Political committees are required to file reports disclosing the money that they raise and spend. Committee treasurers must review expenditures to ensure that the committee is filing as the correct committee type.
The following pages provide a summary of the steps required to properly establish and disclose the activity of a campaign committee. The Fair Political Practices Commission has produced a number of guides which explain these reporting rules specifically for General Purpose Committees, “Primarily Formed” Candidate Committees, and Ballot Measure Committees. It also has produced filing deadline schedules.
Determine the type of committee
A committee’s activity will determine which type of committee it should register as and its reporting requirements. More specifically, criteria set forth in FPPC Regulation 18247.5 should be consulted to determine whether a committee is a:
- General Purpose Committee, which receives contributions totaling $2,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose multiple ballot measures or candidates, and which generally exist over a number of election cycles;
- “Primarily Formed” Candidate Committee, which receives contributions totaling $2,000 or more in a calendar year and is formed primarily to support or oppose one or more City candidates during a single election cycle; or
- “Primarily Formed” Ballot Measure Committee, which receives contributions totaling $2,000 or more in a calendar year and is formed primarily formed primarily to support or oppose one or more City measures during a single election cycle.
Submit paper filings to the Ethics Commission during the COVID-19 Pandemic
File a Statement of Organization
If a committee raises $2,000 or more, the committee must file a Statement of Organization (FPPC Form 410) with the Secretary of State (SOS) and the Ethics Commission within 10 days of receiving contributions totaling $2,000 or more. This statement may also be filed before a committee receives $2,000 if the committee contemplates receiving $2,000 or more. After the Form 410 is filed, the SOS will issue an identification number (FPPC ID#) that the committee must use on all subsequent filings.
Among other things, the Form 410 must include the name of the committee. State law imposes different naming requirements on general purpose committees, “primarily formed” candidate committees, and ballot measure committees. Refer to the FPPC manuals for more details
Set up an electronic filing account
Committees that file the FPPC Form 410 must file subsequent campaign statements electronically. Review the registration requirements to sign up for electronic filing.
Complete training
Treasurers —and assistant treasurers who sign and verify campaign statements— for San Francisco Recipient Committees must complete a training developed by the Ethics Commission staff after filing an original or amended Statement of Organization Form 410 designating a new treasurer.
Click here for the November 2024 Election Training Schedule
Important! Once completing the training, the treasurer and/or assistant treasurer must file a Form SFEC 107.