San Francisco Ethics Commission adopts broader filing options, clarifies travel disclosures and candidate contributor guidance

The San Francisco Ethics Commission on an evening vote approved a package of regulatory changes meant to make filing easier and to clarify reporting around travel and contractor-related campaign contributions. Commissioners voted to permit Sunshine Ordinance declarations and ethics training certificates to be submitted by fax, email or regular mail, and to adopt four decision points clarifying travel-donor reporting and post-trip cost amendments.

Director St. Croix told the commission the changes "allow them to send faxes, or emails, or regular mail, in order to satisfy that obligation," and said the commission may set an electronic filing format in the future. The travel-disclosure revisions codify existing advice staff give officials: candidates may file a single form when multiple contributors defray trip costs, the original source of the funds (not an intermediary committee) should be…