Item B: Campaign Finance Reporting Process

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Campaign Finance Reporting Process Meeting Date: October 9, 2006 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Mary Feldman www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-8353 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this work session is to make the council aware of changes in the campaign finance reporting process for candidates and political committees and to provide an opportunity for the council to consider whether the City of Eugene should require campaign finance reports in addition to those required by the State. If additional reports are required, those reports, at least, must be filed with the City elections officer. BACKGROUND Currently, Oregon municipal candidates for nomination or election to city office and political committees supporting or opposing candidates or the adoption of a city measure are required to file paper contribution and expenditure reports at regularly scheduled times with their elections filing officers, typically the City Recorder. In 2005, the Legislature passed HB 3458, directing the Secretary of State to develop an electronic filing system to be used by committees to file contribution and expenditure information. Effective January 1, all 2007, under ORS 260.163, the Secretary of State will become the filing officer for candidates and committees, except chief petitioner committees for local initiative, referendum and recall petitions. Local candidates and measure committees will be required to file contribution and expenditure reports electronically with the Secretary of State’s Office. Each committee will have a private workspace on the Secretary of State’s website where it can enter data or upload transaction information. While a candidate or treasurer can grant other individuals access to the committee’s workspace to do data entry or upload a file, only a candidate or treasurer will be allowed to file transactions. Committees will enter transaction information directly into the Secretary of State's system. Contribution or expenditure transactions will become public records at the time a candidate or treasurer files them. There will no longer be "scheduled" reporting deadlines. Committees will continuously report campaign finance transactions, generally within 30 days of the date of the transaction, but within seven days of that date during the six weeks prior to an election. Aggregate contributions will be calculated on a calendar year basis instead of by election. Committees also will be able to file and amend Statements of Organization online. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M061009\S061009B.doc