New-Law-and-Fair-Political-Practices-Commission
Transcription
New-Law-and-Fair-Political-Practices-Commission
Presented by Lynda Cassady Fair Political Practices Commission December, 2014 CAMPAIGN REPORTING CAMPAIGN ADS SEI/FORM 700 GOVT CODE 1090 CONFLICT OF INTEREST Legal advice@fppc.ca.gov Legal advice@fppc.ca.gov AGENCY PAYMENTS TICKETS TRAVEL & CHARITY EVENTS REVOLVING DOOR Legal advice@fppc.ca.gov STATE LOBBYING AGENCY‘S MASS MAILINGS 2 New Chair… Jodi Remke Dixie Howard Retired Webinar Training Free online campaign training posted on website View FPPC Commission Meetings‐YouTube Trending Among Friends “Top 10 Contributors” on the FPPC Website The FPPC posts the top 10 contributors to state ballot measure committees and state primary formed committees that raise $1 million or more. Smart Disclosure! 2014/15 Form 700 SEI Gift Tracking Mobile App State Lobbyists & Lobbying Firms may not The app is for California state and local officials & employees who are required to file form 700 host fundraisers for state officials they lobby. Posted in January on FPPC website! Clerks will all be e‐mailed the Form 700, factsheet & newsletter. 3 • • • • • • Email Advice: 10,000 + Telephone Advice: 11,000 + Webinar/Seminar 50+ SEIs on website: 4,000 posted annually Form 700s: 25,000 administered Staff: 20! annually 4 Complete Campaign Manuals. Increase the number of webinars posted on the FPPC website Prepare a Candidate Toolkit— Designed for local candidates. 5 Campaign 2014 Form 700 Form 800 series 5 • $50 Committee Fee to SOS • Defeated candidates that filed a Form 470 have no further filing requirements • January 31, 2015: Most committees must file a Form 460 6 Local agencies may approve ordinances permitting/requiring electronic filing of campaign statements Redaction requirements for mandated internet postings Paper filings not required 8 7 • Restriction on Surplus funds is triggered 90 days after leaving office or post election period, whichever is last. Nov Election: March 31st. (AB 800) • Paid Spokesperson Reporting: Payments of any amount for certain individuals to appear in a ballot measure ad. Specific disclosure statements must be made if an individual does not represent the occupation portrayed in the ad. (AB 510) 8 • Prohibits campaign funds: - to pay for restitution fines. (AB 1666) - to pay fines assessed because a candidate made campaign expenditures for his/her personal benefit. (AB 1692) • Prohibits Spousal payments of Campaign Funds - prohibits a spouse/partner of an elected officer or a candidate for elective office from receiving compensation in exchange for any services rendered from campaign funds held by a controlled committee of the officer or candidate. (AB 2320 (Fong) – Chapter 902, Statutes of 2014, effective January 1, 2015.) 8 • Effective July 2014 legislation changed the manner in which multi-purpose organizations must report political payments and the sources of their funds. • FPPC prepared a fact sheet and is in the process of updating its manuals. 9 • Candidate committees must include specific information on the Form 460 when the campaign committee pays for gifts, meals and travel. • Example: Candidate and staff have a meeting at a Sandy’s restaurant. Form 460 must show in the description: 1/10/14; 4 attended. Candidate/consultant discussed media campaign See Campaign FAQs 10 Mass mailings and emails must have “paid for by…candidate/committee name.” 11 • Re-election: Incumbents must file Form 501 and, if using existing committee, amend Form 410 to indicate current election and change committee name • Committee Name: Candidate’s name, office and year. Committee to Elect Sandy Johnson City Council 2015 12 90-day Report •Form 497: 24 hrs. reporting •Contributions received on Fri/Sat can be reported on Monday; unless it is the weekend before the election. •Form 496: “IEs” No weekend rule. 13 Only minor clarifying changes to the instructions Gift Limit is $460 for calendar year 2015 and 2016 Reminders Councilmembers who are reelected or planning commissioners elected to city council continue to file annuals – NO Assuming Office or Leaving Office statements required. 14 • In 2014 and 2015 the FPPC Enforcement Division pursued over 500 cases of local public officials that did not properly report gifts of meals and entertainment. • FPPC’s website has an easy to follow FAQ on common reporting issues. • Remind public officials of the FPPC gift app—this free app can help officials track gift reporting. 15 Review list and submit signed notice to FPPC Forward assuming and leaving office statements to FPPC during the year 16 Project Status • As an information technology project of a State agency, the Form 700 electronic filing system must be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Technology. • The Department has a mandatory project approval process, which is to ensure projects are undertaken with clear business objectives, accurate costs and realistic schedules. The project approval process has several stages. • The Commission is in the process of working through the Department of Technology’s approval process and the Legislature’s funding process. 17 AGENCY FPPC • Form 801: Travel Y Y • Form 802: Tickets N Y • Form 803: Charity N N • Form 804: New staff N N • Form 805: Consultant N N • Form 806: Appointments Y N 18 • Discloses payments made to your agency when the payments provide a personal benefit to an agency official. • Payments must be used for official agency business and must meet other requirements in Regulation 18944. • Forward Form 801 to FPPC within 30 days after a calendar quarter if $2500 in payments are reportable. Travel only. Must be posted on the agency’s website. Keep log of forms and maintain original for four years. • 19 • Regulation 18944.1 • Copies of completed forms are emailed to the FPPC. • FPPC posts on its website. 20 • Used to disclose payments of $5,000 or more made in coordination with your elected officials for legislative, governmental, or charitable purposes. • Elected official’s agency must receive Form 803 within 30 days of the date the payment is made. • Not triggered for payments that are for personal or campaign purposes. 21 Form 804 – New Positions • Identifies newly budgeted positions that make or participate in making governmental decisions. (Regulations 18702.1 and 18702.2) • Identifies level of disclosure. • Persons in newly created positions must file Form 700 within 30 days of assuming office. • Form 804 maintained at your agency in same manner as your conflict-of-interest code. • Form 804 recommended as it promotes uniform reporting among agencies. 22 Form 805 – Consultants • Identifies consultants that will make or participate in making governmental decisions on behalf of the agency. • Consultant must file a Form 700 within 30 days of assuming office. • Disclosure requirements should conform to the range of duties. • Alternatively, the agency must require filing under the broadest disclosure category or, if the agency does not have a conflict-ofinterest code, full disclosure. • Form 805 is recommended as it promotes uniform reporting among agencies. It is maintained at your agency in the same manner as your conflict-of-interest code. 23 • Report compensation of $250 or more prior to officials voting to appoint themselves to serve on other agencies. • Must be posted on your agency’s website. • Form 806 updated as necessary. 24 Ways to Keep in Touch! Contact your FPPC Filing Officers: • Tina Nezrab – Cities A-M • Sonia Rangel – Cities N-Z • Gail Perry – Counties & Multi-Counties Visit the FPPC’s website to: • Request advice • RSVP for a seminar • Sign up for e-mail communications • Request an outreach ******** Email for advice: advice@fppc.ca.gov Sign up for emails of forms, meetings: website: fppc.ca.gov “Friend” us on Facebook: CA@fppc Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CA_FPPC END OF PRESENTATION 25