to such candidate committee in an election to exceed $500.
(2) Overall Limit. No person shall make any contribution which will cause the total amount contributed by such person to all candidate committees in an election to exceed $500 multiplied by the number of City elective offices to be voted on at that election.
(b) LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CORPORATIONS. No corporation organized pursuant to the laws of the State of California, the United States, or any other state, territory, or foreign country, whether for profit or not, shall make a contribution to a candidate committee, provided that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit such a corporation from establishing, administering, and soliciting contributions to a separate segregated fund to be utilized for political purposes by the corporation, provided that the separate segregated fund complies with the requirements of Federal law including Sections 432(e) and 441b of Title 2 of the United States Code and any subsequent amendments to those Sections.
(c) LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMITTEES.
(1) Per Committee Limit. No person shall make, and no committee treasurer shall solicit or accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount contributed by such person to the committee to exceed $500 per calendar year.
(2) Overall Limit. No person shall make, and no committee treasurer shall solicit or accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount contributed by such person to all committees to exceed $3,000 per calendar year.
(3) Definitions. For purposes of this Subsection, "committee" shall mean any committee making expenditures to support or oppose a candidate, but shall not include candidate committees.
(d) AGGREGATION OF AFFILIATED ENTITY CONTRIBUTIONS.
(1) General Rule. For purposes of the contribution limits imposed by this Section and Section 1.120 the contributions of an entity whose contributions are directed and controlled by any individual shall be aggregated with contributions made by that individual and any other entity whose contributions are directed and controlled by the same individual.
(2) Multiple Entity Contributions Controlled by the Same Persons. If two or more entities make contributions that are directed and controlled by a majority of the same persons, the contributions of those entities shall be aggregated.
(3) Majority-Owned Entities. Contributions made by entities that are majority-owned by any person shall be aggregated with the contributions of the majority owner and all other entities majority-owned by that person, unless those entities act independently in their decisions to make contributions.
(4) Definition. For purposes of this Section, the term "entity" means any person other than an individual and "majority-owned" means a direct or indirect ownership of more than 50 percent.
(e) CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION REQUIRED. If the cumulative amount of contributions received from a contributor is $100 or more, the committee shall not deposit any contribution that causes the total amount contributed by a person to equal or exceed $100 unless the committee has the following information: the contributor's full name; the contributor's street address; the contributor's occupation; and the name of the contributor's employer or, if the contributor is self-employed, the name of the contributor's business. A committee will be deemed not to have had the required contributor information at the time the contribution was deposited if the required contributor information is not reported on the first campaign statement on which the contribution is required to be reported.
(f) FORFEITURE OF UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTIONS. In addition to any other penalty, each committee that receives a contribution which exceeds the limits imposed by this Section or which does not comply with the requirements of this Section shall pay promptly the amount received or deposited in excess of the amount permitted by this Section to the City and County of San Francisco and deliver the payment to the Ethics Commission for deposit in the General Fund of the City and County; provided that the Ethics Commission may provide for the waiver or reduction of the forfeiture.
(g) RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTIONS. A contribution to a candidate committee or committee making expenditures to support or oppose a candidate shall not be considered received if it is not cashed, negotiated, or deposited and in addition it is returned to the donor before the closing date of the campaign statement on which the contribution would otherwise be reported, except that a contribution to a candidate committee or committee making expenditures to support or oppose a candidate made before an election at which the candidate is to be voted on but after the closing date of the last campaign statement required to be filed before the election shall not be considered to be deemed received if it is not cashed, negotiated or deposited and is returned to the contributor within 48 hours of receipt. For all committees not addressed by this Section, the determination of when contributions are considered to be received shall be made in accordance with the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.508; amended by Ord. 79-83, App. 2/18/83; Proposition N, 11/7/95; Ord. 126-06, File No. 060033, Effective without the signature of the Mayor 6/23/2006)
SEC. 1.115. COORDINATION OF EXPENDITURES.
(a) General. An expenditure is not considered independent and shall be treated as a contribution from the person making the expenditure to the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit the expenditure is made, if the expenditure funds a communication that expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and is made under the following circumstance:
(1) The expenditure is made at the request, suggestion, or direction of, or in cooperation, consultation, concert or coordination with, the candidate on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, the expenditure is made; or
(2) The communication funded by the expenditure is created, produced or disseminated:
(A) After the candidate has made or participated in making any decision regarding the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, volume of distribution, or frequency of placement of the communication; or
(B) After discussion between the creator, producer or distributor of a communication, or the person paying for that communication, and the candidate or committee regarding the content, timing, location, mode, intended audience, volume of distribution or frequency of placement of that communication, the result of which is agreement on any of these topics.
(b) Rebuttable presumption of coordination. In addition to Subsection (a) of this section, there shall be a presumption that an expenditure funding a communication that expressly advocates the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate is not independent of the candidate on whose behalf or for whose benefit the expenditure is made, when:
(1) It is based on information about the candidate or committee's campaign needs or plans provided to the spender by the candidate;
(2) It is made by or through any agent of the candidate in the course of the agent's involvement in the current campaign;
(3) The spender retains the services of a person, including a campaign consultant, who provides, or has provided, the candidate with professional services related to campaign or fundrasing strategy for that same election;
(4) The communication replicates, reproduces, republishes or disseminates, in whole or in substantial part, a communication designed, produced, paid for or distributed by the candidate; or
(5) In the same election that the expenditure is made, the spender or spender's agent is serving or served in an executive or policymaking role for the candidate's campaign or participated in strategy or policy making discussions with the candidate's campaign relating to the candidate's pursuit of election to office and the candidate is pursuing the same office as a candidate whose nomination or election the expenditure is intended to influence.
(c) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an expenditure shall not be considered a contribution to a candidate merely because:
(1) The spender interviews a candidate on issues affecting the spender;
(2) The spender has obtained a photograph, biography, position paper, press release, or similar material from the candidate;
(3) The spender has previously made a contribution to the candidate;
(4) The spender makes an expenditure in response to a general, non-specific request for support by a candidate, provided that there is no discussion with the candidate prior to the expenditure relating to details of the expenditures;
(5) The spender has invited the candidate or committee to make an appearance before the spender's members, employees, shareholders, or the families thereof, provided that there is no discussion with the candidate prior to the expenditure relating to details of the expenditure;
(6) The spender informs a candidate that the spender has made an expenditure provided that there is no other exchange of information not otherwise available to the public, relating to the details of the expenditure; or
(7) The expenditure is made at the request or suggestion of the candidate for the benefit of another candidate or committee.
(d) Definition. For purposes of this Section, the terms "candidate" includes an agent of the candidate when the agent is acting within the course and scope of the agency.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.116. LIMITS ON LOANS TO CANDIDATES.
(a) A candidate's loan of personal funds to the candidate's campaign may not exceed at any time more than:
(1) $15,000.00 for a candidate for the Board of Supervisors, Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District or the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District,
(2) $120,000.00 for a candidate for Mayor, or
(3) $35,000.00 for a candidate for Assessor or Public Defender, City Attorney, Treasurer, District Attorney or Sheriff.
(b) A candidate may not charge interest on any loan the candidate has made to the candidate's campaign.
(c) In addition to any other penalty, loans made by a candidate to the candidate's campaign in excess of the amounts in Subsection (a) shall be deemed a contribution to the campaign and may not be repaid to the candidate.
(d) Whenever the Ethics Commission adjusts the voluntary expenditure ceilings to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, as authorized under Section 1.130, the Commission is authorized to adjust the loan amounts in this Section to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
(Former Sec. 1.116 was added by Ord. 365-94, App. 10/28/94; renumbered by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Proposition O, 11/7/2000)
SEC. 1.118. PAYMENT OF ACCRUED EXPENSES.
(a) A candidate committee that accepts goods or services on credit shall pay for such accrued expenses in full no later than 180 calendar days after receipt of a bill or invoice and in no event later than 180 calendar days after the last calendar day of the month in which the goods were delivered or the services were rendered, unless it is clear from the circumstances that the failure to pay is reasonably based on a good faith dispute. For purposes of this Subsection, a good faith dispute shall be rebuttably presumed if the candidate committee produces the following:
(1) Evidence that the candidate committee protested the payment of a bill no later than 30 calendar days after the last calendar day of the month in which the goods were delivered or the services were rendered; and
(2) Evidence that the protest was based on the time of delivery, quality or quantity of goods delivered or services rendered or the price of the goods delivered or the services provided.
(b) The provisions of Subsection (a) do not apply to debt owed to a financial institution for an outstanding credit card balance.
(c) Each and every calendar day any accrued expense remains partially or wholly unpaid after the time periods set forth in Subsection (a) constitutes a separate violation.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Former Sec. 1.118 was added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.509; amended by Ord. 174-80, App. 5/2/80; Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.120. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS-POST-ELECTION LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
All provisions of this Chapter, unless specified otherwise herein, shall be applicable in any post-election recounts, election contests or other proceedings held pursuant to law. In addition, the following provisions shall be applicable in any such post-election legal proceedings:
(a) No person other than a candidate shall make, and no candidate shall solicit or accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount contributed by such person in post-election legal proceedings to any candidate to exceed, in addition to the contribution limit contained in Sections 1.114, $100.00.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, for the purposes of conducting post-election recounts, election contests or other proceedings held pursuant to law, the delivery of in-kind legal services by lawyers in support of or in opposition to candidates, including in-kind contributions to committees supporting or opposing candidates, shall not be subject to any contribution limitations set forth in this Chapter.
(c) If any person violates this Section, each campaign treasurer who received part or all of the contribution or contributions which constitute the violation shall pay promptly the amount received from such person in excess of the amount permitted by this Section to the City and County Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund of the City and County.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.509-1; added by Ord. 81-83, App. 2/25/83)
SEC. 1.122. SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS-LIMITATIONS.
(a) DECLARATION OF INTENT REQUIRED. No candidate or candidate committee shall solicit or accept, or cause to be solicited or accepted, any contribution unless and until the candidate has filed a declaration of intention to become a candidate for a specific City elective office with the Department of Elections on a form prescribed by the Director of Elections.
No person shall file a declaration of intention to become a candidate for more than one City elective office.
(b) USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
(1) GENERAL. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, funds in a candidate committee's campaign account may be used only on behalf of the candidacy for the office specified in the candidate's declaration of intention filed under Subsection (a) or for expenses associated with holding that office, provided that such expenditures are reasonably related to a legislative, governmental, or political purpose. Contributions solicited or accepted under this Section for one candidate shall not be expended for the candidacy of any other candidate for local, state or federal office, in support of or opposition to any measure or in support of or opposition to any state ballot proposition, or for donations to a charitable organization. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a candidate committee for a candidate in a ranked choice election from expending funds to support the ranking of another candidate if the primary purpose of the expenditure is to further the candidate's own campaign.
(2) WITHDRAWAL FROM CANDIDACY. If a candidate has withdrawn his or her candidacy, campaign funds held by that candidate's committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account shall be:
(A) returned on a "last in, first out" basis to those persons who have made said contributions;
(B) donated to the City and County of San Francisco;
(C) donated to a charitable organization;
(D) used to pay outstanding campaign debts or accrued expenses;
(E) used to pay expenses associated with terminating the committee, such as bookkeeping, legal fees, preparation of campaign statements, and audits; or
(F) used for other permissible purposes established by the Ethics Commission by regulation.
(3) SURPLUS FUNDS. Surplus funds held by a candidate or committee shall be:
(A) returned on a "last in, first out" basis to those persons who have made said contributions;
(B) donated to a charitable organization;
(C) donated to the City and County of San Francisco;
(D) used to pay outstanding campaign debts or accrued expenses;
(E) used to pay expenses associated with terminating the committee, such as bookkeeping, legal fees, preparation of campaign statements, and audits; or
(F) used for other permissible purposes established by the Ethics Commission by regulation.
(c) TRANSFER OF FUNDS. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Subsection (b), at any time, funds held in a candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account may be transferred to any legally constituted committee established by the candidate under the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code section 81000 et seq. Contributions transferred under this subsection shall be attributed to specific contributors using a "first in, first out" or "last in, first out" accounting method.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.510; amended by Ord. 80-83, App. 2/18/83; Ord. 224-96, App. 6/17/96)
SEC. 1.124. RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.510-1; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.126. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS-CONTRACTORS DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this Section, the following words and phrases shall mean:
(1) "Person who contracts with" includes any party or prospective party to a contract, as well any member of that party's board of directors, its chairperson, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, any person with an ownership interest of more than 20 percent in the party, any subcontractor listed in a bid or contract, and any committee, as defined by this Chapter that is sponsored or controlled by the party, provided that the provisions of Section 1.114 of this Chapter governing aggregation of affiliated entity contributions shall apply only to the party or prospective party to the contract.
(2) "Contract" means any agreement or contract, including any amendment or modification to an agreement or contract, with the City and County of San Francisco, a state agency on whose board an appointee of a City elective officer serves, the San Francisco Unified School District, or the San Francisco Community College District for:
(A) the rendition of personal services,
(B) the furnishing of any material, supplies or equipment,
(C) the sale or lease of any land or building, or
(D) a grant, loan or loan guarantee.
(3) "Board on which an individual serves" means the board to which the officer was elected and any other board on which the elected officer serves.
(b) Prohibition on contribution. No person who contracts with the City and County of San Francisco, a state agency on whose board an appointee of a City elective officer serves, the San Francisco Unified School District or the San Francisco Community College District,
(1) Shall make any contribution to:
(A) An individual holding a City elective office if the contract must be approved by such individual, the board on which that individual serves or a state agency on whose board an appointee of that individual serves;
(B) A candidate for the office held by such individual; or
(C) A committee controlled by such individual or candidate
(2) Whenever the agreement or contract has a total anticipated or actual value of $50,000.00 or more, or a combination or series of such agreements or contracts approved by that same individual or board have a value of $50,000.00 or more in a fiscal year of the City and County
(3) At any time from the commencement of negotiations for such contract until.
(A) The termination of negotiations for such contract; or
(B) Six months have elapsed from the date the contract is approved
(c) Prohibition on receipt of contribution. No individual holding City elective office or committee controlled by such an individual shall solicit or accept any contribution prohibited by subsection (b) at any time from the formal submission of the contract to the individual until the termination of negotiations for the contract or six months have elapsed from the date the contract is approved. For the purpose of this subsection, a contract is formally submitted to the Board of Supervisors at the time of the introduction of a resolution to approve the contract.
(d) Forfeiture of contribution. In addition to any other penalty, each committee that receives a contribution prohibited by subsection (c) shall pay promptly the amount received or deposited to the City and County of San Francisco and deliver the payment to the Ethics Commission for deposit in the General Fund of the City and County; provided that the Commission may provide for the waiver or reduction of the forfeiture.
(e) Notification.
(1) Prospective Parties to Contracts. Any prospective party to a contract with the City and County of San Francisco, a state agency on whose board an appointee of a City elective officer serves, the San Francisco Unified School District or the San Francisco Community College District shall inform each person described in Subsection (a)(1) of the prohibition in Subsection (b) by the commencement of negotiations for such contract.
(2) Individuals Who Hold City Elective Office. Every individual who holds a City elective office shall, within five business days of the approval of a contract by the officer, a board on which the officer sits or a board of a state agency on which an appointee of the officer sits, notify the Ethics Commission, on a form adopted by the Commission, of each contract approved by the individual, the board on which the individual serves or the board of a state agency on which an appointee of the officer sits. An individual who holds a City elective office need not file the form required by this subsection if the Clerk or Secretary of a Board on which the individual serves or a Board of a State agency on which an appointee of the officer serves has filed the form on behalf of the board.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Amended by Proposition H, 6/3/2008)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.510-2; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.128. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF VOLUNTARY EXPENDITURE CEILINGS.
(a) Candidates for Assessor, City Attorney, District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff, Treasurer, the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District or the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District may accept the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling. Candidates for the Board of Supervisors or Mayor may not accept a voluntary expenditure ceiling.
