Campaign Disclosure Requirements

State law requires the filing of campaign disclosure statements by local candidates for elective office, elected officeholders, and committees supporting or opposing local candidates or ballot measures. Statements are filed on a regular cycle, with additional statements required during election years. These statements provide the public with details on who contributes money to a committee, and how that money is spent. Disclosure requirements are very complicated. Those involved with campaign committees should become fully aware of the legal requirements surrounding campaign reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Do I File?
Filing deadlines are depending on the type of committee, and whether or not that committee is involved in an ongoing election. There are also special quarterly filing deadlines for measure committees during the petition qualification process.
What Do I File?
Typical forms include: Statement of Intention form 501; Statement of Organization Form 410; semi-Annual Campaign Disclosure Statement Form 460; Pre-Election Campaign Disclosure Form 460; Pre and Post-Election City Supplemental Campaign Disclosure Statement Form 460; Quarterly Measure Campaign Disclosure Statement form 460; Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report form 465 (Measure or Independent Expenditure Committees); Late Independent Expenditure Report Form 496; or Late Contribution Report Form 497. For a comprehensive listing of disclosure forms and detailed instructional manuals, visit the Fair Political  Practices Commission (FPPC) website.
How Do I File – Electronic Filings
To assist filers in meeting their obligation to file, the City of San Dimas provides free of charge, an online electronic campaign disclosure statement filing system. Elected officials, candidates, and committees who are required to file campaign disclosure statements with the City may do so through NetFile. (A password is required to submit statements electronically. The City Clerk’s Office will set up the initial phase of this process for the committee).
Where Do I File?
Candidates and committees (including ballot measure and independent expenditure committees) within the jurisdiction of the City of San Dimas are required to file their disclosure statements with the City Clerk’s Office through the Netfile system.
Responsibility of Filers
This website is intended to provide general information regarding campaign disclosure reporting. To the extent this information conflicts with state or local law, the law controls. Additional filing requirements may apply. If you have questions about what you are required to file, where to file it, or when to file it, please visit the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) website or call toll free 1-866-ASK-FPPC.
Late Filings
Government Code Section 91013 imposes a $10 per day fine up to a maximum of $100 for the late filing of a Statement of Economic Interests. The City has an established fine policy, that is imposed when there is pattern of excessive late filings.
AB 571 - CONTRIBUTION LIMITS: CITY AND COUNTY CANDIDATES

In 2019, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 571 (“AB 571”), which amends the Elections Code and Government Code to establish campaign contribution limits for elective city offices in a city in which the local government has not established a campaign contribution limit, which is the case for the City of San Dimas. 

 Effective January 1, 2021, the State campaign contribution limit for candidates for city elective offices will be $4,900 per contributor for each election, subject to certain exceptions, and is subject to adjustment every two years by the Fair Political Practices Commission based on changes in the consumer price index.  AB 571 allows a city to establish a campaign contribution limit that is higher or lower than the State default limit as long as those limits were in place prior to January 1, 2021. If a city does not have its own campaign contribution limits in place prior to January 1, 2021, the State campaign contribution limits established in AB 571 will apply in that city. The State campaign contribution limit applies only to candidates and not to ballot measures.
 
The State campaign contribution limit for cities is the same campaign contribution limit for “elective state office other than a candidate for statewide elective office” (i.e., members of the State Assembly but not Governor) under Government Code Section 85301(a). Section 85301(a) sets the campaign contribution limit at $3,000, however, the FPPC has adjusted the limit every two years since the section was enacted so it is currently $4,900 per contributor for each election under Section 18545(a)(1) of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Regulations.
 
If the State campaign contribution limit is in effect in a city, which will be the case for the City of San Dimas, the FPPC will enforce violations of the campaign contribution limit.
Further information may be found at the FPPC’s website at https://www.fppc.ca.gov/the-law/local-ordinances.html