CALIFORNIA FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
TRANSITION TO FPPC E-FILING SYSTEM
(AB 1170 IMPLEMENT ATION)
Effective January 1, 2025, a public official for whom the Commission is the filing officer must file their Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) via the Commission’s Electronic Filing Portal (the “FPPC Portal”). You and your filers may access the FPPC Portal at: https://form700.fppc.ca.gov Below is a list of frequently asked questions to assist you with the transition.
Of course, we encourage you to contact the Commission’s Form 700 Unit if you have any questions or concerns. They can be reached at [email protected].
www.fppc.ca.gov
FPPC Advice: [email protected] (866.275.3772)
FPPC EAEU • 11-2024 • Page 1 of 3
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. General
What officials are subject to this new mandatory e-filing requirement? Effective January 1, 2025, public officials for whom the Fair Political Practices Commission (“FPPC”) is the filing officer (“Commission Filers”) must file their Form 700s electronically via the FPPC Portal. Government Code Section 87500, subdivision (a), lists the local and state officials who are subject to this requirement.
The following local officials are considered Commission Filers and must e-file via the FPPC Portal:
• A person holding, or candidate for, the office of district attorney, county counsel, county treasurer, county supervisor, city council member, city treasurer, city attorney, or mayor. • A city manager, county planning commissioner, city planning commissioner, or county chief administrative officer. • A judge, court commissioner, or candidate for judge.
• A head of a local government agency or member of a local government board or commission, for which the Commis- sion is the code reviewing body, if the Commission has been designated as the filing officer in the conflict of interest code of the respective agency, board, or commission.
• A designated employee of more than one joint powers insurance agency who elects to file a multiagency statement pursuant to Section 87350.
• A chief administrative officer where there is no city manager.
The following state officials are considered Commission Filers and must e-file via the FPPC Portal:
• A statewide elected officer or candidate for statewide elective office. • A member of, or candidate for, the Legislature or State Board of Equalization. • A member of the Public Utilities Commission, State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission or California Coastal Commission.
• A member of a state licensing or regulatory board, bureau, or commission. • A person appointed to a state board, commission, or similar multimember body of the state if the Commission has been designated as the filing officer in the conflict of interest code of the respective board, commission, or body. • A designated employee of the Legislature.
www.fppc.ca.gov
FPPC Advice: [email protected] (866.275.3772)
FPPC EAEU • 11-2024 • Page 2 of 3
Does the FPPC plan to offer trainings or educational materials concerning the upcoming transition? The FPPC is committed to providing filing officials and Commission Filers the assistance they need to make the transition to e-filing a success. In particular, the FPPC plans to host trainings for filing officials in November and December 2024.
Please check the Upcoming Training Opportunities page on the FPPC website for a list of the trainings we offer.
We also plan to distribute and publish various educational materials, including this FAQ, to assist in making this a smooth transition. Educational materials related to the Form 700 can be found on the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) page on the FPPC website.
How will the FPPC communicate with filing officials about the transition? The FPPC will continue to communicate with filing officials via the FPPC Form 700 Unit’s email: [email protected].
To ensure smooth communication between our agency and yours, please confirm that the Form 700 Unit’s email address is not blocked.
2. Timing of Transition
When does the transition to mandatory e-filing via the FPPC Portal go into effect? Effective January 1, 2025, public officials for whom the FPPC is the filing officer (“Commission Filers”) must file their Form 700s electronically via the FPPC Portal.
When will the Commission notify those Form 700 filers subject to this requirement of this change? The FPPC plans to send several notifications to Commission Filers concerning the transition to mandatory e-filing via the FPPC Portal. The first notice will be sent November 21, 2024. In addition to the notices, all Commission Filers will receive a welcome email with login credentials for the FPPC Portal.
May a Commission Filer submit an Assuming Office or Leaving Office Form 700 in hardcopy to their filing official if the filer departs or assumes office in 2024 and files before December 31, 2024? Yes, but if they file after December 31, 2024 (e.g., a late statement), it must be electronically filed via the FPPC Portal regardless of whether the official departed or assumed office in 2024.
3. Navigating the FPPC Portal
Where can a filing official or Commission Filer access the FPPC Portal? The FPPC Portal is located on the FPPC’s website at the following link: https://form700.fppc.ca.gov. Commission Filers who have not received or do not have access to their login credentials may contact the Form 700 Unit for assistance at [email protected].
Can a filer electronically file their Form 700 via their agency’s e-filing system? Yes, a filer may submit their Form 700 via their agency’s e-filing system through December 31, 2024. However, effective January 1, 2025, Commission Filers must e-file their Form 700s via the FPPC Portal. No other means of filing will satisfy a Commission Filer’s Form 700 filing obligation after January 1, 2025. Also, please note that the Commission’s Data Exchange will be disabled on January 1, 2025, and thus will no longer accept filings from the e-filing systems maintained by other agencies.
Can a filing official add a candidate statement to the FPPC Portal? Yes. Once a filing official confirms a Commission Filer is qualified for the ballot, they may add the filer to the FPPC Portal.
More information and instructions concerning the addition of a candidate statement is forthcoming.
Can a filing official access unredacted versions of a Commission Filer’s Form 700? Yes, a filing official may download the unredacted Form 700 of a Commission Filer via the FPPC Portal. We are also considering changing the setting so that the filing officials are automatically cc’d a Form 700 is filed via the FPPC Portal.
Then, local filing officials could save, download, or import the Form 700 into their own system.
Will the public have access to the Form 700s filed via the FPPC Portal? Currently, the FPPC posts on its website the Form 700s filed by elected officers. The public can email [email protected] to request all the Form 700s filed via the FPPC Portal. The decision of whether to post the Form 700s of additional Commission Filers on the FPPC website is under consideration.
Filing officials will be notified of any change to which Form 700s are posted.
Can a Commission Filer file in paper with their agency or the FPPC if they do not have an email address?
No. The filer will need to create an email address so that they can file via the FPPC Portal. Both Gmail and Yahoo offer free email accounts to the public.
Can a filer file an expanded statement on the FPPC Portal? As of November 1, 2024, a filer with multiple reportable positions may satisfy their reporting obligations by submitting a single expanded statement via the FPPC Portal, provided the FPPC is the filing officer for all the positions held by the filer. If the FPPC is not the filing officer for all positions held by the filer, they may submit an expanded statement via the FPPC Portal for those positions in which the FPPC is the filing officer.
For any remaining positions, the filer must follow the current process:
1. print a Form 700 with a blank signature from the FPPC Portal,
2. manually add the remaining position(s), and
3. submit the form to the applicable filing officer(s).
The FPPC recognizes that this process is not ideal and is actively working with its vendor to allow for the use of expanded statements for all positions regardless of whether the FPPC is the filing officer.
The FPPC will keep filing officials and filers apprised of any developments related to expanded statements.
4. Obligations and Duties of Filing Officials
Does a filing official need to enter personal contact information for the Commission Filers in their system?
The FPPC strongly recommends that filing officials keep the personal contact information for their Commission Filers current under “Confidential” in the FPPC Portal.
Are filing officials required to keep copies of Form 700s filed via the FPPC Portal? No, filing officials are not required to keep copies of Form 700s filed through the FPPC’s e-filing system.
More questions?
Please contact the FPPC Form 700 Unit at [email protected]. www.fppc.ca.gov
FPPC Advice: [email protected] (866.275.3772)
FPPC EAEU • 11-2024 • Page 3 of 3