(b) To accept the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, a candidate must file a statement with the Ethics Commission accepting the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling. The candidate shall file this statement no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers with the Department of Elections. A candidate may not withdraw the statement accepting the voluntary expenditure ceiling after filing the statement. A candidate may not file the statement accepting the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling if the Ethics Commission has lifted the voluntary expenditure ceiling under Section 1.134 of this Chapter.
(c) The Ethics Commission shall maintain, on its website, a list of the candidates who have accepted the voluntary expenditure ceiling. If the Ethics Commission has lifted a voluntary expenditure ceiling for a particular race under Section 1.134 of this Chapter, the Ethics Commission shall instead maintain a list of the candidates who have accepted, but are no longer subject to the voluntary expenditure ceiling in that race.
(d) A candidate who has accepted the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling and makes qualified campaign expenditures in excess of the voluntary expenditure ceiling, at a time when the Ethics Commission has not lifted the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, is subject to the penalties in Section 1.170 for violation of this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 293-04, File No. 041396, App. 12/24/2004; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.510-3; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.130. AMOUNT OF VOLUNTARY EXPENDITURE CEILINGS.
(a) Any candidate for Assessor, Public Defender, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, or Sheriff who agrees to accept voluntary expenditure ceilings shall not make total qualified campaign expenditures exceeding $243,000, unless the Ethics Commission has lifted the voluntary expenditure ceiling pursuant to Section 1.134 of this Chapter.
(b) Any candidate for the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District or the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District who agrees to accept voluntary expenditure ceilings shall not make total qualified campaign expenditures exceeding $104,000, unless the Ethics Commission has lifted the voluntary expenditure ceiling pursuant to Section 1.134 of this Chapter.
(c) The Ethics Commission is authorized to adjust annually by regulation the voluntary expenditure ceilings imposed by this Section to reflect the change in the California Consumer Price Index for that year, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $1,000.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.510-4; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95)
SEC. 1.132. RESERVED.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.510-5; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.134. LIFTING OF VOLUNTARY EXPENDITURE CEILINGS; SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING IN ELECTIONS FOR ASSESSOR, PUBLIC DEFENDER, CITY ATTORNEY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TREASURER, SHERIFF, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT.
This Section shall apply only if at least one candidate for the City elective office has accepted the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, and the Ethics Commission has not lifted that voluntary expenditure ceiling. This Section applies only to candidates for Assessor, Public Defender, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District, or the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District.
(a) The voluntary expenditure ceiling shall no longer be binding on a candidate:
(1) If a candidate seeking election to the same City elective office, who has declined to accept the voluntary expenditure ceiling, receives contributions or makes qualified campaign expenditures in excess of 100 percent of the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling,
(2) If a person or persons make expenditures or payments, or incur expenses for the purpose of making independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications that total more than 100 percent of the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, and those expenditures or communications clearly identify a candidate seeking election to the same City elective office, or
(3) If a candidate seeking election to the same City elective office, who has accepted the voluntary expenditure ceiling, makes qualified campaign expenditures in excess of 100 percent of the voluntary expenditure ceiling.
(b) Any candidate committee that receives contributions, makes qualified campaign expenditures, incurs expenses or has funds in its Campaign Contribution Trust Account that total more than 100 percent of the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling shall, within 24 hours of exceeding 100 percent of the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, file a statement with the Ethics Commission, on forms to be provided by the Ethics Commission, stating that fact and any additional information required by the Ethics Commission.
(c) Any person other than a candidate committee who makes expenditures or payments, or incurs expenses for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications that clearly identify any candidate in an amount that in the aggregate equals or exceeds $5,000 per candidate shall, within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, file a statement with the Ethics Commission. The statement shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission.
Thereafter, until the Ethics Commission lifts the applicable voluntary expenditure ceiling, any such person shall file a supplemental statement with the Ethics Commission each time the person makes expenditures for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications that clearly identify any candidate in an amount that in the aggregate equals or exceeds an additional $5,000 per candidate. The supplemental statements shall be filed within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, and shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission.
(d) Within one business day after receiving a notice indicating that the thresholds in subsection (a) have been met, the Ethics Commission shall inform every candidate in the same race that the expenditure ceiling has been lifted.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.510-6; added by Proposition N, 11/7/95; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 71-05, File No. 041489, App. 4/15/2005; Ord. 75-05, File No. 050624, App. 4/27/2005; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.134.5 RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; amended by Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 74-08, File No. 080278, App. 4/30/2008; Ord. 243-08, File No. 081061, App. 10/30/2008; repealed by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.135. SUPPLEMENTAL PRE-ELECTION STATEMENTS.
(a) Supplemental Preelection Statements. In addition to the campaign disclosure requirements imposed by the California Political Reform Act and other provisions of this Chapter, all San Francisco general purpose committees shall file preelection statements before any election held in the City and County of San Francisco at which a candidate for City elective office or City measure is on the ballot, if the committee makes contributions or expenditures totaling $500 or more during the period covered by the preelection statement.
(b) Time for Filing Supplemental Preelection Statements. In even-numbered years, preelection statements required by this Section shall be filed pursuant to the preelection statement filing schedule established by the Fair Political Practices Commission for county general purpose recipient committees. In odd-numbered years, the filing schedule is as follows:
(1) For the period ending 45 days before the election, the statement shall be filed no later than 40 days before the election;
(2) For the period ending 17 days before the election, the statement shall be filed no later than 12 days before the election.
(c) The Ethics Commission may require that these statements be filed electronically.
(Added by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; amended by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.136. PUBLIC FINANCING OF CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR MAYOR.
Candidates for the Board of Supervisors or Mayor whom the Ethics Commission certifies as eligible to receive public financing of their election campaigns, and who comply with the applicable conditions and restrictions specified in Section 1.140 of this Chapter, may receive public funds as provided in this Chapter to defray the costs of their election campaigns.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.138. ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND; APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND. There is hereby established a special fund of the City and County of San Francisco called the Election Campaign Fund. All money deposited in the Fund is hereby appropriated for use as specified in this Chapter and the implementing regulations.
(b) APPROPRIATION TO ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND. Except as provided in Subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4), each fiscal year the City and County of San Francisco shall appropriate $2.75 per resident of the City and County of San Francisco to the Election Campaign Fund to provide funding for election campaigns as authorized by this Chapter for all candidates for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors who may be eligible to receive such funds. At the request of the Ethics Commission, the Controller shall estimate the number of residents of the City and County of San Francisco for purposes of this subsection.
(1) Any funds in the Election Campaign Fund not used in one election shall be carried over for use in the following election, provided that at no time shall the total amount in the Election Campaign Fund exceed $7 million. Any funds in the Election Campaign Fund in excess of $7 million shall be returned to the General Fund.
(2) Funds necessary for the Ethics Commission to administer the public financing program for candidates for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors authorized under Section 1.136 of this Chapter shall be taken from the Election Campaign Fund. The Commission's administrative expenses for such public financing program for any election shall not exceed 15% of the total amount of funds in the Election Campaign Fund for that election.
(3) If the Office of Mayor becomes vacant and an election is held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, the City and County of San Francisco shall appropriate additional funds to the Election Campaign Fund in an amount that ensures that at least $8.00 per resident is available in the Election Campaign Fund for that election and the next regularly scheduled Mayoral election.
(4) If an office of a member of the Board of Supervisors becomes vacant and an election is held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, the City and County of San Francisco shall appropriate an additional $0.25 per resident to the Election Campaign Fund for that election. These additional funds shall not be subject to the limit in Subsection (b)(1) of this Section. Any funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection that are not used for the election to fill the vacancy shall be returned to the General Fund.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.138.5. RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; repealed by Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007)
SEC. 1.140. ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC FINANCING.
(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES. To be eligible to receive public financing of campaign expenses under this Chapter, a candidate must:
(1) Have filed a statement indicating that he or she intends to participate in the public financing program under Section 1.142 of this Chapter.
(2) Agree to the following conditions:
(A) The candidate bears the burden of providing that each contribution the candidate relies upon to establish eligibility is a qualifying contribution;
(B) The candidate bears the burden of proving that expenditures made with public funds provided under this Chapter comply with Section 1.148 of this Chapter;
(C) The candidate will not make any payments to a contractor or vendor in return for the contractor or vendor making a campaign contribution to the candidate or make more than a total of 50 payments, other than the return of a contribution, to contractors or vendor that have made contributions to the candidate;
(D) Notwithstanding Sections 1.114 and 1.116, the candidate shall not loan or donate, in total, more than $5,000 of his or her own money to the campaign;
(E) The candidate shall not accept any loans to his or her campaign with the exception of a candidate's loan to his or her own campaign as permitted by this Section; and
(F) The candidate shall agree to participate in at least three debates with the candidate's opponents.
(3) Have paid any outstanding late fines or penalties, owed to the City by the candidate or any of the candidate's previous campaign committees, which were imposed for violations of this Code or the campaign finance provisions of the California Political Reform Act (Government Code Sections 84100-85704), provided that the Ethics Commission had notified the candidate of such fines or penalties by the time of certification.
(4) Have filed any outstanding forms, owed to the City by the candidate or any of the candidate's previous campaign committees, which were required to be filed pursuant to this Code or the campaign finance provisions of the Political Reform Act (Government Code Sections 84100-85704), provided that the Ethics Commission had notified the candidate of such outstanding forms by the time of certification.
(5) Have no finding by a court or by the Ethics Commission after a hearing on the merits, within the prior five years, that the candidate knowingly, willfully, or intentionally violated any Section of this Code or the campaign finance provisions of this California Political Reform Act (Government Code Sections 84100-85704). For purposes of this Section, a plea of nolo contendere constitutes a finding by a court of a willful violation.
(b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. To be eligible to receive public financing of campaign expenses under this Chapter, a candidate for the Board of Supervisors must:
(1) Be seeking election to the Board of Supervisors and be eligible to hold the office sought;
(2) Have a candidate committee that has received at least $10,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 100 contributors before the 70th day before the election; or, if the candidate is an incumbent member of the Board of Supervisors, have a candidate committee that has received at least $15,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 150 contributors before the 70th day before the election;
(3) Be opposed by another candidate who has either established eligibility to receive public financing, or whose candidate committee has received contributions or made expenditures which in the aggregate equal or exceed $10,000; and
(4) Agree that his or her candidate committee will not make qualified campaign expenditures that total more than the candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceiling of $250,000, or as adjusted under Section 1.143 of this Chapter.
(c) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR. To be eligible to receive public financing of campaign expenses under this Chapter, a candidate for Mayor must:
(1) Be seeking election to the office of Mayor and be eligible to hold the office sought;
(2) Have a candidate committee that has received at least $50,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 500 contributors by the 70th day before the election; or, if the candidate is the incumbent Mayor, have a candidate committee that has received at least $75,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 750 contributors by the 70th day before the election;
(3) Be opposed by another candidate who has either established eligibility to receive public financing, or whose candidate committee has received contributions or made expenditures that in the aggregate equal or exceed $50,000; and
(4) Agree that his or her candidate committee will not make qualified campaign expenditures that total more than the candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceiling of $1,475,000, or as adjusted under Section 1.143 of this Chapter.
(d) ADJUSTMENT OF EXPENDITURE LIMITS AND THRESHOLDS. The Ethics Commission is authorized to adjust:
(1) The figures in Subsections (b)(4) and (c)(4) to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $1,000 for candidates for the Board of Supervisors and the nearest $5,000 for candidates for Mayor;
(2) The figure in Subsection (a)(2)(D) of this Section to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $1,000;
(3) The figures in Subsections (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this Section to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $500;
(4) The figures in Subsections (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this Section to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $5,000; and
(5) The maximum amount of a contribution that constitutes a qualifying contribution pursuant to Section 1.104 to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index, provided that such adjustments shall be rounded off to the nearest $10.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 236-05, File No. 051033, App. 10/7/2005; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.140.5. RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; repealed by Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007)
SEC. 1.142. PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY; CERTIFICATION BY THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
(a) STATEMENT OF PARTICIPATION OR NON-PARTICIPATION. Each candidate for the Board of Supervisors or Mayor must sign and file a Statement of Participation or Non-Participation in the public financing program. The statement must be filed by the candidate with the Ethics Commission no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers. On the statement, each candidate shall indicate whether he or she intends to participate in the public financing program. A statement of participation or non-participation may not be amended after the deadline for filing nomination papers.
(b) DECLARATION BY CANDIDATE. To become eligible to receive public financing of campaign expenses under this Chapter, a candidate shall declare, under penalty of perjury, that the candidate satisfies the requirements specified in Section 1.140. Candidates shall be permitted to submit the declaration and any supporting material required by the Ethics Commission to the Ethics Commission no earlier than nine months before the date of the election, but no later than the 70th day before the election. Once the declaration and supporting material are submitted, they may not be amended. The declaration and supporting material may be withdrawn and refiled, provided that the refiling is made no later than the 70th day before the election.
If any deadline imposed by this Subsection falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline shall be the next business day.
(c) DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY. The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission shall review the candidate's declaration and supporting material to determine whether the candidate is eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter. The Executive Director may audit the candidate's records, interview contributors and take whatever steps the Executive Director deems necessary to determine eligibility. At the request of the Executive Director, the Controller shall assist in this review process.
(d) DETERMINATION OF OPPOSITION. To determine whether a candidate for the Board of Supervisors is opposed as required under Section 1.140(b)(3) of this Chapter or a candidate for Mayor is opposed as required under Section 1.140(c)(3) of this Chapter, the Executive Director shall review the material filed pursuant to Section 1.152 of this Chapter, and may review any other material.
(e) CERTIFICATION. If the Executive Director determines that a candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors has satisfied the requirements of Section 1.140, the Executive Director shall notify the candidate and certify to the Controller that the candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter. The Executive Director shall not certify that a candidate is eligible to receive public financing if the candidate's declaration or supporting material is incomplete or otherwise inadequate to establish eligibility. Except as provided in subsection (h), the Executive Director shall determine whether to certify a candidate no later than 30 days after the date the candidate submits his or her declaration and supporting material, provided that the Executive Director shall make all determinations regarding whether to certify a candidate no later than the 55th day before the election.
(f) RESUBMISSION. If the Executive Director declines to certify that a candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter, the Executive Director shall notify the candidate. Notwithstanding Section 1.142(b) of this Chapter, the candidate may, within five business days of the date of notification, resubmit the declaration and supporting material. If the candidate does not timely resubmit, the Executive Director's determination is final.
If, after viewing resubmitted material, the Executive Director declines to certify that a candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter, the Executive Director shall notify the candidate of this fact. Additional resubmissions may be permitted in the Executive Director's discretion. If the candidate fails to resubmit in the time specified by the Executive Director, or if no further resubmissions are permitted, the Executive Director's determination is final.
(g) APPEAL TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION. If the Executive Director declines to certify that a candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter, the candidate may appeal the Executive Director's final determination to the Ethics Commission. The candidate must deliver the written appeal to the Ethics Commission within five days of the date of notification of the Executive Director's determination.
(h) SUPERVISORIAL CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2012. The Executive Director shall not certify any supervisorial candidates seeking election in November 2012 as eligible to receive public funds until the Redistricting Task Force, convened by the Board of Supervisors in Ordinance No. 93-11, has completed its 2012 revision of supervisorial district boundaries. Supervisorial candidates seeking election in November 2012 may submit their declaration and any supporting material concerning their eligibility to the Ethics Commission prior to the completion of the Redistricting Task Force's revision of supervisorial district boundaries.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 44-12, File No. 111277, App. 3/13/12, Eff. 4/12/12)
SEC. 1.143. ADJUSTING INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURE CEILINGS.
This Section shall apply only if the Ethics Commission has certified that at least one candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors is eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter.
