Contact:
John St.
Croix
(415) 252-3100
For release: August 11,
2009
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN
AT AUGUST 10, 2009 MEETING
At its meeting on August 10, 2009, the San Francisco Ethics Commission
took the following actions:
- Discussed and received public comment on whether to change
the $500 contribution limit for local candidates under section 1.114(a)
of the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (SF
C&GC Code). Commission staff will survey interested
persons and regulated filers to assess interest in changing the
contribution limit. - Discussed possible amendments to the Campaign Finance
Reform Ordinance (CFRO), SF C&GC Code section 1.100, et
seq. By a vote of 4-0, the Commission approved proposed
amendments to section 1.108 (Candidate Committee Trust Accounts and
Campaign Contingency Accounts), 1.112 (Electronic Campaign Disclosure),
1.113 (Disclosure Requirements During Signature Gathering Periods for
Initiatives, Referenda and Recall), 1.122 (Solicitation or Acceptance
of Campaign Contributions – Limitations), 1.128 (Acceptance or
Rejection of Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings), 1.130 (Amount of
Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings), 1.134 (Lifting of Voluntary
Expenditure Ceilings; Supplemental Reporting), 1.135 (Supplemental
Pre-Election Statements), 1.144 (Disbursement of Public Funds), 1.148
(Restrictions on Use of Public Funds; Unexpended Public Funds), 1.150
(Audit; Repayment), 1.156 (Report to the Mayor and Board of
Supervisors), 1.161 (Disclosure and Filing Requirements for Mass
Mailings), 1.161.5 (Disclosure and Filing for Electioneering
Communications), and 1.168 (Enforcement; Advice). The
Commission also approved amendments to renumber sections 1.134.5
(Lifting of Individual Expenditure Ceilings), 1.158 (Implementing
Regulations), and 1.160 (No Limitation of Candidate Liability); and to
add new sections 1.109 (Retention of Records), 1.143 (Adjusting
Individual Expenditure Ceilings), and 1.171 (Issuance of
Subpoenas). The Commission will consider other possible
amendments to the CFRO at its next meeting, including but not limited
to sections 1.104 (Definitions), 1.118 (Payment of Accrued Expenses),
and 1.140 (Eligibility to Receive Public Financing).
The Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on
Monday, September 14, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 408 City Hall.
The Ethics Commission, established in November 1993, serves the public,
City employees and officials and candidates for public office through
education and enforcement of ethics laws. Its duties
include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure
statements, lobbyist and campaign consultant registration and
regulation, administration of the public financing program,
whistleblower program, conflict of interest reporting, investigations
and enforcement, education and training, advice giving and statistical
reporting.
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