The ordinance amends rules regarding campaign consultants and developers, requiring them to provide specific information for transparency in campaign spending and lobbying activities, while eliminating certain registration requirements with the Ethics Commission. It also removes the obligation for City board members to notify the Ethics Commission after recusing themselves due to financial conflicts of interest.
Ordinance amending the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to require campaign consultants to provide information necessary for their clients to fully disclose campaign spending, and repeal the requirement that such consultants register with the Ethics Commission; repeal the requirement that members of City boards and commissions file a notice with the Ethics Commission after recusing from participation in a matter based on a financial conflict of interest; and require developers of certain large projects to provide information on nonprofit donations for lobbyist activities so that recipients can accurately register and report such activities, and repeal the requirement that developers register with the Ethics Commission.
How it got here
The legislation originated from the San Francisco Ethics Commission's Streamlining Project aimed at improving the efficiency of campaign finance regulations.
The Ethics Commission began the Streamlining Project to evaluate and improve various programs and policies, including those related to campaign consultants and major developers.
The Commission held two public Interested Persons meetings to gather feedback on the proposed changes to campaign finance regulations.
Staff presented preliminary recommendations for streamlining campaign finance regulations to the Ethics Commission, which included changes to consultant registration and developer disclosures.
The Ethics Commission staff finalized the drafts of two ordinances, including the one related to campaign consultants and major developers, for introduction to the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Mandelman introduced the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors as part of the Ethics Commission's Streamlining Project.
The Ethics Commission unanimously approved the ordinance, meeting the required supermajority for it to proceed.
The ordinance is currently pending committee action within the Board of Supervisors.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record