(a) The Executive Director shall adjust the Individual Expenditure Ceiling of a candidate for Mayor to an amount equal to the sum of the Total Opposition Spending against that candidate and the highest level of the Total Supportive Funds of any other candidate for Mayor if such amount is greater than $1,475,000, provided that the Executive Director may adjust a candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceilings only in increments of $100,000.
(b) The Executive Director shall adjust the Individual Expenditure Ceiling of a candidate for the Board of Supervisors to an amount equal to the sum of the Total Opposition Spending against that candidate and the highest level of the Total Supportive Funds of any other candidate for the same office on the Board of Supervisors if such amount is greater than $250,000, provided the Executive Director may adjust a candidate's Individual Expenditure Ceiling only in increments of $10,000.
(c) No later than the second business day after a statement is filed pursuant to Section 1.152(a)(3) or (b)(3) of this Chapter, the Executive Director shall determine whether the communication supports or opposes one or more candidates.
Factors the Executive Director shall use to determine whether the communication supports or opposes one or more candidates include the following:
(1) whether the communication clearly identifies one or more candidates;
(2) the timing of the communication;
(3) the voters targeted by the communication;
(4) whether the communication identifies any candidate's position on a public policy issue and urges the reader or viewer to take action, including calling the candidate to support or oppose the candidate's position;
(5) whether the position of one or more candidates on a public policy issue has been raised as distinguishing these candidates from others in the campaign, either in the communication itself or in other public communications;
(6) whether the communication is part of an ongoing series of substantially similar advocacy communications by the organization on the same issue; and
(7) any other factors the Executive Director deems relevant.
(d) Within one business day of the date that the Executive Director makes a determination under Subsection (c), either the candidate(s) identified in the communication or any candidate seeking the same City elective office as the candidate identified in the communication may object to the Executive Director's determination. The Executive Director shall respond to any objection within one business day of receiving the objection.
(e) Within one business day of the Executive Director's response, either the candidate(s) identified in the communication or any candidate seeking the same City elective office as the candidate identified in the communication may submit to the Executive Director a request that the Ethics Commission review the Executive Director's determination. Within one business day of receiving the request, the Executive Director shall notify each Commissioner of the candidate's request.
If within one business day of the Executive Director's notice, two or more members of the Commission inform the Executive Director that they would like to review the determination, the Executive Director shall schedule a meeting of the Commission on a date that occurs within one week of the Commissioners' requests. If three members of the Commission vote to overrule the Executive Director's determination, the Commission shall make a final determination based on the factors set forth above.
(f) If no candidate objects to the Executive Director's determination, if no candidate requests review by the Commission of the Executive Director's determination, if a request is made and two or more members of the Commission do not request to review the determination, or within one week of two members of the Commission requesting to review the Executive Director's determination, at least three members of the Commission do not vote to overrule the Executive Director's determination, the Executive Director's determination shall become final.
The Executive Director shall determine whether to adjust the Individual Expenditure Ceilings of each candidate for Mayor or the Board of Supervisors pursuant to either Subsection (a) or (b) of this Section within one business day of a final determination.
(Added by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; amended by Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.144. DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
(a) PAYMENT BY CONTROLLER. Upon certifying that a candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter, the Executive Director shall forward the certification to the Controller, and the Controller shall disburse payments to the candidate from the Election Campaign Fund in accordance with the certification and this Section.
(b) TIME OF PAYMENTS. The Controller shall not make any payments under this Chapter to any candidate more than 142 days before the date of the election. Payments from the Controller shall be disbursed to eligible candidates within two business days of the Controller receiving notification from the Ethics Commission regarding the amount of the disbursement, except that within fifteen calendar days before the election, such payments shall be made within one business day.
(c) PAYMENTS FOR ELECTION EXPENSES TO CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR. Candidates for Mayor certified as eligible to receive public financing for their election campaigns will have access to funds from the Election Campaign Fund on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following formula:
(1) Upon qualification the candidate shall receive a one-time payment of $100,000 from the Election Campaign Fund.
(2) After the initial payment under Subsection (1), for the first $425,000 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive two dollars from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised.
(3) After the payments under Subsection (2), for the next $25,000 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive one dollar from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised. If the candidate is the incumbent Mayor, afer the payments under Subsection (2), for the next $12,500 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive one dollar from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised.
(4) The maximum amount of public funds a non-incumbent mayoral candidate may receive is $975,000. The maximum amount of public funds an incumbent mayoral candidate may receive is $962,500.
(d) PAYMENTS FOR ELECTION EXPENSES TO CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. Candidates for the Board of Supervisors certified as eligible to receive public financing for their election campaigns will have access to funds from the Election Campaign Fund on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following formula:
(1) Upon qualification the candidate shall receive a one-time payment of $20,000 from the Election Campaign Fund.
(2) After the initial payment under Subsection (1), for the first $50,000 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive two dollars from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised.
(3) After the payments under Subsection (2), for the next $35,000 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive on dollar from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised. If the candidate is an incumbent member of the Board of Supervisors, after the payments under Subsection (2), for the next $32,500 in matching contributions raised by the candidate, the candidate shall receive one dollar from the Election Campaign Fund for each dollar raised.
(4) The maximum amount of public funds a non-incumbent candidate for the Board of Supervisors may receive is $155,000. The maximum amount of public funds an incumbent candidate for the Board of Supervisors may receive in $152,500.
(e) SUBMISSION OF CLAIMS FOR PUBLIC FUNDS. The Ethics Commission shall determine the information needed to submit a claim for payment of public funds. The Executive Director shall certify each request for payment of public funds within four business days of the request, except that within 14 calendar days before the election, when the certification of a request for public funds shall be made within two business days of the request. No candidate may submit a claim for public funds if the candidate has any such claims pending with the Ethics Commission. For candidates for Mayor, any submission of a claim for public funds must include a minimum of $5,000 of matching contributions; provided that in the 14 calendar days preceding an election, a claim must include a minimum of $1,000 of matching contributions. For candidates for the Board of Supervisors, any submission of a claim for public funds must include a minimum of $1,000 of matching contributions; provided that in the 14 calendar days preceding an election, a claim must include a minimum of $200 of matching contributions. All claims for public funds must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 30th day following the date of the election.
(f) DEPOSIT IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TRUST ACCOUNT. A candidate must deposit all payments received from the Election Campaign Fund in his or her candidate committee's Campaign Contribution Trust Account.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 74-08, File No. 080278, 4/30/2008; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.144.5. RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; repealed by Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007)
SEC. 1.146. TERMINATION OF PAYMENTS.
The Controller shall terminate all payments to a candidate who is otherwise eligible to receive public financing if the candidate or the candidate's committee:
(a) Withdraws or fails to qualify to have his or her name printed on the ballot for the election for which the candidate applied for public financing;
(b) Fails to comply with the conditions specified in Section 1.140 of this Chapter; or
(c) Knowingly or willfully fails to comply with any of the reporting requirements imposed by this Chapter or the Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq.
(Added by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006)(Former Sec. 1.146 was added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; repealed by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.148. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS; UNEXPENDED PUBLIC FUNDS.
(a) USE FOR QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES ONLY. Candidates who receive public financing may use the public funds solely to pay for qualified campaign expenditures and to repay loans used to pay for qualified campaign expenditures except that public funds may be used to pay filing fees and costs incurred after the election that do not directly affect the outcome of the election, including but not limited to utility bills, expenses associated with an audit, and expenses related to preparing post-election campaign finance disclosure reports as required by the California Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 81000, et seq., and the provisions of this Chapter. Candidates may not use public funds to pay for expenses incurred in connection with an administrative or judicial proceeding. Candidates may not use public funds to pay administrative, civil or criminal fines, including late filing fines, or to pay for inaugural activities or officeholder expenses. Candidates may not use public funds to pay post-election bonuses to campaign employees or for election victory celebrations or similar post-election campaign events.
(b) WITHDRAWAL OR FAILURE TO QUALIFY. Any candidate who receives public financing but who withdraws or fails to qualify to have his or her name printed on the ballot in the election for which the public funds were provided shall repay the Election Campaign Fund the full sum received from the Fund.
(c) UNEXPENDED PUBLIC FUNDS. Any candidate who receives public financing and whose committee has unexpended public funds shall pay to the City and County of San Francisco and deliver to the Ethics Commission those funds for deposit in the Election Campaign Fund no later than 30 days after the Ethics Commission completes its audit of the candidate's committee. Unexpended funds may be used to pay for expenses associated with an audit such as bank fees, treasurer fees and storage fees until the Ethics Commission completes its audit of the candidate's committee.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.150. AUDIT; REPAYMENT.
(a) AUDIT. The Ethics Commission shall audit all candidate committees whose candidates have received public financing under this Chapter. Audits of candidate committees conducted under this Subsection shall begin within 60 days after the date the candidate committees' first post-election campaign disclosure report is required to be filed pursuant to Section 1.106 of this Chapter. In his or her discretion, the Executive Director may initiate additional targeted or randomly selected audits of any committee, irrespective of whether the committee received any public funds. At the request of the Executive Director, the Controller shall assist in conducting these audits.
(b) REPAYMENT.
(1) If the Ethics Commission determines that any portion of the payments made to a candidate from the Election Campaign Fund exceeded the aggregate amount of payments to which the candidate was entitled under this Chapter, the Commission shall notify the Controller and the candidate. In addition to any other penalties, the candidate shall pay to the City and County of San Francisco, and deliver to the Ethics Commission an amount equal to the amount of the excess payments, and if the Commission determines that any amount of any payment made to a candidate from the Election Campaign Fund was used for something other than qualified campaign expenditures, the candidate shall pay to the Ethics Commission an amount equal to the improper expenditure.
(2) Any candidate who receives public funds under this Chapter and exceeds his or her Individual Expenditure Ceiling by ten percent or more shall, in addition to any other penalties, pay to the Ethics Commission an amount equal to the amount of public funds the candidate received under this Chapter.
(3) All payments delivered to the Ethics Commission under this Section shall be deposited in the Election Campaign Fund.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.152. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING IN ELECTIONS FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MAYOR.
(a) ELECTIONS FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
(1) In addition to the campaign disclosure requirements imposed by the California Political Reform Act and other provisions of this Chapter, each candidate committee supporting a candidate for the Board of Supervisors shall file a statement with the Ethics Commission indicating when the committee has received contributions to be deposited into its Campaign Contribution Trust Account or made expenditures that equal or exceed $5,000 within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding that amount.
(2) In addition to the supplemental report in Subsection (a)(1) of this Section, each candidate committee supporting a candidate for the Board of Supervisors shall file a statement with the Ethics Commission disclosing when the committee has received contributions to be deposited into its Campaign Contribution Trust Account or made expenditures that in the aggregate-equal or exceed $100,000. The candidate committee shall file this report within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding the threshold. Thereafter, the candidate committee shall file an additional supplemental report within 24 hours of every time the candidate committee receives additional contributions to be deposited into its Campaign Contribution Trust Account or makes additional expenditures that in the aggregate equal or exceed $10,000.
(3) Any person other than a candidate committee who makes expenditures for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or member communications that clearly identify any candidate for the Board of Supervisors, and the amount of those expenditures in the aggregate equals or exceeds $5,000 per candidate, shall, within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, file a statement with the Ethics Commission. Such statement shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission. Every person who is required to file a statement with the Ethics Commission pursuant to this Subsection shall indicate on the statement which candidate or candidates for the Board of Supervisors the independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or member communications disclosed on the statement support or oppose, or whether they are neutral. For the purposes of this Subsection, the costs of a communication that supports or opposes more than one candidate or ballot measure shall be apportioned among each candidate and measure in the communication.
Thereafter, any such person shall file a supplemental statement with the Ethics Commission each time the person makes expenditures for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications that clearly identify any candidate for the Board of Supervisors in an amount that in the aggregate equals or exceeds an additional $5,000 per candidate. The supplemental statements shall be filed within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, and shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission.
The Executive Director shall post the information disclosed on statements required by this subsection on the website of the Ethics Commission within two business days of the statement's filing.
(b) ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR.
(1) In addition to the campaign disclosure requirements imposed by the California Political Reform Act and other provisions of this Chapter, each candidate committee supporting a candidate for Mayor shall file a statement with the Ethics Commission indicating when the candidate committee has received contributions to be deposited into its Campaign Contribution Trust Account or made expenditures that equal or exceed $50,000 within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding that amount.
(2) In addition to the supplemental report in Subsection (b)(1) of this Section, each candidate committee supporting a candidate for Mayor shall file a statement with the Ethics Commission disclosing when the candidate committee has received contributions to be deposited into its Campaign Contribution Trust Account or made expenditures that in the aggregate-equal or exceed $1,000,000. The candidate committee shall file this report within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding the threshold. Thereafter, the candidate committee shall file an additional supplemental report within 24 hours of every time the candidate committee receives additional contributions or makes additional expenditures that in the aggregate equal or exceed $50,000.
(3) Any person other than a candidate committee who makes expenditures for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or member communications that clearly identify any candidate for Mayor, and the amount of those expenditures in the aggregate equals or exceeds $5,000 per candidate, shall, within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, file a statement with the Ethics Commission. Such statement shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission. Every person who is required to file a statement with the Ethics Commission pursuant to this Subsection shall indicate on the statement which candidate or candidates for Mayor the independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or member communications disclosed on the statement support or oppose, or whether they are neutral. For the purposes of this Subsection, the costs of a communication that supports or opposes more than one candidate or ballot measure shall be apportioned among each candidate and measure in the communication.
Thereafter, any such person shall file a supplemental statement with the Ethics Commission each time the person makes expenditures for the purpose of distributing independent expenditures, electioneering communications or member communications that clearly identify any candidate for Mayor in an amount that in the aggregate equals or exceeds an additional $5,000 per candidate. The supplemental statements shall be filed within 24 hours of reaching or exceeding this threshold, and shall include a legible copy of the communication if it is conveyed in writing or an electronic recording if it is conveyed via audio or video, disclose the cost of each communication, and provide any additional information required by the Ethics Commission.
The Executive Director shall post the information disclosed on statements required by this subsection on the website of the Ethics Commission within two business days of the statement's filing.
(c) The supplemental statements required by Subsections (a)(2), (a)(3), (b)(2) and (b)(3) are not required until the Ethics Commission has certified that at least one candidate is eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter, provided that within two business days of the date that the Ethics Commission provides notice under this subsection that it has certified that a candidate is eligible to receive public funds under this Chapter, any report that previously would have been required under (a)(2), (a)(3), (b)(2) or (b)(3) must be filed. Within two business days of certifying that at least one candidate is eligible to receive public financing under this Chapter, the Ethics Commission shall post a notice on its website, send out a press release and send written notice by regular or electronic mail to all other candidates running for the same City elective office and to any other person who has requested such notice.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.154. INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND.
(a) REPORT BY CONTROLLER. At the request of the Ethics Commission, the Controller shall provide a statement of the total amount of funds in the Election Campaign Fund.
(b) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
(1) Elections for Mayor. No later than August 1 before an election for Mayor, the Executive Director shall notify the Commission and the Board of Supervisors whether $7.50 per resident, after subtracting 15% for the administrative expenses provided under Section 1.138(b)(2), exists in the Election Campaign Fund. If $7.50 per resident, plus 15% for administrative expenses, does not exist in the Election Campaign Fund, the Commission may, in accordance with the fiscal provisions of the Charter, request a supplemental appropriation from the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to provide additional funding to the Election Campaign Fund so that $7.50 per resident, plus 15% for administrative expenses, exists in the fund for the upcoming election. This requirement shall not apply to any election held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of a term.
