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Ethics Commission requires electronic filing for campaign consultants, removes fax option
Summary
The San Francisco Ethics Commission unanimously approved rules requiring campaign consultants to file disclosure documents electronically and removed a fax-filing option. Staff said a new, streamlined e-filing system is being tested and expected to launch by January 2025; assistance will be available in the commission lobby.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission on Aug. 9 unanimously approved amendments requiring campaign consultants to file disclosure documents electronically and to remove an existing regulation that allowed filing by fax. The rule change is intended to support a new, streamlined electronic filing system staff said is being tested and expected to be ready in January 2025.
"These new forms are currently being tested and are intended to be ready for January of 2025," Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager Michael Canning said while introducing the proposal. Canning said the change would align the campaign consultant program with other commission programs that already use electronic filing.
Commissioners asked whether staff would assist consultants or filers without internet access. Canning said the commission recently added a computer in the commission lobby so "anyone who doesn't have access and needs assistance can do that in the commission lobby as well." The commission moved to approve the regulation; the clerk recorded Aye votes from Vice Chair Flores Fang, Commissioner Salahi and Commissioner Francois, and the motion passed unanimously.
Public comment on the item followed the initial vote after the chair noted public comment had not previously been allowed. A member of the public, who identified herself in the record as Ellen Lee Zhou, raised separate concerns about campaign fundraising and alleged money laundering; those comments were recorded as public comment and did not change the commission's approval.
The amendments require consultants to use electronic filing when the system is available; staff said the removal of the fax option and the new forms are intended to increase security and streamline processing. The commission did not provide an effective date beyond staff's note that the new system is planned for January 2025. The commission's data dashboards will continue to provide disclosure details about committees and contributors, staff said.
Action: motion to adopt proposed amendments to the ethics commission campaign consultant regulations was approved unanimously.
