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SF Ethics Commission
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View Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) Filings
Statements of Economic Interests are public documents. Any member of the public may inspect and copy any statement. Statement of Economic Interests forms are filed on paper and recorded in a database viewable on the Ethics Commission web site. Filings accessed over the Internet have content redacted from the forms. Unredacted filings can be viewed using computers in the Ethics Commission's office during regular business hours from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Please note: The statements generated from electronic submissions are presented here as representations of the statements filed with the Ethics Commission and are not the official signed statements. To view official hardcopies of electronically submitted statements, please visit the Ethics Commission's office.
File the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700)
What is the Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests (SEI)?
The Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) is a form that state and local public officials and designated employees must file to disclose annually their financial interests.
Why is the Form 700: Statement of Interests (SEI) important?
The Political Reform Act of 1974 states, “Assets and income of public officials which may be materially affected by their official actions should be disclosed and in appropriate circumstances the officials should be disqualified from acting in order that conflicts of interest may be avoided.” (California Government Code Section 91002(c).)
The Act further states, “Public officials, whether elected or appointed, should perform their duties in an impartial manner, free from bias caused by their own financial interests or the financial interests of persons who have supported them.” (California Government Code Section 81001(b).)
The Form 700 alerts public officials about their own economic interests and potential areas of conflict in relation to their duties, and provides information to members of the public who may monitor official actions for any conflicts.
Who needs to file Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) in San Francisco?
Any officer or employee of the City and County of San Francisco who holds a position designated in the Conflict of Interest Code (San Francisco Campaign and Government Conduct Code, Article III, Chapter I) is required to file an SEI to disclose information as required by the disclosure category. This includes members of boards and commissions, department heads and designated employees. Section 87200 filers (Mayor, Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer/Tax Collector, City Administrator, Planning Commissioners, Retirement Board Members, Retirement Board Executive Director, Retirement Board Deputy Director, Retirement Board Deputy Director of Investments, and Retirement Board Senior Investment Officer) are also required to file SEIs.
When do you file a Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests (SEI)?
If you are assuming office, you must file an Assuming Office Statement within 30 days of the date that you were sworn in or the first date that you began service, whichever is earlier. You must report financial interests that you had during the twelve months prior to your assuming office date. For example, a new commissioner with an assuming office date of 9/5/2008 must report financial interests that he or she held during 9/6/2007 and 9/5/2008.
If you assumed office between 1/1/2008 and 9/30/2008 and filed an Assuming Office Statement, you will still need to file an Annual Statement by 4/1/2009. The reporting period of the Annual Statement for you will cover the date after you assumed office through 12/31/2008. If you assumed office between 10/1/2008 and 12/31/2008 and filed an Assuming Office Statement, you will not need to file an Annual Statement by 4/1/2009. Your next filing date for the Annual Statement will be 4/1/2010, and your reporting period will cover the date after you assumed office through 12/31/2009.
Annual Statements must be filed before the April 1st deadline each year. The filing period covers the preceding calendar year. For example, a commissioner who files an Annual Statement on 4/1/2009 will disclose financial interests covering the period 1/1/2008 through 12/31/2008.
If you are leaving office, you must file a Leaving Office Statement within 30 days of your leaving office date. The filing period covers the day after the filing period of your last SEI through your leaving office date. For example, if you turned in an Annual Statement covering 1/1/2007 to 12/31/2007 and left office on 8/10/2008, the filing period for your Leaving Office Statement is 1/1/2008 through 8/10/2008.
ANNUAL |
Period covers 1/1/2008 through 12/31/2008 |
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ASSUMING OFFICE |
Period covers date of assuming office and 12 months prior to Assuming Office Date |
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LEAVING OFFICE |
Period covers 1/1/2008 through Leaving Office Date |
Where do you file?
If you are a commissioner, board member, department head or elected official of San Francisco, you are required to file with the San Francisco Ethics Commission, located at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102. A Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests with an original signature must be filed at the San Francisco Ethics Commission no later than April 1, 2009. Other designated employees must file with their respective departments. You may wish to keep a copy of the SEI for yourself and the filing officer at your department.
Can the Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) be electronically filed?
You may now file Statements of Economic Interests (SEI) online using the San Francisco Electronic Disclosure System (SFEDS). Benefits to filing online include on-screen help to assist you with completing the forms, entry of your information once and simple modification of your next filing, and obtainment of copies of your previous filings by logging into your account at any time. Establish an account by sending your name, department, position, address, phone number, and email address to ethics.commission@sfgov.org. An unsigned statement is not considered filed under the Fair Political Practices Commission's rules. You must print out the SEI that you generated and filed in the electronic filing system and send the document to the Ethics Commission with an original signature. If you are interested in e-filing your SEI, please read the instructions on e-filing.
Is training available?
The Ethics Commission will be holding a number of trainings this year as follows:
Commission Secretaries/Filing Officers:
Friday, January 23, 2009, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, City Hall, Room 421 (R.S.V.P. by 1/20/2009)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, City Hall, Room 416 (R.S.V.P. by 2/27/2009)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, City Hall, Room 408 (R.S.V.P. by 3/6/2009)
Commissioners/Board Members/Elected Officials:
Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, City Hall, Room 408 (R.S.V.P. by 3/13/2009)
Thursday, March 26, 2009, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, City Hall, Room 416 (R.S.V.P. by 3/23/2009)
What is the penalty for late filing or not filing?
Filers who file their SEIs late are subject to a late fee of $10 per day, up to a maximum of $100. Individuals who do not file their SEIs within 30 days of receiving adequate notice may be subject to enforcement action for which a fine of up to $5,000 per violation may be levied.
What if you hold multiple positions?
If you hold multiple positions, you may complete one expanded statement covering the disclosure categories of all positions and file a complete originally signed copy of the SEI with each agency.
What if you have to add or change information on your SEI after it is filed?
You may obtain a Form 700 Amendment Schedule from www.fppc.ca.gov and amend the schedule that needs to be changed. It is unnecessary to file the entire form again.
What is the gift limit?
The current general gift limit is $420 per calendar year from one source. You must report any gift of $50 or more from a source that you must report on your SEI. Note, however, that there are gift limits that apply to restricted sources and subordinates. Please contact the Ethics Commission if you have questions on gifts.
What if you have additional questions?
You may contact the Ethics Commission at (415) 252-3100 or the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) at (866) 275-3772.
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