(2) Elections for the Board of Supervisors. No later than August 1 before an election for the Board of Supervisors, the Executive Director shall notify the Commission and the Board of Supervisors whether $1.50 per resident, after subtracting 15% for the administrative expenses provided under Section 1.138(b)(2), exists in the Election Campaign Fund. If $1.50 per resident, plus 15% for administrative expenses, does not exist in the Election Campaign Fund, the Commission may, in accordance with the fiscal provisions of the Charter, request a supplemental appropriation from the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to provide additional funding to the Election Campaign Fund so that $1.50 per resident, plus 15% for administrative expenses, exists in the fund for the upcoming election. This requirement shall not apply to any election held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of a term.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.156. REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Following each election at which the Mayor or members of the Board of Supervisors are elected, the Ethics Commission shall submit a report to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. The report shall state the amount of public funds used to pay for election campaigns in that election and such other information as the Ethics Commission deems useful, including the number of candidates who received public funds; the number of nonparticipating candidates; the amount of qualified campaign expenditures made by all candidates in that election; and the amount of independent expenditures made in connection with the election.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.158 RESERVED.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; repealed by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.160 RESERVED.
(Added by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; repealed by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.160.5. DISCLOSURE AND FILING FOR PERSUASION POLLS
(a) Definitions. Whenever in this Section the following words or phrases are used, they shall mean:
(1) "Persuasion poll" shall mean any telephone survey, or series of telephone surveys that are substantially similar or identical, that
(A) refers to a clearly identified candidate for City elective office or a City elective officer, other than in a basic preference question;
(B) includes at least one call made within 60 days prior to an election for the City elective office sought by the candidate named in the survey or a recall election regarding the City elective officer named in the survey;
(C) includes at least 1,000 completed calls, such as person-to-person discussions following the survey script; and
(D) for which at least two of the following are true:
(i) Each phone conversation in the survey takes less than four minutes on average to complete, excluding any sponsorship identification;
(ii) The survey includes fewer than three demographic inquiries regarding factors such as age, educational level, or marital status, sufficient to allow for the tabulation of results based on relevant subset(s) of the population consistent with standard polling industry practices;
(iii) The persons conducting the survey do not collect or tabulate survey results for all the phone conversations;
(iv) The survey includes an untrue statement about the candidate or officer described in section (a)(1)(A); or
(v) The survey is designed or intentionally conducted in a manner calculated to influence the vote of the respondent in the election described in Subsection (a)(1)(B).
(2) "Basic preference question" shall mean:
(A) a question which provides a respondent with a list of names of candidates for City elective office without providing or implying any information regarding any candidate and asks which candidate the respondent supports in a particular race, or
(B) a question which names a City elective officer without providing or implying any information regarding the officer and asks whether the respondent supports or opposes the recall of that officer.
(3) "Payment" shall be defined as set forth in Government Code of the State of California (commencing at Section 81000); provided, however, that "payment" shall also include any enforceable promise to make a payment.
(4) "Refers to a clearly identified candidate for City elective office or a City elective officer" shall mean any communication that contains the candidate's or officer's name or nickname or makes any other unambiguous reference to the candidate or officer such as "your Supervisor" or "the incumbent."
(5) "Disclosure date" shall mean:
(A) The date that a written formal agreement regarding the persuasion poll is made between the person making the calls and the poll sponsor(s) or the sponsor(s) agent;
(B) The date of the 1,000th call in the poll; and
(C) After a person has met the threshold under Subsection (B), the date of each 1,000th additional call in the poll.
(b) Telephonic disclosure. No person shall authorize, administer or make payment for a persuasion poll unless, at the beginning of each call, the person making the call identifies the person(s) making payments for or authorizing the call by stating "This is a paid political advertisement by [Name of person(s)]," and, identifies the person making the call, if different from the sponsor, by stating "This call is conducted by [Name of person]." These disclosures shall be spoken at the same volume and speed as the rest of the communication so as to be clearly audible by the call recipient and otherwise appropriately conveyed for the hearing impaired. These disclosures shall be repeated upon request of the call recipient.
(c) Filing.
(1) Any person who authorizes, administers or makes payment for a persuasion poll shall, within 48 hours of each disclosure date, file an itemized statement with the San Francisco Ethics Commission. A person authorizing, administering or making payment for a persuasion poll is not required to file an itemized statement under this Section if the person is aware that another person authorizing, administering or making payment for the same persuasion poll has filed an authorized statement for the persuasion poll as required by this Section.
(2) Each itemized statement required to be filed under this Section shall be filed on a form promulgated by the San Francisco Ethics Commission and shall contain the following information:
(A) the full name, street address, city, state and zip code of each person who authorizes, administers or makes payment for the persuasion poll;
(B) the full name, street address, city, state and zip code of each person sharing or exercising direction and control over the person authorizing, administering or making payments for the survey;
(C) the dates during which the persuasion poll was conducted;
(D) for each day, the number of calls attempted to households in the City and County of San Francisco if the election described in Subsection (a)(1)(B) is a City-wide election, or the number of calls to households in the district if the election described in Subsection (a)(1)(B) is a district election;
(E) for each day, the number of individuals contacted and the number of messages left in households in the City and County of San Francisco if the election described in Subsection (a)(1)(B) is a City-wide election, or the number of individuals contacted and the number of messages left in households in the district if the election described in Subsection (a)(1)(B) is a district election;
(F) a detailed accounting of any payments of $100.00 or more that the person has received from another person, which were used for conducting or administering the persuasion poll; such detailed accounting shall include the dollar amount or value of each payment; the date of the payment's receipt; the name, street address, city, state, and zip code of the person who made such payment; the occupation and employer of the person who made such payment, if any, or, if the person is self-employed, the name of the person's business; and the cumulative amount of payments received for the purpose of conducting or administering persuasion polls from that person during the calendar year;
(G) a copy of the script used in conducting the persuasion poll, if any, and a copy of every question asked in the survey and every statement made to respondents in the survey; and
(H) any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes of this Section.
(3) The filer shall verify, under penalty of perjury, the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in the itemized statement, and shall retain for a period of five years all books, papers and documents necessary to substantiate the itemized statements required by this Section.
(4) The Ethics Commission may require any itemized statement to be filed electronically and may permit any required statement to be filed by facsimile. The Ethics Commission shall promulgate regulations to implement this subsection before any person shall be required to file an itemized statement electronically or permitted to file a statement by facsimile.
(5) If any person files an itemized statement after any deadline imposed by this Section, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, fine the person $10 per day after the deadline until the statement is received by the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a fine if the Commission determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall deposit funds collected under this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(d) The Ethics Commission may adopt regulations exempting additional types of polls from the provisions of this Section to effectuate the purpose of this Section.
(Added by Ord. 266-07, File No. 071090, App. 11/14/2007)
SEC. 1.161. DISCLOSURE AND FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR MASS MAILINGS.
(a) MASS MAILINGS BY CANDIDATES.
(1) Disclosure. In addition to the requirements set forth in California Government Code Section 84305, each mass mailing paid for by a candidate committee shall include on the outside of each piece of mail in the mass mailing the following statement in not less than 14 point type and in a color or print which contrasts with the background so as to be easily legible: "paid for by ____________ (insert candidate committee's name and street address)." A post office box may be stated in lieu of a street address if the candidate committee's address is a matter of public record with the Ethics Commission.
(2) Filing.
(i) Each candidate committee that pays for a mass mailing shall, within five working days after the date of the mailing, file two pieces of the mailing with the Ethics Commission.
(ii) Each candidate committee that pays for a mass mailing shall, within five business days after the date of the mailing, file an itemized disclosure statement with the Ethics Commission for that mailing.
(iii) Each candidate committee that pays for a mass mailing shall file two pieces of mail and the itemized disclosure statement required by Subsections (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii) within 48 hours of the date of the mailing if the date of the mailing occurs within the final 16 days before the election.
(iv) Every mass mailing filed pursuant to this subsection shall be clearly legible.
(b) MASS MAILINGS BY PERSONS OTHER THAN CANDIDATES.
(1) Disclosure. Any person who makes independent expenditures for a mass mailing which supports or opposes any candidate for City elective office shall place the following statement on the mailing in typeface no smaller than 14 points:
Notice to Voters (Required by City and County of San Francisco) This mailing is not authorized or approved by any candidate for City and County office or by any election official. It is paid for by [name and committee identification number]. [address, city, state]. Total Cost of this mailing is [amount].
(2) Filing.
(i) Each person who makes independent expenditures of $1,000 or more for a mass mailing which supports or opposes any candidate for City elective office shall file two pieces of the mailing and an itemized disclosure statement for the mailing with the Ethics Commission, unless that person is otherwise required to file disclosures regarding the communication under Section 1.134, 1.152, or 1.161.5 of this Code.
(ii) Any filing required by this Section shall be submitted within five business days after the date of the mailing if the date of the mailing is more than 16 days before the election, and within 48 hours after the mailing if the date of the mailing occurs within the final 16 days before the election.
(iii) Every piece of mail filed pursuant to this Section shall be clearly legible.
(iv) The Ethics Commission may permit any required statement or mailing to be filed by facsimile.
(Added by Ord. 211-01, File No. 010778, App. 10/26/2001; amended by Ord. 89-02, File No. 012130, App. 6/14/2002; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 261-07, File No. 071290, App. 11/14/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.161.5. DISCLOSURE AND FILING FOR ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS.
(a) DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
(1) Every electioneering communication shall include a disclosure statement identifying the person who paid for the communication. Such disclosure statement shall, at a minimum, contain the following words, "paid for by ____________ (insert the name of the person who paid for the communication)."
(2) Any disclosure statement required by this section to be in printed form shall be printed in a type and color so as to be easily legible to the intended public. Such disclosure statement shall be printed in at least 14 point type and in a color or print that contrasts with the background so as to be easily legible to the intended public.
(3) Any disclosure statement required by this Section to be in spoken form shall be spoken at the same volume and speed as the rest of the communication so as to be clearly audible and understood by the intended public and otherwise appropriately conveyed for the hearing impaired.
(b) REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.
(1) Every person who makes payments for electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of $1,000 during any calendar year shall, within 48 hours of each disclosure date, file an itemized disclosure statement with the Ethics Commission, unless that person is otherwise required to file disclosures regarding the communication under Section 1.134, 1.152, or 1.161 of this Code.
(2) Each itemized disclosure statement required to be filed under this Section shall contain the following information:
(A) the full name, street address, city, state and zip code of the person making payments for electioneering communications;
(B) the name of any individual sharing or exercising direction and control over the person making payments for electioneering communications;
(C) the total amount of payments made by the person for electioneering communications during the calendar year;
(D) a detailed description of each payment made by the person for electioneering communications during the calendar year, provided that the person has not already reported such payments on an itemized disclosure statement filed under this Section; such detailed description shall include the date the payment was made, the full name and address of the person to whom the payment was made; the amount of the payment, and a brief description of the consideration for which each payment was made;
(E) a detailed accounting of any payments of $100 or more that the person has received from another person, which were used for making electioneering communications, provided that the person has not already reported such payments received on an itemized disclosure statement filed under this Section; such detailed accounting shall include the dollar amount or value of each payment, the date of the payment's receipt, the name, street address, city, state, and zip code of the person who made such payment, the occupation and employer of the person who made such payment, if any, or, if the person is self-employed, the name of the person's business, and the cumulative amount of payments received for the purpose of making electioneering communications from that person during the calendar year;
(F) the total amount of all payments reported under Subsection (E) during the calendar year;
(G) a legible copy of the electioneering communication if in printed form, or a transcript of the electioneering communication if in spoken form; and
(H) any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes of this Section.
(3) The filer shall verify, under penalty of perjury, the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in the itemized disclosure statement, and shall retain for a period of five years all books, papers and documents necessary to substantiate the itemized statements required by this Section.
(4) The Ethics Commission may permit any required statement or mailing to be filed by facsimile.
(c) DEFINITIONS. Whenever in this Section the following words or phrases are used, they shall mean:
(1) "Disclosure Date" shall mean:
(A) the first date during any calendar year when an electioneering communication is distributed after a person has made payments aggregating $1,000.00 for electioneering communications; and
(B) after a person has met the threshold under Subsection (A), any date during that same calendar year when an electioneering communication is distributed, if that same person made any payments for such electioneering communication.
(2) "Distributed" shall mean any act that permits an electioneering communication to be viewed, read or heard.
(3) "Electioneering Communication" shall mean any communication, including but not limited to any broadcast, cable, satellite, radio, internet, or telephone communication, and any mailing, flyer, doorhanger, pamphlet, brochure, card, sign, billboard, facsimile, or printed advertisement, that:
(A) refers to a clearly identified candidate for City elective office or a City elective officer who is the subject of a recall election; and
(B) is distributed within 90 days prior to an election for the City elective office sought by the candidate or a recall election regarding the City elective officer to 500 or more individuals who are registered to vote or eligible to register to vote in the election or recall election. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any that any broadcast, cable, satellite, or radio communication and any sign, billboard or printed advertisement is distributed to 500 or more individuals who are eligible to vote for or against the candidate clearly identified in the communication.
(C) The term "Electioneering Communication" shall not include:
(i) communications that constitute independent expenditures under this Chapter;
(ii) communications made by a slate mailer organization if such communications are required to be disclosed under the California Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq.;
(iii) communications paid for by the City or any other local, State or Federal government agency;
(iv) non-recorded communications between two or more individuals in direct conversation unless such communications are made by telephone and at least one of the individuals is compensated for the purposes of making the telephone communication;
(v) communications that appear on bumper stickers, pins, stickers, hat bands, badges, ribbons and other similar memorabilia;
(vi) news stories, commentaries or editorials distributed through any newspaper, radio station, television station, or other recognized news medium unless such news medium is owned or controlled by any political party, political committee or candidate;
(vii) communications to all members, employees and shareholders of an organization, other than a political party, provided that such communications do not constitute general public advertising such as, but not limited to, broadcasting, billboards, and newspaper advertisements;
(viii) that occur during a candidate debate or forum; and
(ix) communications made solely to promote a candidate debate or forum made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum, provided that such communications do not otherwise discuss the positions or experience of a candidate for City elective office or a City elective officer who is the subject of a recall election.
(4) "Internet Communication" shall include paid internet advertisements such as "banner" and "pop up" advertisements, paid emails or emails sent to addresses purchased from another person, and similar types of internet communications as defined by the Ethics Commission by regulation, but shall not include web blogs, listserves sent to persons who have contacted the sender, discussion forums, or general postings on web pages.
(5) "Payment" shall be defined as set forth in Government Code of the State of California (commencing at Section 81000); provided, however, that "payment" shall also include any enforceable promise to make a payment.
(6) "Refers to a clearly identified candidate for City elective office or a City elective officer who is the subject of a recall election" shall mean any communication that contains the candidate's or officer's name, nickname or image or makes any other unambiguous reference to the candidate or officer such as "your Supervisor" or "the incumbent."
(D) REGULATIONS. The Ethics Commission shall issue regulations implementing this Section, including regulations defining all members, employees and shareholders of an organization.
(Added by Ord. 71-05, File No. 041489, App. 4/15/2005; amended by Ord. 75-05, File No. 050624, App. 4/27/2005; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.162. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS-CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS.
(a) Disclosure. Any campaign advertisement that urges support for or opposition to one or more candidates for City elective office shall include a disclosure statement identifying the person who paid for the advertisement. Such disclosure statement shall, at a minimum, contain the following words, "paid for by ____________ (insert the name of the person who paid for the communication)" and appear at least once on the advertisement.
(1) Any disclosure statement required by this section to be in printed form shall be printed in a type and color so as to be easily legible to the intended public. Such disclosure statement shall be printed in at least 14-point type and in a color or print that contrasts with the background so as to be easily legible to the intended public.
(2) Any disclosure statement required by this section to be in spoken form shall be spoken at the same volume and speed as the rest of the communication so as to be clearly audible and understood by the intended public and otherwise appropriately conveyed for the hearing impaired.
(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the term "campaign advertisement" means:
(1) Programming received by a television or radio;
(2) A communication placed in a newspaper; periodical or magazine of general circulation;
(3) Posters, door hangers, and yard signs produced in quantities of 200 or more; and
(4) A billboard.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 261-07, File No. 071290, App. 11/14/2007)
(Former Sec. 1.162 derived from former Administrative Code Sec. 16.510-7, added by Proposition N, 11/7/95. Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 261-07, File No. 071290, App. 11/14/2007; repealed by Ord. 261-07, File No. 071290, App. 11/14/2007)
SEC. 1.163. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS-RECORDED TELEPHONE MESSAGES.
