A behested payment is a payment made at the request of a government official to a third party. Behested payments are made principally for legislative, governmental, or charitable purposes, rather than for personal or campaign purposes.
State Behested Payment Disclosures
State law requires elected officials in California to disclose behested payments on the Form 803 after the total payments made by a single source is equal to or exceeds $5,000 in a calendar year.
These filings by elected officials can be viewed on the Ethics Commission website. More information on this disclosure requirement, including how to file, is also available online.
Note: City law also prohibits certain officials, including elected officials, from soliciting behested payments from persons defined in the law as an “interested party.” More information on this prohibition is available here. San Francisco elected officials who solicit behested payments from a person who is not an “interested party” under local law must continue to comply with applicable State disclosure requirements described above.
Prior City Behested Payment Disclosures
Prior to January 23, 2022, San Francisco law required City elected officials and appointed members of boards and commissions to disclose certain behested payments on Form SFEC-3610(b). However, this disclosure was discontinued when the City’s behested payment prohibition was created.
Archival information from this former disclosure requirement can be accessed using the following links: