May 26, 2021 •
San Diego Drops Long Time Campaign Disclosure Vender
The city of San Diego has declined to renew their contract with Netfile, the city’s longtime online campaign disclosure vendor. There have been reports that online campaign disclosures will be available for eFile-SD by June 2021. During the outage of […]
The city of San Diego has declined to renew their contract with Netfile, the city’s longtime online campaign disclosure vendor.
There have been reports that online campaign disclosures will be available for eFile-SD by June 2021.
During the outage of the reporting site, people wishing to file can call the office and request copies of the disclosure filings in PDF format.
January 29, 2021 •
San Diego Raises Campaign Contribution Limits
The San Diego Ethics Commission has announced an increase to the limits on contributions made to local candidates. The increase from $600 to $650 comes due to an increase in the consumer price index. This increase is effective from January […]
The San Diego Ethics Commission has announced an increase to the limits on contributions made to local candidates.
The increase from $600 to $650 comes due to an increase in the consumer price index.
This increase is effective from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
January 29, 2021 •
San Diego County Raises Campaign Contribution Limits
The Registrar of Voters has announced an increase to the limits on contributions made to local candidates. The increase from $850 to $900 comes due to an increase in the consumer price index. This increase is effective from January 1, […]
The Registrar of Voters has announced an increase to the limits on contributions made to local candidates.
The increase from $850 to $900 comes due to an increase in the consumer price index.
This increase is effective from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.
July 29, 2019 •
San Diego City Council Amends Municipal Lobbying Ordinance
The San Diego City Council passed an ordinance amending lobbying rules based on recommendations from the city Ethics Commission. Ordinance 2019-148 modifies the definition of “activity expense” to include any payment made by a lobbyist to a city official if […]
The San Diego City Council passed an ordinance amending lobbying rules based on recommendations from the city Ethics Commission.
Ordinance 2019-148 modifies the definition of “activity expense” to include any payment made by a lobbyist to a city official if during the previous 12 months the lobbyist engaged in lobbying the city official’s department, agency, or city board.
The ordinance also changes the disclosure of employment-related activity expenses from specific dollar amounts to one of seven disclosure categories.
If signed by the mayor, the ordinance takes effect in 2020 when the first quarter filing is due.
November 16, 2018 •
San Diego Council to Close Confidential Document Loophole
The city council of San Diego voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance providing tighter restrictions on the handling of confidential documents by council members. Following a breach and subsequent criminal probe for information provided to investors by a council member […]
The city council of San Diego voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance providing tighter restrictions on the handling of confidential documents by council members.
Following a breach and subsequent criminal probe for information provided to investors by a council member last year, the council voted to close the loophole allowing disclosure if done as a necessary function of official duties.
In addition, new language in the code now makes it illegal for lobbyists who may receive confidential documents from using or disclosing them in any way.
Lobbyists are also prohibited from disseminating a confidential document through intermediaries, such as a spouse or a cousin.
Penalties for lobbyists who illegally review or disseminate confidential documents include potential misdemeanor charges and the possibility of being sued by the city for damages.
November 7, 2018 •
San Diego Passes Restrictions on City Officials
City of San Diego voters approved Measure L to limit lobbying and campaign activities of elected city officers. The measure increases the restriction on lobbying by former city officials from one to two years. The measure also eliminates the city […]
City of San Diego voters approved Measure L to limit lobbying and campaign activities of elected city officers.
The measure increases the restriction on lobbying by former city officials from one to two years.
The measure also eliminates the city elective officer exception to receiving honoraria prohibited by state law.
October 18, 2016 •
San Diego, CA Amends Campaign Finance Ordinance
The San Diego City Council voted to amend the Election Campaign Control Ordinance to make changes recommended by the Ethics Commission. Among the amendments are provisions to eliminate the third pre-election filing for primarily formed recipient committees and extend the […]
The San Diego City Council voted to amend the Election Campaign Control Ordinance to make changes recommended by the Ethics Commission.
Among the amendments are provisions to eliminate the third pre-election filing for primarily formed recipient committees and extend the one-year pre-election fundraising time period to January 1 of odd-numbered years.
The amendments will go into effect on January 1, 2017.
Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.
May 25, 2016 •
San Diego Ethics Commission to Consider Campaign Finance Amendments
The San Diego Ethics Commission released a draft of proposed amendments to San Diego’s Election Campaign Control Ordinance. The proposed changes would extend the one-year pre-election fundraising time period to January 1 of odd-numbered years and eliminate the third pre-election […]
The San Diego Ethics Commission released a draft of proposed amendments to San Diego’s Election Campaign Control Ordinance.
The proposed changes would extend the one-year pre-election fundraising time period to January 1 of odd-numbered years and eliminate the third pre-election filing for primarily formed recipient committees.
Comments and suggestions regarding the draft amendments can be made at the next commission meeting on June 9, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Written comments can also be sent via email to ethicscommission@sandiego.gov.
September 17, 2015 •
San Diego, CA Raises Lobbyist Fees
On September 15, the San Diego, California City Council voted unanimously to raise the registration fees for lobbyists. The new ordinance, which was approved by the Budget Committee in July, increases the annual registration from $40 to $150. Annual registration […]
On September 15, the San Diego, California City Council voted unanimously to raise the registration fees for lobbyists. The new ordinance, which was approved by the Budget Committee in July, increases the annual registration from $40 to $150. Annual registration fees paid by clients who hire lobbyists also increases from $15 to $30. These increases are the first since the enactment of lobbyist registration fees in 2008. The changes take effect January 1, 2016.
July 23, 2015 •
San Diego Ethics Commission Considering Amendments to City’s Campaign Finance Law
The City of San Diego Ethics Commission has proposed amendments to the city’s campaign finance laws related to the disclosure requirements applicable to referendum and initiative petitions. The proposed amendments would require additional campaign disclosures of committees supporting or opposing […]
The City of San Diego Ethics Commission has proposed amendments to the city’s campaign finance laws related to the disclosure requirements applicable to referendum and initiative petitions.
The proposed amendments would require additional campaign disclosures of committees supporting or opposing the qualification of an initiative or referendum measure on the ballot.
The city Ethics Commission is scheduled to consider the amendments at its upcoming August 13, 2015 meeting.
Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.
July 20, 2015 •
San Diego Lobbyist Registration Fees Proposed to Go Up
The San Diego City Council Budget Committee approved a proposal to increase lobbyist registration fees. Under the proposal, the fees will increase from $40 to $150. Annual registration fees paid by clients who hire lobbyists would also increase from $15 […]
The San Diego City Council Budget Committee approved a proposal to increase lobbyist registration fees. Under the proposal, the fees will increase from $40 to $150. Annual registration fees paid by clients who hire lobbyists would also increase from $15 to $30.
This increase will be the first since the enactment of lobbyist registration fees in 2008. The proposal must be approved by the full council, scheduled to meet again in September. If approved, the proposal would take effect in January.
Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.
May 11, 2015 •
San Diego California Ethics Commission Considers Amendments
The Ethics Commission will be considering a number of proposed amendments to the city’s Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO) and Lobbying Ordinance at a meeting on May 14, 2015. The proposed changes to ECCO involve non-substantive amendments to several definitions […]
The Ethics Commission will be considering a number of proposed amendments to the city’s Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO) and Lobbying Ordinance at a meeting on May 14, 2015.
The proposed changes to ECCO involve non-substantive amendments to several definitions and will make surplus funds rules more consistent with state law. The proposed changes to the Lobbying Ordinance include updating the list of city officials and requiring lobbying entities to disclose contributions made by sponsored committees.
The proposed lobbying amendments are available here.
October 22, 2014 •
San Diego, California Passes Advertising Rules for Independent Committees
City Council unanimously adopted new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent and primarily formed committees. Ordinance 2015-37 requires earlier disclosure of large contributors and restricts the ability of a committee to reproduce and distribute campaign advertisements used by a candidate. […]
City Council unanimously adopted new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent and primarily formed committees.
Ordinance 2015-37 requires earlier disclosure of large contributors and restricts the ability of a committee to reproduce and distribute campaign advertisements used by a candidate.
The ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2015, and is not applicable to the November 2014 election.
September 23, 2014 •
San Diego Committee Endorses ECCO Amendments
A committee of City Council has endorsed new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent political action committees. The rules would classify a committee’s otherwise independent payment as a “contribution” if the payment is for an advertisement duplicating materials found in […]
A committee of City Council has endorsed new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent political action committees. The rules would classify a committee’s otherwise independent payment as a “contribution” if the payment is for an advertisement duplicating materials found in a candidate’s advertisement or on the candidate’s website. Such payments would be subject to both contribution limits and source prohibitions.
The full City Council will now consider the amendments to the Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO).
Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.
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