Any recorded telephone message distributed to 500 or more individuals or households must include the following statement: "paid for by ____________ (insert name of person who paid for the recorded telephone message)." Statements required pursuant to this Section shall be audible and played at the same volume and speed as the rest of the recorded telephone message. Any person paying for a recorded telephone message must maintain a transcript of the message and a record of the number of distributed calls for each message.
(Added by Ord. 187-01, File No. 010779, App. 8/31/2001; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
SEC. 1.163.5. DISTRIBUTION OF CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS CONTAINING FALSE ENDORSEMENTS.
(a) Prohibition. No person may sponsor any campaign advertisement that is distributed within 90 days prior to an election and that contains a false endorsement, where the person acts with knowledge of the falsity of the endorsement or with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of the endorsement. A false endorsement is a statement, signature, photograph, or image representing that a person expressly endorses or conveys support for or opposition to a candidate or measure when in fact the person does not expressly endorse or convey support for or opposition to the candidate or measure as stated or implied in the campaign communication.
(b) Definitions. Whenever in this Section the following words or phrases are used, they shall mean:
(1) "Campaign Advertisement" is any mailing, flyer, doorhanger, pamphlet, brochure, card, sign, billboard, facsimile, printed advertisement, broadcast, cable, satellite, radio, internet, or recorded telephone advertisement that refers to one or more clearly identified candidates or ballot measures. The term "campaign advertisement" does not include:
(A) bumper stickers, pins, stickers, hat bands, badges, ribbons and other similar campaign memorabilia;
(B) news stories, commentaries or editorials distributed through any newspaper, radio, station, television station or other recognized news medium unless such news medium is owned or controlled by any political party, political committee or candidate; or
(C) material distributed to all members, employees and shareholders of an organization, other than a political party;
(2) "Internet Advertisement" includes paid internet advertisements such as "banner" and "popup" advertisements, paid emails, or emails sent to addresses purchased from another person, and similar types of internet advertisements as defined by the Ethics Commission by regulation, but shall not include web blogs, listserves sent to persons who have contacted the sender, discussion forums, or general postings on web pages.
(3) "Sponsor" means to pay for, direct, supervise or authorize the production of campaign advertisement.
(c) Enforcement and penalties. The penalties under Section 1.170(a) of this Chapter do not apply to violations of this Section. Notwithstanding the 60-day waiting period in Section 1.168 of this Chapter, a voter may bring an action to enjoin a violation of this Section immediately upon providing written notice to the City Attorney. A court may enjoin a violation of this section only upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence of a violation.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.164. DUTIES OF ETHICS COMMISSION.
In addition to other duties required under the Charter and the terms of this Chapter, the Ethics Commission shall:
(a) Prepare and publish written instructions explaining the duties of persons, candidates and committees under this Chapter.
(b) Determine whether required statements and declarations have been filed with the Ethics Commission, and, if so, whether they conform on their face with the requirements of this Chapter.
(c) Notify promptly all persons, candidates and committees known to the Ethics Commission who have failed to file a statement in the form and at the time required by State and local law.
(d) Report apparent violations of this Chapter to the District Attorney.
(e) Compile and maintain a current list of all statements or parts of statements filed with the Ethics Commission pertaining to each candidate and each measure.
(f) Cooperate with the District Attorney and the City Attorney in the performance of their duties as they are related to this Chapter.
(g) Enforce or cause to be enforced the provisions of this Chapter.
(h) Prepare and publish adequate procedures to notify all persons, candidates and committees in advance relative to filing dates and forms required by State and local law.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.512; amended by Ord. 292-76, App. 7/17/76; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
SEC. 1.166. DUTIES OF ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.
In addition to the other duties required of him or her under the provisions of this Chapter, the enforcement authority for civil enforcement shall review such campaign statements filed with the Ethics Commission as the Commission shall refer to him or her for legal compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.513; amended by Ord. 361-80, App. 8/5/80; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000)
SEC. 1.168. ENFORCEMENT; ADVICE.
(a) ENFORCEMENT - GENERAL PROVISIONS. Any person who believes that a violation of this Chapter has occurred may file a complaint with the Ethics Commission, City Attorney or District Attorney. The Ethics Commission shall investigate such complaints pursuant to Charter Section C3.699-13 and its implementing regulations. The City Attorney and District Attorney shall investigate, and shall have such investigative powers as are necessary for the performance of their duties under this Chapter.
(b) ENFORCEMENT - CIVIL ACTIONS. The City Attorney, or any voter, may bring a civil action to enjoin violations of or compel compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
No voter may commence an action under this Subsection without first providing written notice to the City Attorney of intent to commence an action. The notice shall include a statement of the grounds for believing a cause of action exists. The voter shall deliver the notice to the City Attorney at least 60 days in advance of filing an action. No voter may commence an action under this Subsection if the Ethics Commission has issued a finding of probable cause that the defendant violated the provisions of this Chapter, or if the City Attorney or District Attorney has commenced a civil or criminal action against the defendant, or if another voter has filed a civil action against the defendant under this Subsection.
A Court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to any voter who obtains injunctive relief under this Subsection. If the Court finds that an action brought by a voter under this Subsection is frivolous, the Court may award the defendant reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
(c) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
(1) Criminal. Prosecution for violation of this Chapter must be commenced within four years after the date on which the violation occurred.
(2) Civil. No civil action alleging a violation in connection with a campaign statement required under this Chapter shall be filed more than four years after an audit could begin, or more than one year after the Executive Director submits to the Commission any report of any audit conducted of the alleged violator, whichever period is less. Any other civil action alleging a violation of any provision of this Chapter shall be filed no more than four years after the date on which the violation occurred.
(3) Administrative. No administrative action alleging a violation of this Chapter and brought under Charter Section C3.699-13 shall be commenced more than four years after the date on which the violation occurred. The date on which the Commission forwards a complaint or information in its possession regarding an alleged violation to the District Attorney and City Attorney as required by Charter Section C3.699-13 shall constitute the commencement of the administrative action.
(4) Collection of fines and penalties. A civil action brought to collect fines or penalties imposed under this Chapter shall be commenced within four years after the date on which the monetary penalty or fine was imposed. For purposes of this Section, a fine or penalty is imposed when a court or administrative agency has issued a final decision in an enforcement action imposing a fine or penalty for a violation of this Chapter or the Executive Director has made a final decision regarding the amount of a late fine or penalty imposed under this Chapter. The Executive Director does not make a final decision regarding the amount of a late fine or penalty imposed under this Chapter until the Executive Director has made a determination to accept or not accept any request to waive a late fine or penalty where such waiver is expressly authorized by statute, ordinance, or regulation.
(d) ADVICE. Any person may request advice from the Ethics Commission or City Attorney with respect to any provision of this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall provide advice pursuant to Charter Section C3.699-12. The City Attorney shall within 14 days of the receipt of said written request provide the advice in writing or advise the person who made the request that no opinion will be issued. The City Attorney shall send a copy of said request to the District Attorney upon its receipt. The City Attorney shall within nine days from the date of the receipt of said written request send a copy of his or her proposed opinion to the District Attorney. The District Attorney shall within four days inform the City Attorney whether he or she agrees with said advice, or state the basis for his or her disagreement with the proposed advice.
No person other than the City Attorney who acts in good faith on the advice of the City Attorney shall be subject to criminal or civil penalties for so acting; provided that, the material facts are stated in the request for advice and the acts complained of were committed in reliance on the advice.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.514; amended by Ord. 361-80, App. 8/5/80; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered and amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.170. PENALTIES.
(a) CRIMINAL. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 for each violation or by imprisonment in the County jail for a period of not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, however, that any willful or knowing failure to report contributions or expenditures done with intent to mislead or deceive or any willful or knowing violation of the provisions of Section 1.114 of this Chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 for each violation or three times the amount not reported or the amount received in excess of the amount allowable pursuant to Section 1.114 of this Chapter, or three times the amount expended in excess of the amount allowable pursuant to Section 1.130 or 1.140.5, whichever is greater.
(b) CIVIL. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be liable in a civil action brought by the civil prosecutor for an amount up to $5,000 for each violation or three times the amount not reported or the amount received in excess of the amount allowable pursuant to Section 1.114 or three times the amount expended in excess of the amount allowable pursuant to Section 1.130 or 1.140.5, whichever is greater.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be liable in an administrative proceeding before the Ethics Commission held pursuant to the Charter for any penalties authorized therein.
(d) LATE FILING FEES
(1) Fees for Late Paper Filings. In addition to any other penalty, any person who files a paper copy of any statement or report after the deadline imposed by this Chapter shall be liable in the amount of ten dollars ($10) per day after the deadline until the statement is filed.
(2) In addition to any other penalty, any person who files an electronic copy of a statement or report after the deadline imposed by this Chapter shall be liable in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25) per day after the deadline until the electronic copy or report is filed.
(3) Limitation on Liability. Liability imposed by Subsection (d)(1) shall not exceed the cumulative amount stated in the late statement or report, or one hundred dollars ($100), whichever is greater. Liability imposed by Subsection (d)(2) shall not exceed the cumulative amount stated in the late statement or report, or two hundred fifty dollars ($250), whichever is greater.
(4) Reduction or Waiver. The Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a fee imposed by this subsection if the Commission determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter.
(e) MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. Any person who willfully or knowingly uses public funds, paid pursuant to this Chapter, for any purpose other than the purposes authorized by this Chapter shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Section.
(f) PROVISION OF FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION; WITHHOLDING OF INFORMATION. Any person who knowingly or willfully furnishes false or fraudulent evidence, documents, or information to the Ethics Commission under this Chapter, or misrepresents any material fact, or conceals any evidence, documents, or information, or fails to furnish to the Ethics Commission any records, documents, or other information required to be provided under this Chapter shall be subject to the penalties provided in this Section.
(g) PERSONAL LIABILITY. Candidates and treasurers are responsible for complying with this Chapter and may be held personally liable for violations by their committees. Nothing in this Chapter shall operate to limit the candidate's liability for, nor the candidate's ability to pay, any fines or other payments imposed pursuant to administrative or judicial proceedings.
(h) JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. If two or more persons are responsible for any violation of this Chapter, they shall be jointly and severally liable.
(i) EFFECT OF VIOLATION ON CANDIDACY.
(1) If a candidate is convicted, in a court of law, of a violation of this Chapter at any time prior to his or her election, his or her candidacy shall be terminated immediately and he or she shall be no longer eligible for election, unless the court at the time of sentencing specifically determines that this provision shall not be applicable. No person convicted of a misdemeanor under this Chapter after his or her election shall be a candidate for any other City elective office for a period of five years following the date of the conviction unless the court shall at the time of sentencing specifically determine that this provision shall not be applicable.
(2) If a candidate for the Board of Supervisors certified as eligible for public financing is found by a court to have exceeded the Individual Expenditure Ceiling in this Chapter by ten percent or more at any time prior to his or her election, such violation shall constitute official misconduct. The Mayor may suspend any member of the Board of Supervisors for such a violation, and seek removal of the candidate from office following the procedures set forth in Charter Section 15.105(a).
(3) A plea of nolo contendere, in a court of law, shall be deemed a conviction for purposes of this Section.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered and amended by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003; Ord. 3-06, File No. 051439, App. 1/20/2006; Ord. 31-06, File No. 051773, App. 2/23/2006; Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006; Ord. 268-07, File No. 071003, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 64-12, File No. 111082, App. 4/20/2012, Eff. 5/20/2012)
SEC. 1.171. ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS.
The Ethics Commission, including its Executive Director, may issue subpoenas in furtherance of its duties under the Charter including, but not limited to, audits of committees and enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.515; amended by Ord. 361-80, App. 8/5/80; Proposition N, 11/7/95; added by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.172. EXTENSION OF DEADLINES THAT FALL ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
The Ethics Commission may, by regulation, extend any deadline imposed by this Chapter that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which the Ethics Commission is authorized by law to close.
(Added by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
(Former Sec. 1.172 added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; repealed by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
SEC. 1.174. EFFECT OF VIOLATION ON CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS.
The Director of Elections shall not issue any certificate of nomination or election to any candidate until all of the candidate's campaign declarations, statements, or reports required under State and local law have been filed.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.517; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000; amended by Ord. 141-03, File No. 030034, App. 6/27/2003)
SEC. 1.175. IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS; FORMS.
Pursuant to Charter Section 15.102, the Ethics Commission shall adopt regulations to implement this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall also specify the format and content of all forms and statements required to be filed under this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 234-09, File. No. 090989, App. 11/20/2009)
SEC. 1.176. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
This Chapter shall be construed liberally in order to effectuate its purposes. No error, irregularity, informality, neglect or omission of any officer in any procedure taken under this Chapter which does not directly affect the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors or the City and County to control campaign contributions shall avoid the effect of this Chapter.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.518; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000)
SEC. 1.178. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the Chapter and the applicability of such provisions to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
(Formerly Administrative Code Section 16.519; amended by Ord. 114-76, App. 4/2/76; added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; renumbered by Proposition O, 11/7/2000)
CHAPTER 2:
RESERVED
SEC. 1.200. RESERVED.
Editor's Note:
Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, approved September 14, 2006, repealed, ß 1.200, which pertained to prohibition on multiple campaign accounts.
(Added by Proposition E, 11/4/2003)
(Former Section 1.200 added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Proposition E, 11/4/2003. Derivation: Former Section 8 of Appendix K to the 1932 Charter) (Repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
CHAPTER 3:
RESERVED
SEC. 1.300.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.535; added by Ord. 131-93, App. 5/17/93)
SEC. 1.305.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 192-03, File No. 030994, App. 7/25/2003; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.536; added by Ord. 131-93, App. 5/17/93)
SEC. 1.310.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 192-03, File No. 030994, App. 7/25/2003; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.537; added by Ord. 131-93, App. 5/17/93)
SEC. 1.312.
(Added by Ord. 192-03, File No. 030994, App. 7/25/2003; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006)
SEC. 1.315.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 192-03, File No. 030994, App. 7/25/2003; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.538; added by Ord. 131-93, App. 5/17/93)
SEC. 1.320.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; repealed by Ord. 3-06, File No. 054139, App. 1/20/2006) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.535; added by Ord. 131-93, App. 5/17/93)
CHAPTER 4:
RESERVED
Editor's Note:
Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, approved September 14, 2006, repealed Ch. 4 in its entirety, which pertained to prohibition on false endorsements on campaign literature.
SEC. 1.400.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-1; added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.405.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-2; added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.410.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-3; added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.415.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-4 added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.420.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-5; added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
SEC. 1.425.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.548-6; added by Ord. 83-99, File No. 981596, App. 4/23/99; repealed by Ord. 228-06, File No. 060501, App. 9/14/2006)
CHAPTER 5:
REGULATION OF CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS
Sec. 1.500.Findings.Sec. 1.510.Prohibitions.Sec. 1.515.Registration, Reregistration, Reporting, and Fees.Sec. 1.520.Powers and Duties of the Ethics Commission.Sec. 1.525.Administrative and Civil Enforcement, and Penalties.Sec. 1.530.Code of Conduct.Sec. 1.535.Severability.Sec. 1.540.Electronic Filing of Statements and Reports.Sec. 1.545.Construction with Other Laws.
SEC. 1.500. FINDINGS.
(a) The City and County of San Francisco has a paramount interest in protecting the integrity and credibility of its electoral and government institutions. Election campaigns are highly competitive in San Francisco, and candidates frequently contract for the services of professional campaign consultants who specialize in guiding and managing campaigns.
(b) It is the purpose and intent of the people of the City and County of San Francisco in enacting this Chapter to impose reasonable registration and disclosure requirements on campaign consultants. Required registration and disclosure of information by campaign consultants will assist the public in making informed decisions, and protect public confidence in the electoral and governmental processes.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.540; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
SEC. 1.505. DEFINITIONS.
