REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Introduce an Ordinance Mandating Use of Online or Electronic Filing of Campaign Statements and Statements of Economic Interests
Report
BACKGROUND
The Political Reform Act of 1974, the Sunnyvale City Charter, and the Sunnyvale Municipal Code include requirements for elected officers, candidates, committees, or other persons to file campaign finance disclosure statements, statements of economic interests (Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 700), and other reports. For many years, the City of Sunnyvale has provided online access to view campaign statements of elected officials, candidates and committees.
In September 2009, the City of Sunnyvale implemented the use of NetFile, Inc., an electronic filing system, to facilitate online filing and posting of campaign statements for elected officials, candidates, committees and other persons who are required to file campaign statements as required by the Political Reform Act. In early 2010, the use of NetFile's services was expanded to include electronic filing of Statements of Economic Interests (SEI), which are filed in accordance with the Political Reform Act and the City's Conflict of Interest Code.
Use of the electronic filing system provides efficiencies for filers and staff, and provides transparency and online access to campaign finance disclosure statements for the public. Use of the e-filing system is encouraged, but until now has been on a voluntary basis. Statements received in paper format only are scanned and posted on NetFile's public portal manually by staff during business hours. Due to the differences between e-filing and paper filing, search results on the public portal vary and require end-users to research campaign statements and data in different ways.
On December 23, 2016, the Secretary of State certified Sunnyvale's use of NetFile, Inc. as the City's approved electronic filing system. With this certification, the City Clerk's office was authorized t...
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