Whenever used in this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Campaign consultant" means any person or entity that receives or is promised economic consideration equaling $1,000 or more in a calendar year for campaign consulting services. The term "campaign consultant" includes any person or entity that subcontracts with a campaign consultant to provide campaign consulting services, and that receives or is promised economic consideration equaling $1,000 or more in a calendar year for providing campaign consulting services. The term "campaign consultant" does not include persons who are employees of a campaign consultant, attorneys who provide only legal services, accountants who provide only accounting services, pollsters who provide only polling services, and treasurers who provide only those services which are required of treasurers by the Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000, et seq.
(b) "Campaign consulting services" means participating in campaign management or developing or participating in the development of campaign strategy.
(c) "Campaign management" means conducting, coordinating or supervising a campaign to elect, defeat, retain or recall a candidate, or adopt or defeat a measure, including but not limited to hiring or authorizing the hiring of campaign staff and consultants, spending or authorizing the expenditure of campaign funds, directing, supervising or conducting the solicitation of contributions to the campaign, and selecting or recommending vendors or subvendors of goods or services for the campaign.
(d) "Campaign strategy" means plans for the election, defeat, retention or recall of a candidate, or for the adoption or defeat of a measure, including but not limited to producing or authorizing the production of campaign literature and print and broadcast advertising, seeking endorsements of organizations or individuals, seeking financing, or advising on public policy positions.
(e) "Candidate" means a person who has taken affirmative action to seek nomination or election to local office, a local officeholder who has taken affirmative action to seek nomination or election to any elective office, or a local officeholder who is the subject of a recall election.
(f) "Economic consideration" means any payments, fees, commissions, reimbursements for expenses, gifts, or anything else of value.
(g) "Lobby" means communicate with a local officeholder for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action in exchange for economic consideration.
(h) "Lobbyist" is defined in Article II of this Code.*
(i) "Local office" means the following elective offices in the City and County of San Francisco: Mayor, Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, Assessor, Public Defender, Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District, and Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District.
(j) "Measure" means a local referendum or local ballot measure, whether or not it qualifies for the ballot.
(k) "Vendor" means a person or entity who sells goods or services, other than campaign consulting services, including but not limited to printing, catering, and transportation services. The term "vendor" does not include attorneys who provide only legal services, accountants who provide only accounting services, pollsters who provide only polling services, and treasurers who provide only those services which are required of treasurers by the Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000 et seq.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.541; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
Editor's note
*The Regulation of Lobbyists Ordinance, which was previously codified at Administrative Code Section 16.520, et seq., is now codified in Article II of this Code.
SEC. 1.510. PROHIBITIONS.
It shall be unlawful for any campaign consultant to provide campaign consulting services, or accept any economic consideration for the provision of campaign consulting services, without first registering with the Ethics Commission and complying with the reporting requirements specified in Section 1.515.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.542; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
SEC. 1.515. REGISTRATION, REREGISTRATION, REPORTING, AND FEES.
(a) REGISTRATION REPORTS. At the time of initial registration, each campaign consultant shall report to the Ethics Commission the following information:
(1) The name, business address and business phone number of the campaign consultant;
(2) If the campaign consultant is an individual, the name of the campaign consultant's employer and a description of the business activity engaged in by the employer;
(3) The names of any individuals employed by the campaign consultant to assist in providing campaign consulting services;
(4) A statement of whether the campaign consultant is required to register with the Ethics Commission pursuant to the Regulation of Lobbyists Ordinance, San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code, Article II;*
(5) A statement of whether the campaign consultant is required to register with the Tax Collector pursuant to the Business Tax Ordinance, San Francisco Municipal Code, Part III, Section 1001, et. seq.;
(6) The name, address, and telephone number of each client to whom the campaign consultant provided campaign consulting services during the preceding three months;
(7) For each client, the total economic consideration promised by or received from the client in exchange for the provision of campaign consulting services during the preceding three months, provided that the total is $500 or more;
(8) Each political contribution of $100 or more made or delivered by the campaign consultant, or made by a client at the behest of the campaign consultant, or for which the campaign consultant acted as an agent or intermediary, during the preceding three months in support of or in opposition to a candidate or measure;
(9) The cumulative total of all political contributions made or delivered by the campaign consultant, or which is made by a client at the behest of the campaign consultant, or for which the campaign consultant acted as an agent or intermediary, during the preceding three months in support of or in opposition to each individual candidate or measure, provided that the cumulative total is $500 or more;
(10) Any gifts promised or made by the campaign consultant to a local officeholder during the preceding three months which in the aggregate total $50 or more; and
(11) Any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Chapter.
(b) REREGISTRATION REPORTS. Each campaign consultant shall reregister annually no later January 1st.
(c) FEES. At the time of initial registration and reregistration, each campaign consultant shall pay to the Ethics Commission a registration fee and an additional fee for each client of the campaign consultant. The amount of the fee shall be:
(i) Campaign consultants earning at least $1,000 but not more than $5,000 per calendar year shall pay a registration fee of $50 and shall pay a client fee of $50 per client;
(ii) Campaign consultants earning more than $5,000 but not more than $20,000 per calendar year shall pay a registration fee of $200 and a client fee of $50 per client;
(iii) Campaign consultants earning more than $20,000 per calendar year shall pay a registration fee of $400 and a client fee of $50 per client.
When a client is acquired subsequent to initial registration or reregistration, the per client fee shall be paid at the time of filing the information required by Subsection (d). The Ethics Commission shall deposit fees collected pursuant to this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco. On or after July 1, 1999, the Ethics Commission shall evaluate the fees set by this Section and propose any amendments for approval by the Board of Supervisors no later than December 1, 1999. If the Ethics Commission or the Board of Supervisors takes no action, the fees set by this Section shall remain in effect.
(d) CLIENT AUTHORIZATION STATEMENTS. At the time of initial registration, the campaign consultant shall submit to the Ethics Commission a written authorization from each client that contracts with the campaign consultant for campaign consulting services.
If the campaign consultant is retained by a client after the date of initial registration, the campaign consultant must file a Client Authorization Statement before providing any campaign consulting services to the client and before receiving any economic consideration from the client in exchange for campaign consulting services, and in any event no later than 15 days after being retained to provide campaign consulting services to the client.
(e) QUARTERLY REPORTS. Each campaign consultant shall file with the Ethics Commission quarterly reports containing the following information:
(1) For each client, the total economic consideration promised by or received from the client during the reporting period for campaign consulting services, provided that the total is $500 or more;
(2) The total economic consideration promised by or received from all clients during the reporting period for campaign consulting services;
(3) Political contributions of $100 or more made or delivered by the campaign consultant, or made by a client at the behest of the campaign consultant, or for which the campaign consultant acted as an agent or intermediary, during the reporting period in support of or in opposition to a candidate or measure;
(4) The cumulative total of all political contributions made or delivered by the campaign consultant, or made by a client at the behest of the campaign consultant, or for which the campaign consultant acted as an agent or intermediary, during the reporting period in support of or in opposition to each individual candidate or measure, provided that the cumulative total is $500 or more;
(5) Any gifts promised or made by the campaign consultant to a local officeholder during the reporting period which in the aggregate total $50 or more;
(6) Economic consideration promised to or received by the campaign consultant during the reporting period from vendors and subvendors who provided campaign-related goods or services to a current client of the campaign consultant;
(7) The name of each local officeholder and City employee who is employed by the campaign consultant, or by a client of the campaign consultant at the behest of the campaign consultant, during the reporting period;
(8) Each City contract obtained by the campaign consultant during the reporting period, provided that the contract is approved by a local officeholder who is a client of the campaign consultant;
(9) Each appointment to public office received by the campaign consultant during the reporting period, provided that the appointment is made by a local office-holder who is a client of the campaign consultant;
(10) Any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Chapter.
Quarterly reports are due as follows: The report for the period starting December 1st and ending February 28th is due March 15th; the report for the period starting March 1st and ending May 31st is due June 15th; the report for the period starting June 1st and ending August 31st is due September 15th; and the report for the period starting September 1st and ending November 30th is due December 15th.
(f) CLIENT TERMINATION STATEMENTS. Within 30 days after a client terminates the services of a campaign consultant, the campaign consultant shall submit to the Ethics Commission a statement that the client has terminated the services of the campaign consultant. A campaign consultant may not provide campaign consulting services to a client or accept economic consideration for the provision of campaign consulting services after a client termination statement is filed, until a new client authorization statement has been filed pursuant to Section 1.515(d).
(g) CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT TERMINATION STATEMENTS. A campaign consultant shall comply with all requirements of this Chapter until the campaign consultant ceases all activity as a campaign consultant and files a statement of termination with the Ethics Commission. A statement of termination must include all information required by Subsection (e) for the period since the campaign consultant's last quarterly report.
(h) Each campaign consultant shall verify, under penalty of perjury, the accuracy and completeness of the information provided under Sections 1.515 and 1.520(c).
(i) Each campaign consultant shall retain for a period of five years all books, papers and documents necessary to substantiate the reports and statements required under this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.543; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
Editor's note
*The Regulation of Lobbyists Ordinance, which was previously codified at Administrative Code Section 16.520, et seq., is now codified in Article II of this Code.
SEC. 1.520. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
(a) The Ethics Commission shall provide forms for the reporting of all information required by this Chapter.
(b) The Ethics Commission shall issue a registration number to each registered campaign consultant.
(c) At the time of initial registration and reregistration, the Ethics Commission shall provide the campaign consultant with a copy of the City's campaign and lobbyist laws, the Code of Conduct specified in Section 1.530, and any related material which the Commission determines will serve the purposes of this Chapter. Each campaign consultant must sign a statement acknowledging receipt of these materials.
(d) The Ethics Commission shall compile the information provided in registration and quarterly reports filed pursuant to this Chapter as soon as practicable after the close of each quarter and shall forward a report of the compiled information to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor.
(e) The Ethics Commission shall preserve all original reports, statements, and other records required to be kept or filed under this Chapter for a period of five years. Such reports, statements, and records shall constitute a part of the public records of the Ethics Commission and shall be open to public inspection.
(f) The Commission shall provide formal and informal advice regarding the duties under this Chapter of a person or entity pursuant to the procedures specified in San Francisco; Charter Section C3.699-12.
(g) The Ethics Commission shall have the power to adopt all reasonable and necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Chapter pursuant to the procedure specified in Charter Section 15.102.*
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.544; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
Editor's note
*The Ethics Commission's authority to adopt rules and regulations was previously codified as Charter Section 3.699-9. Under Proposition E, adopted by the San Francisco voters on November 7, 1995, Charter Section 3.699-9 was recodified as Charter Section 15.102. Accordingly, references to Section 3.699-9 have been changed to Section 15.102.
SEC. 1.525. ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT, AND PENALTIES.
(a) If any campaign consultant files an original statement or report after any deadline imposed by this Chapter, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, fine the campaign consultant $50 per day after the deadline until the statement or report is received by the Ethics Commission. If any campaign consultant files an original statement or report after any deadline imposed by this Chapter, when the deadline is fewer than 30 days before or after an election, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, fine the campaign consultant $100 per day after the deadline until the statement or report is received by the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a fine if the Commission determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall deposit funds collected under this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) Any person who believes that Section 1.510 has been violated may file a complaint with the Ethics Commission. Upon receipt of a complaint, or upon its own initiative, the Commission may investigate allegations of a violation of Section 1.510 and enforce the provisions of Section 1.510 pursuant to the procedures established in San Francisco Charter Section C3.699-13, and the Commission's rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Charter Section 15.102.*
(c) When the Commission, pursuant to the procedures specified in Charter Section C3.699-13, determines on the basis of substantial evidence that a person or entity has violated Section 1.510, the Commission may require the person or entity to: (1) cease and desist the violation; (2) file any reports or statements or pay any fees required by this Chapter, and/or (3) pay a monetary penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation, or three times the amount not properly reported, whichever is greater. The Commission may cancel for up to one year the registration of any campaign consultant who has violated Section 1.510. A campaign consultant whose registration has been canceled pursuant to this Section may not provide campaign consulting services in exchange for economic consideration for the period that the registration is canceled. When the period of cancellation ends, the campaign consultant may reregister pursuant to Section 1.515(a) and (c).
(d) Any person or entity which knowingly or negligently violates or who causes any other person to violate Section 1.510 may be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney for an amount up to $5,000 per violation, or three times the amount not properly reported, whichever is greater.
(e) Any person or entity which intentionally or negligently violates Section 1.510 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(f) No administrative, civil, or criminal action shall be maintained to enforce Section 1.510 unless brought within four years after the date the cause of action accrued or the date that the facts constituting the cause of action were discovered by the Ethics Commission, City Attorney, or District Attorney, whichever is later.
(g) In investigating any alleged violation of Section 1.510, the Ethics Commission and City Attorney shall have the power to inspect, upon reasonable notice, all documents required to be maintained under Section 1.515(i). This power to inspect documents is in addition to other powers conferred on the Ethics Commission and City Attorney by the Charter, or by ordinance, including the power of subpoena.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.545; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
Editor's note
*The Ethics Commission's authority to adopt rules and regulations was previously codified as Charter Section 3.699-9. Under Proposition E, adopted by the San Francisco voters on November 7, 1995, Charter Section 3.699-9 was recodified as Charter Section 15.102. Accordingly, references to Section 3.699-9 have been changed to Section 15.102.
SEC. 1.530. CODE OF CONDUCT.
At the time of initial registration and reregistration, each campaign consultant must elect whether to voluntarily comply with the following Code of Conduct:
"I am familiar with all the laws, rules and regulations applicable to local campaigns;
"I will not knowingly make false statements about the qualifications or positions of any candidate, or about the scope and effect of any measure;
"I will not knowingly make false statements that any real or fictitious person supports or opposes a candidate or measure;
"In the event that I make inadvertent false statements about the qualifications or positions of any candidate or about the scope and effect of any measure, I will endeavor to provide corrected information in written form to the Ethics Commission within five days;
"I will refrain from appealing to prejudice in the conduct of a campaign, and from conducting, managing or advising a campaign, which appeals to prejudice based on race, gender, ethnic background, religious affiliation or nonaffiliation, sexual orientation, age, disability, or economic status;
"I will refrain from seeking to obtain the support of or opposition to any candidate or measure by the use of financial inducements or by the use of threats or coercion;
"I will refrain from influencing the submission of a measure to the San Francisco voters for the sole purpose of obtaining economic consideration for campaign consulting services;
"I will disclose through a filing at the San Francisco Ethics Commission any agreements that would result in a campaign consulting contract resulting from my efforts to influence the submission of a measure to the San Francisco voters at the time that I seek submission of any such measure;
"I will refrain from seeking to evade, or participating in efforts of others to evade, the legal requirements in laws pertaining to political campaigns;
"I will not knowingly participate in the preparation, dissemination, or broadcast of paid political advertising or campaign materials that contain false information; and
"I will refrain from accepting clients whose interests are adverse to each other."
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.546; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
SEC. 1.535. SEVERABILITY.
If any Section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Chapter, or the application thereof to any person or entity is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Chapter or its application to other persons, business entities, or organizations. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have adopted this Chapter, and each Section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more Sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions, or the application thereof to any person or entity, to be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.547; added by Proposition G, 11/4/97)
SEC. 1.540. ELECTRONIC FILING OF STATEMENTS AND REPORTS.
(a) ELECTRONIC FILLING REQUIRED. Whenever campaign consultants are required by this Chapter to file an original statement or report, the Ethics Commission may require the consultants to file an electronic copy of the statement or report. The electronic copy shall be due no later than the deadline imposed by this Chapter for filing the original statement or report.
(b) POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
(i) Pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 15.102, the Ethics Commission shall adopt regulations specifying the electronic filing requirements applicable to campaign consultants. The Ethics Commission shall adopt these regulations no fewer than 120 days before the electronic filing requirements are effective.
(ii) The Ethics Commission shall prescribe the format for electronic copies of statements and reports no fewer than 90 days before the statements and reports are due to be filed.
(c) PENALTIES. If any campaign consultant files an electronic copy of a statement or report after the deadline imposed by this Section, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, fine the campaign consultant $10 per day after the deadline until the electronic copy is received by the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a fine if the Commission determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall deposit funds collected under this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(Added by Ord. 223-00, File No. 000742, App. 9/29/2000)
SEC. 1.545. CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.
Lobbying by campaign consultants and employees of campaign consultants is governed by the applicable provisions of Article II, Chapter 1 of this Code, including Section 2.117, which prohibits campaign consultants and employees of campaign consultants from communicating with current and former clients on behalf of another person or entity for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action in exchange for economic consideration.
(Added by Ord. 28-04, File No. 031656, App. 2/20/2004)
ARTICLE II:
LOBBYING
Chapter1.REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS
CHAPTER 1:
REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS
Sec. 2.100.Findings.Sec. 2.105.Definitions.Sec. 2.110.Registration and Disclosures; Fees; Termination of Registration.Sec. 2.115.Prohibitions.Sec. 2.116.Lobbyist Training.Sec. 2.117.Lobbying by Campaign Consultants.Sec. 2.120.Employment of City and County Officers or Employees; Appointment of Employee to City and County Office.Sec. 2.125.Reserved. Sec. 2.130.Employment of Unregistered Persons.Sec. 2.135.Filing Under Penalty of Perjury; Retention of Documents.Sec. 2.140.Powers and Duties of the Ethics Commission.Sec. 2.145.Administrative and Civil Enforcement and Penalties.Sec. 2.150.Limitation of Actions.Sec. 2.155.Severability.Sec. 2.160.Reserved.
SEC. 2.100. FINDINGS.
(a) The Board of Supervisors finds that public disclosure of the identity and extent of efforts of lobbyists to influence decision-making regarding local legislative and administrative matters is essential to protect public confidence in the responsiveness and representative nature of government officials and institutions. It is the purpose and intent of the Board of Supervisors to impose reasonable registration and disclosure requirements to reveal information about lobbyists' efforts to influence decision-making regarding local legislative and administrative matters.
(b) Corruption and the appearance of corruption in the form of campaign consultants exploiting their influence with City officials on behalf of private interests may erode public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of City governmental decisions. The City and County of San Francisco has a compelling interest in preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption which could result in such erosion of public confidence. Prohibitions on campaign consultants lobbying current and former clients will protect public confidence in the electoral and governmental processes. It is the purpose and intent of the people of the City and County of San Francisco in enacting this Chapter to prohibit campaign consultants from exploiting or appearing to exploit their influence with City officials on behalf of private interests.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 28-04, File No. 031656, App. 2/20/2004; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.520; added by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.105. DEFINITIONS.
Whenever used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the definitions provided in this Section:
(a) "Activity expenses" means any expense incurred or payment made by a lobbyist or a lobbyist's client at the behest of the lobbyist, or arranged by a lobbyist or a lobbyist's client at the behest of the lobbyist, which benefits in whole or in part any: officer of the City and County; candidate for City and County office; aide to a member of the Board of Supervisors; or member of the immediate family or the registered domestic partner of an officer, candidate, or aide to a member of the Board of Supervisors. An expense or payment is not an "activity expense" unless it is incurred or made within three months of a contact with the officer, candidate, or Supervisor's aide who benefits from the expense or payment, or whose immediate family member or registered domestic partner benefits from the expense or payment. "Activity expenses" include honoraria, consulting fees, salaries, and any other thing of value totaling more than $25 in value in a consecutive three-month period, but do not include political contributions.
(b) "Candidate" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 1.104 of this Code.
(c) "Client" means the person for whom lobbyist services are performed by a lobbyist.
(d) "Contact" means communication, oral or written, including communication made through an agent, associate or employee, for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.
(1) The following activities are not "contacts" within the meaning of this Chapter.
(A) A representative of a news media organization gathering news and information or disseminating the same to the public, even if the organization, in the ordinary course of business, publishes news items, editorials or other commentary, or paid advertisements, that urge action upon local legislative or administrative matters;
(B) A person providing oral or written testimony that becomes part of the record of a public hearing; provided, however, that if the person making the appearance or providing testimony has already qualified as a lobbyist under this Chapter and is appearing or testifying on behalf of a client, the lobbyist's testimony shall identify the client on whose behalf the lobbyist is appearing or testifying;
(C) A person performing a duty or service that can be performed only by an attorney, an architect, or a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of California, including any communication by an attorney in connection with litigation involving the City and County or a claim filed pursuant to Administrative Code Section 10.20-1 et seq.;
(D) A person making a speech or producing any publication or other material that is distributed and made available to the public, through radio, television, cable television, or other medium of mass communication;
(E) A person providing written information in response to an oral or written request made by an officer of the City and County, provided that the written information is a public record available for public review;
(F) A person providing oral or written information pursuant to a subpoena, or otherwise compelled by law or regulation;
(G) A person providing oral or written information in response to a request for proposals, request for qualifications, or other similar request, provided that the information is directed to the department or official specifically designated in the request to receive such information;
(H) A person submitting a written petition for local legislative or administrative action, provided that the petition is a public record available for public review;
(I) A person making an oral or written request for a meeting, or any other similar administrative request, if the request does not include an attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action;
(J) A person appearing before an officer of the City and County pursuant to any procedure established by law or regulation for levying an assessment against real property for the construction or maintenance of an improvement;
(K) A person providing purely technical data, analysis, or expertise in the presence of a registered lobbyist;
(L) A person distributing to any officer of the City and County any regularly published newsletter or other periodical which is not primarily directed at influencing local legislative or administrative action;
(M) A person disseminating information or material on behalf of an organization or entity to all or a significant segment of the organization's or entity's employees or members;
(N) A person communicating in connection with the administration of an existing contract between the person and the City and County of San Francisco. For purposes of this Subsection, communication, "in connection with the administration of an existing contract" includes, but is not limited to, communication regarding: insurance and bonding; contract performance and/or default; requests for in-scope change orders; legislative mandates imposed on contractors by the City and County; payments and invoicing; personnel changes; prevailing wage verification; liquidated damages and other penalties for breach of contract; audits; assignments; and subcontracting. Communication "in connection with the administration of an existing contract" does not include communication regarding new contracts, or out-of-scope change orders;
(O) A person negotiating the terms of a contract after being selected to enter into a contract with the City and County through a competitive bidding process, or as otherwise permitted under the Administrative Code;
(P) A person appearing as a party or a representative of a party in an administrative adjudicatory proceeding before a City agency or department; and
(Q) A person communicating, on behalf of a labor union representing City employees, regarding the establishment, amendment, or interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding with the City, or communicating about a management decision regarding the working conditions of employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement or a memorandum of understanding with the City.
(2) The following activities are not "contacts" for the purpose of determining whether a person qualifies as a "lobbyist," but are "contacts" for purpose of disclosures required by this Chapter:
(A) A person providing oral information to an officer of the City and County in response to an oral or written request made by that officer;
(B) A person making an oral or written request for the status of an action; and
(C) A person participating in a public interested persons meeting, workshop, or other forum convened by a City agency or department for the purpose of soliciting public input.
(e) "Economic consideration" means any payments, fees, reimbursement for expenses, gifts, or anything else of value, provided that "economic consideration" does not include salary, wages or benefits furnished by a federal, state or local government agency.
(f) "Gift" shall be defined as set forth in the Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 81000 et seq., and the regulations adopted thereunder.
(g) "Lobbyist" means any individual who:
(1) receives or is promised economic consideration of $3,000 or more within three consecutive calendar months for lobbyist services; and
(2) on behalf of the persons providing the economic consideration, makes any contact with an officer of the City and County.
(h) "Lobbyist services" means services rendered for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action, including but not limited to contacts with officers of the City and County of San Francisco.
(i) "Local legislative or administrative action" includes, but is not limited to, the drafting, introduction, consideration, modification, enactment, defeat, approval, veto, granting or denial by any officer of the City and County of any resolution, motion, appeal, application, petition, nomination, ordinance, amendment, approval, referral, permit, license, entitlement to use or contract.
(j) "Measure" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 1.104 of this Code.
(k) "Officer of the City and County" means any officer identified in San Francisco Administrative Code Section 1.50, as well as any official body composed of such officers. In addition, for purposes of this Chapter, "officer of the City and County" includes (1) members of the Board of Education, Community College Board, Housing Authority, Redevelopment Agency, and Transportation Authority, as well as any official body composed of such officers, (2) The Zoning Administrator, (3) the City Engineer, (4) the County Surveyor, and (5) the Bureau Chief of the Department of Public Works' Bureau of Street Use and Mapping.
(l) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, firm, labor union or other organization or entity, however organized.
(m) "Public hearing" means any open, noticed proceeding.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.521; added by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99; Ord. 280-08, File No. 081285, App. 12/5/2008; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
SEC. 2.110. REGISTRATION AND DISCLOSURES; FEES; TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION.
(a) REGISTRATION OF LOBBYISTS REQUIRED. Lobbyists shall register with the Ethics Commission and comply with the disclosure requirements imposed by this Chapter. Such registration shall occur no later than five business days of qualifying as a lobbyist, but the lobbyist shall register prior to making any additional contacts with an officer of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) REGISTRATION. At the time of initial registration each lobbyist shall report to the Ethics Commission the following information:
(1) The name, business address, e-mail address, and business telephone number of the lobbyist;
(2) The name, business address, and business telephone number of each client for whom the lobbyist is performing lobbyist services;
(3) The name, business address, and business telephone number of the lobbyist's employer, firm or business affiliation; and
(4) Any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Chapter.
(c) LOBBYIST DISCLOSURES. For each calendar month, each lobbyist shall submit the following information no later than the fifteenth calendar day following the end of the month:
(1) The name, business address and business telephone number of each person from whom the lobbyist or the lobbyist's employer received or expected to receive economic consideration to influence local legislative or administrative action during the reporting period;
(2) The name of each officer of the City and County of San Francisco with whom the lobbyist made a contact during the reporting period;
(3) The date on which each contact was made;
(4) The local legislative or administrative action that the lobbyist sought to influence, including, if any, the title and file number of any resolution, motion, appeal, application, petition, nomination, ordinance, amendment, approval, referral, permit, license, entitlement, or contract, and the outcome sought by the client;
(5) The client on whose behalf each contact was made;
(6) The amount of economic consideration received or expected by the lobbyist or the lobbyist's employer from each client during the reporting period;
(7) All activity expenses incurred by the lobbyist during the reporting period, including the following information:
(A) The date and amount of each activity expense;
(B) The full name and official position, if any, of the beneficiary of each activity expense, a description of the benefit, and the amount of the benefit;
(C) The full name of the payee of each activity expense if other than the beneficiary;
(D) Whenever a lobbyist is required to report a salary of an individual pursuant to this Subsection, the lobbyist need only disclose whether the total salary payments made to the individual during the reporting period was less than or equal to $250, greater than $250 but less than or equal to $1,000, greater than $1,000 but less than or equal to $10,000, or greater than $10,000.
(8) All political contributions of $100 or more made or delivered by the lobbyist or the lobbyist's employer, or made by a client at the behest of the lobbyist or the lobbyist's employer during the reporting period to an officer of the City and County, a candidate for such office, a committee controlled by such officer or candidate, or a committee primarily formed to support or oppose such officer or candidate, or any committee primarily formed to support or oppose a ballot measure to be voted on only in San Francisco. This report shall include such political contributions arranged by the lobbyist, or for which the lobbyist acted as an agent or intermediary.
The following information regarding each political contribution shall be submitted to the Ethics Commission:
(A) The amount of the contribution;
(B) The name of the contributor;
(C) The date on which the contribution was made;
(D) The contributor's occupation;
(E) The contributor's employer, or if self-employed, the name of the contributor's business; and
(F) The committee to which the contribution was made.
(9) For each contact at which a person providing purely technical data, analysis, or expertise was present, as described in Section 2.105(d)(1)(K), the name, address, employer and area of expertise of the person providing the data, analysis or expertise.
(10) Any amendments to the lobbyist's registration information required by Subsection (b).
(11) Any other information required by the Ethics Commission consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Chapter.
(d) REGISTRATION AND FILING OF DISCLOSURES BY ORGANIZATIONS. The Ethics Commission is authorized to establish procedures to permit the registration and filing of lobbyist disclosures by a business, firm, or organization on behalf of the individual lobbyists employed by those businesses, firms, or organizations.
(e) FEES; TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION.
(1) At the time of registration each lobbyist shall pay a fee of $500. On or before every subsequent February 1, each registered lobbyist shall pay an additional fee of $500.
(2) Failure to pay the annual fee by February 1 shall constitute a termination of a lobbyist's registration with the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission is also authorized to establish additional processes for the termination of a lobbyist's registration.
(3) The Ethics Commission shall waive all registration fees for any full-time employee of a tax-exempt organization presenting proof of the organization's tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4).
(4) The Ethics Commission shall deposit all fees collected pursuant to this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 129-03, File No. 030250, App. 5/30/2003; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.522; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 390-97, App. 10/17/97; Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99; Ord. 129-03, File No. 030250, App. 5/30/2003)
SEC. 2.115. PROHIBITIONS.
(a) GIFT LIMIT. No lobbyist shall make gifts to an officer of the City and County that have a fair market value of more than $25, except for those gifts that would qualify for one of the exemptions under Section 3.216(b) of this Code and its implementing regulations.
(b) FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. No lobbyist shall cause or influence the introduction or initiation of any local legislative or administrative action for the purpose of thereafter being employed or retained to secure its granting, denial, confirmation, rejection, passage or defeat.
(c) FICTITIOUS PERSONS. No lobbyist shall contact any officer of the City and County in the name of any fictitious person or in the name of any real person, except with the consent of such real person.
(d) EVASION OF OBLIGATIONS. No lobbyist shall attempt to evade the obligations imposed by this Chapter through indirect efforts or through the use of agents, associates or employees:
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.523; added by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.116. LOBBYIST TRAINING.
Each lobbyist must complete a lobbyist training session offered by the Ethics Commission within one year of the lobbyist's initial registration. Thereafter, lobbyists shall attend additional training sessions as required by the Executive Director, at his or her discretion.
(Added by Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
SEC. 2.117. LOBBYING BY CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS.
(a) PROHIBITION. No campaign consultant, individual who has an ownership interest in the campaign consultant, or an employee of the campaign consultant shall communicate with any officer of the City and County who is a current or former client of the campaign consultant on behalf of another person or entity (other than the City and County) in exchange for economic consideration for the purpose of influencing local legislative or administrative action.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.
(1) This prohibition shall not apply to:
(A) an employee of a campaign consultant whose sole duties are clerical; or
(B) an employee of a campaign consultant who did not personally provide campaign consulting services to the officer of the City and County with whom the employee seeks to communicate in order to influence local legislative or administrative action.
(2) The exceptions in Subsection (b)(1) shall not apply to any person who communicates with an officer of the City and County in his or her capacity as an employee of the campaign consultant who is prohibited by Subsection (a) from making the communication.
(c) DEFINITIONS. Whenever the following words or phrases are used in this Section, they shall mean:
(1) "Campaign consultant" shall have the same meaning as in Article I, Chapter 5, Section 1.505 of this Code.
(2) "Campaign consulting services" shall have the same meaning as in Article I, Chapter 5, Section 1.505 of this Code.
(3) "Current client" shall mean a person for whom the campaign consultant has filed a client authorization statement pursuant to Article I, Chapter 5, Section 1.515(d) of this Code and not filed a client termination statement pursuant to Article I, Chapter 5, Section 1.515(f) of this Code. If such person is a committee as defined by Section 82013 of the California Government Code, the current client shall be any individual who controls such committee; any candidate that such committee was primarily formed to support; and any proponent or opponent of a ballot measure that the committee is primarily formed to support or oppose.
(4) "Employee" shall mean an individual employed by a campaign consultant, but does not include any individual who has an ownership interest in the campaign consultant that employs them.
(5) "Former client" shall mean a person for whom the campaign consultant has filed a client termination statement pursuant to Article I, Chapter 5, Section 1.515(f) of this Code within the 60 months prior to communicating with the person.
(Added by Ord. 28-04, File No. 031656, App. 2/20/2004; Ord. 239-08, File No. 080162, ß 1, App. 10/30/2008; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
SEC. 2.120. EMPLOYMENT OF CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES; APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEE TO CITY AND COUNTY OFFICE.
(a) EMPLOYMENT OF CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES. If any lobbyist employs or requests, recommends or causes a client of the lobbyist to employ, and such client does employ, any officer of the City and County, any immediate family member or registered domestic partner of an officer of the City and County, or any person known by such lobbyist to be a full-time employee of the City and County, in any capacity whatsoever, the lobbyist shall file within 10 days after such employment a statement with the Ethics Commission setting out the name of the employee, the date first employed, the nature of the employment duties, and the salary or rate of pay of the employee.
(b) APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEE TO CITY OFFICE. If an employee of a lobbyist is appointed to City or County office, the lobbyist shall file within 10 days after such appointment a statement with the Ethics Commission setting out the name of the employee, the date first employed, the nature of the employment duties, and the salary or rate of pay of the employee.
(c) REPORT OF SALARY. Whenever a filer is required to report the salary of an employee who is also an officer or employee of the City and County pursuant to this Section, the filer need only disclose whether the total salary payments made to the employee are less than or equal to $250, greater than $250 but less than or equal to $1,000, greater than $1,000 but less than or equal to $10,000, or greater than $10,000.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.524; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.125 RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Repealed by Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.525; added by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.130. EMPLOYMENT OF UNREGISTERED PERSONS.
It shall be unlawful knowingly to pay any lobbyist to contact any officer of the City and County of San Francisco, if said lobbyist is required to register under this Chapter and has not done so by the deadlines imposed in this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.526; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.135. FILING UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY; RETENTION OF DOCUMENTS.
All information required under this Chapter shall be submitted to the Ethics Commission, in the format designated by the Commission. The lobbyist shall verify, under penalty of perjury, the accuracy and completeness of the information provided under this Chapter. The lobbyist shall retain for a period of five years all books, papers and documents necessary to substantiate the registration and disclosure reports required by this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.527; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.140. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
(a) The Ethics Commission shall prescribe the format for the submission of all information required by this Chapter.
(b) Upon request by the Board of Supervisors or the Mayor, the Ethics Commission shall compile the information submitted pursuant to this Chapter and forward a report of the compiled information to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor within thirty days of receipt of the request.
(c) Upon request by the Board of Supervisors or the Mayor, the Ethics Commission shall file a report with the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor on the implementation of this Chapter within thirty days of receipt of the request.
(d) The Ethics Commission shall preserve all original reports, statements, and other records required to be kept or filed under this Chapter for a period of five years. Such reports, statements, and records shall constitute a part of the public records of the Ethics Commission and shall be open to public inspection.
(e) The Ethics Commission shall provide formal and informal advice regarding the duties under this Chapter of a person or entity pursuant to the procedures specified in San Francisco Charter Section C3.699-12.
(f) The Ethics Commission shall have the power to adopt all reasonable and necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Chapter pursuant to Charter Section 15.102.
(g) The Ethics Commission shall conduct quarterly workshops concerning the laws relating to lobbying.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.528; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.145. ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES.
(a) If any lobbyist fails to submit any information required by this Chapter after any applicable deadline, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, impose a late filing fee of $50 per day after the deadline until the information is received by the Ethics Commission. The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a late filing fee if the Executive Director determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter. If such reduction or waiver equals or exceeds $500, the Executive Director shall notify the Commission of his or her determination. Thereafter, any two or more members of the Commission may cause the reduction or waiver to be calendared for consideration by the full Commission in open session at the next Commission meeting occurring no sooner than ten days from the date the Executive Director informs the Commission of the Executive Director's recommendation. A Commissioner's request that a reduction or waiver be calendared must be received by the Executive Director no fewer than five days prior to the date of the meeting, so that the Executive Director may comply with the applicable notice and agenda requirements. The Ethics Commission shall deposit funds collected under this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) Any person who knowingly or negligently violates this Chapter, including but not limited to, by providing inaccurate or incomplete information regarding lobbying activities, may be liable in an administrative proceeding before the Ethics Commission pursuant to Charter Section C3.699-13. In addition to the administrative penalties set forth in the Charter, the Ethics Commission may issue warning letters regarding potential violations of this Chapter.
(c) Any person or entity which knowingly or negligently violates this Chapter may be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney for an amount up to $5,000 per violation, or three times the amount not properly reported, or three times the amount given or received in excess of the gift limit, whichever is greater.
(d) In investigating any alleged violation of this Chapter the Ethics Commission and City Attorney shall have the power to inspect all documents required to be maintained under this Chapter. This power to inspect documents is in addition to other powers conferred on the Ethics Commission and City Attorney by the Charter or by ordinance, including the power of subpoena.
(e) Should two or more persons be responsible for any violation under this Chapter, they may be jointly and severally liable. If a business, firm or organization registers or files lobbyist disclosures on behalf of its employees pursuant to Section 2.110(d), the business, firm or organization may be held jointly and severally liable for any failure to disclose its employees' lobbying activities.
(f) The City Attorney may also bring an action to revoke for up to one year the registration of any lobbyist who has knowingly violated this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 129-03, File No. 030250, App. 5/30/2003; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.529; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 399-94, App. 11/23/94; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 390-97, App. 10/17/97; Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99; Ord. 129-03, File No. 030250, App. 5/30/2003)
SEC. 2.150. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.
(a) No civil action shall be brought to enforce this Chapter unless brought within four years after the date the cause of action accrued or the date that the facts constituting the cause of action were discovered by the City Attorney. For the purpose of this Subsection, a civil action is brought when the City Attorney files the action in a court of law.
(b) No administrative action alleging a violation of this Chapter and brought under Charter Section C3.699-13 shall be brought more than four years after the date of events which form the basis of the complaint, or the date that the events constituting the basis of the complaint were discovered by the Ethics Commission. For the purpose of this Subsection, a complaint is brought by the Executive Director of the Ethics Commission upon the date of service of the probable cause report.
(c) A civil action brought to enforce or collect penalties or late filing fees imposed under this Chapter shall be brought within four years after the date on which the penalty or late filing fee was imposed. For purposes of this Subsection, a penalty or late filing fee is imposed when the Ethics Commission has issued a final decision in an enforcement action imposing a penalty for a violation of this Chapter or the Ethics Commission or Executive Director has made a final determination regarding the amount of a late filing fee imposed under this Chapter. The Ethics Commission or Executive Director does not make a final determination regarding the amount of a late filing fee imposed under this Chapter until the Ethics Commission or Executive Director has made a determination to accept or refuse any request to waive a late filing fee where such waiver has been timely requested and is expressly authorized by statute, ordinance, or regulation. For the purpose of this Subsection, a civil action is brought when the City Attorney files the action in a court of law.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.530; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.155. SEVERABILITY.
If any Section, Subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Chapter, or the application thereof to any person, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Chapter or its application to other persons. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have adopted this Chapter, and each Section, Subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more Sections, Subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions, or the application thereof to any person, to be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000) (Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 16.531; added by Ord. 40-88, App. 2/18/88; amended by Ord. 19-99, App. 2/19/99)
SEC. 2.160 RESERVED.
(Added by Ord. 222-00, File No. 000741, App. 9/29/2000; Repealed by Ord. 235-09, File No. 090833, App. 11/10/2009)
ARTICLE III:
CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
Chapter1.CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE: FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE2.CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND OTHER PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES3.ETHICS COMMISSION4.PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSING
CHAPTER 1:
CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE: FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Sec. 3.1-100.Definitions.Sec. 3.1-101.Adoption of State Code.Sec. 3.1-102.Filing Requirements.Sec. 3.1-102.5.Failure to File.Sec. 3.1-103.Filing Officers.Sec. 3.1-104.Filing Officer Reports.Sec. 3.1-105.Notice of Appointment and Resignation.Sec. 3.1-106.Disclosure Categories.Sec. 3.1-107.Disclosure Category 1.Sec. 3.1-108.Consultants.Sec. 3.1-110.Aging and Adult Services, Department of.Sec. 3.1-120.Airport.Sec. 3.1-130.Appeals, Board of.Sec. 3.1-135.Asian Art Museum.Sec. 3.1-140.Arts Commission.Sec. 3.1-145.Assessor-Recorder.Sec. 3.1-150.Board of Supervisors.Sec. 3.1-155.Building Inspection, Department of.Sec. 3.1-158.Child Support Services, Department of.Sec. 3.1-160.Children and Families First Commission.Sec. 3.1-163.Children, Youth and Their Families, Department of.Sec. 3.1-165.Citizen Complaints, Office of.Sec. 3.1-169.Citizen's General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee.Sec. 3.1-175.City Attorney.Sec. 3.1-180.Civil Grand Jury.Sec. 3.1-185.Civil Service Commission.Sec. 3.1-190.Community College District.Sec. 3.1-195.Controller.Sec. 3.1-205.District Attorney.Sec. 3.1-207.Economic and Workforce Development, Office of.Sec. 3.1-215.Elections, Department of.Sec. 3.1-218.Emergency Management, Department of.Sec. 3.1-225.Environment, Department of the.Sec. 3.1-230.Ethics Commission.Sec. 3.1-240.Film Commission.Sec. 3.1-242.Finance Corporation.Sec. 3.1-245.Fine Arts Museums.Sec. 3.1-250.Fire Department.Sec. 3.1-251.General Services Agency ñ City Administrator.Sec. 3.1-252.General Services Agency ñ Public Works, Department of.Sec. 3.1-253.General Services Agency ñ Technology, Department of.Sec. 3.1-255.Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority.Sec. 3.1-260.Health Authority.Sec. 3.1-267.Health Service System.Sec. 3.1-268.Retiree Health Care Trust Fund.Sec. 3.1-269.Historic Preservation Commission.Sec. 3.1-270.Housing Authority.Sec. 3.1-275.Human Resources, Department of.Sec. 3.1-280.Human Rights Commission.Sec. 3.1-285.Human Services Agency.Sec. 3.1-295.Juvenile Probation Commission.Sec. 3.1-305.Law Library.Sec. 3.1-310.Library, Public.Sec. 3.1-312.Local Agency Formation Commission.Sec. 3.1-315.Mayor's Office.Sec. 3.1-320.Municipal Transportation Agency.Sec. 3.1-325.Parking Authority.Sec. 3.1-335.Planning Department.Sec. 3.1-340.Police Department.Sec. 3.1-345.Port.Sec. 3.1-350.Produce Market Corporation.Sec. 3.1-360.Public Defender.Sec. 3.1-362.Public Health, Department of.Sec. 3.1-365.Public Utilities Commission.Sec. 3.1-390.Recreation and Park Department.Sec. 3.1-400.Remote Access Network Board.Sec. 3.1-405.Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board.Sec. 3.1-410.Retirement System.Sec. 3.1-415.Sheriff.Sec. 3.1-420.San Francisco Unified School District.Sec. 3.1-422.Small Business, Office of.Sec. 3.1-424.Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.Sec. 3.1-435.Transportation Authority, San Francisco County.Sec. 3.1-440.Treasure Island Development Authority.Sec. 3.1-445.Treasurer-Tax Collector.Sec. 3.1-450.War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.Sec. 3.1-455.Women, Department on the Status of.Sec. 3.1-457.Workforce Investment Board.Sec. 3.1-460.Court Positions.Sec. 3.1-500.Positions for Which the Fair Political Practices Commission Is the Filing Officer.Sec. 3.1-510.Agency Positions that Manage Public Investments for Purposes of Section 87200 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3.1-100. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this chapter:
(a) "Political Reform Act" means the Political Reform Act of 1974, as said Act reads on the date this ordinance is adopted and as said Act may be amended from time to time.
(b) All other words used in this ordinance shall have the meanings ascribed to them by the Political Reform Act, if the Act provides a definition.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 58.1; added by Ord. 3-90, App. 1/5/90; amended by Ord. 340-99, File No. 992046, App. 12/30/99)
SEC. 3.1-101. ADOPTION OF STATE CODE.
The provisions of Regulation 18730 of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (2 Cal. Admin. Code ß 18730), as the regulation reads on the date this ordinance is adopted and as the regulation may be amended from time to time by the Fair Political Practices Commission, are hereby adopted and incorporated herein by this reference as the Conflict of Interest Code for agencies of the City and County of San Francisco listed in this Chapter, commencing with Section 3.1-110. The San Francisco Ethics Commission shall maintain copies of Regulation 18730.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 58.2; added by Ord. 3-90, App. 1/5/90; amended by Ord. 340-99, File No. 992046, App. 12/30/99)
SEC. 3.1-102. FILING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Officers and Employees. Each officer and employee of the City and County of San Francisco holding a position designated in this Chapter, other than those officials identified in Section 3.1-500, shall file statements disclosing the information required by the disclosure categories set forth in this Chapter, on such forms as may be specified by the Fair Political Practices Commission (Form 700 unless otherwise provided by the Commission), and at such times required by Regulation 18730. A copy of the forms to be used shall be supplied by the Ethics Commission to each filing officer. Every officer and employee holding a position designated in this Chapter shall retain his or her filing obligations, notwithstanding any reclassification or title change that may occur in the future as to the same job duties.
(b) Candidates. Each candidate for City elective office, as that term is defined in Chapter 1 of Article I of this Code, shall file no later than the final filing date for a declaration of candidacy, a statement disclosing the information required by the disclosure category for the City elective office sought by the candidate. Candidates shall file such statements with the Department of Elections on the same forms as used by filers under subsection (a) of this Section. This statement shall not be required if the candidate has filed, within 60 days prior to the filing of his or her declaration of candidacy, a statement for the same jurisdiction pursuant to this Chapter or Sections 87202 or 87203 of the California Government Code.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; Ord. 98-06, File No. 051876, App. 5/19/2006)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 58.3; added by Ord. 3-90, App. 1/5/90; amended by Ord. 311-92, App. 10/9/92; Ord. 386-95, App. 12/14/95; Ord. 340-99, File No. 992046, App. 12/30/99)
SEC. 3.1-102.5. FAILURE TO FILE.
(a) Subject to the removal and Civil Service provisions of the Charter as well as any applicable Civil Service Rules, any officer or employee of the City and County of San Francisco who fails to file any statement required by Sections 3.1-101 and 3.1-102 of the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code within 30 days after receiving notice from the Ethics Commission of a failure to file may be subject to disciplinary action by his or her appointing authority, including removal from office or termination of employment.
(b) The Ethics Commission may issue a letter to an appointing authority recommending removal of any City officer or termination of any City employee who has failed to file a statement required by Sections 3.1-101 and 3.1-102 of the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code if the City officer or employee has not filed the required statement within 30 days of receiving notice from the Ethics Commission of his or her failure to file.
(c) [Reserved.]
(Added by Proposition E, 11/4/2003; Ord. 80-07, File No. 070122, App. 4/19/2007)
SEC. 3.1-103. FILING OFFICERS.
Persons holding designated positions shall file the specified statements, declarations, and certificates with the filing officers designated in this Section.
(a) MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
(1) Members of the following boards and commissions shall file their Form 700 Statements of Economic Interests, Sunshine Ordinance Declarations, and Certificates of Ethics Training with the Ethics Commission:
Access Appeals Commission
Aging and Adult Services Commission
Airport Commission
Arts Commission
Asian Art Museum Commission
Assessment Appeals Board
Board of Appeals
Board of Examiners
Board of Supervisors
Building Inspection Commission
Children and Families First Commission
Citizen's General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee