In a unanimous vote on July 21, 2026, the Fullerton City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3358, mandating electronic and paperless filing for campaign disclosure statements as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

The new Ordinance, introduced as Section 2.02.020 of the Fullerton Municipal Code, aligns with Government Code Section 84615, which allows local agencies to require candidates, elected officials, and others involved in political activities to file certain documents online. This requirement excludes individuals who receive or spend less than $1,000 in a calendar year.

To facilitate this shift, the City has partnered with NetFile, Inc., a vendor approved by the California Secretary of State, to provide a secure and user-friendly online filing system. The system will ensure data integrity and include safeguards to prevent tampering or manipulation.

To enhance public access and transparency, all filings will be available online at no charge, presented in a straightforward format. City officials emphasized that the initiative aims to streamline the filing process and reduce the paperwork burden typically associated with campaign finance reporting.

The Ordinance is considered time-sensitive as it pertains to electoral processes and will take effect immediately following its adoption, as stipulated by Government Code 36937(a). This move marks Fullerton’s commitment to modernizing its electoral practices and ensuring greater accountability in campaign finance.

The City Council adds Section 2.02.020, “Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements,” to the Fullerton Municipal Code, which shall read as follows:

A. Definitions:

The following definitions apply for this section:

1. “Candidate” means a candidate, as defined in Government Code Section 82007, as it may be amended from time to time, for any City elective office in any general, special, or recall election.
2. “Committee” has the meaning outlined in Government Code Section 82013, as may be amended from time to time.
3. “Contribution” has the meaning outlined in Government Code Section 82015, as may be amended from time to time.
4. “Electronic filing system” refers to the electronic online filing and data storage system provided by the City Clerk for campaign statements, reports, forms, or other documents filed pursuant to Government Code Section 81000 et seq.
5. “Person” has the meaning outlined in Government Code Section 82047, as may be amended from time to time.
6. “Statements” refers to any statements, reports, forms, or other documents required by Government Code Chapter 4 – Political Reform Act (Section 81000 et seq.), as may be amended from time to time.

B. Any elected officer, candidate, commission, committee, or other person required to file campaign disclosure statements, reports, forms, or other documents under Government Code Chapter 4 (Campaign Disclosure) – Political Reform Act (Section 84100 et seq.) shall file those statements, reports, or other documents online or electronically with the electronic filing system, unless exempt from the requirement to file online pursuant to Government Code Section 84615 because the officer, candidate, committee, or person receives less than two thousand dollars in contributions and makes less than two thousand dollars in expenditures in a calendar year.

C. In cases where a filer must submit an original statement, report, or other document required by Government Code Chapter 4 (Campaign Disclosure) – Political Reform Act (Section 84100 et seq.) to the California Secretary of State, and a duplicate or copy of that statement, report, or other document to the City Clerk, the filer may, but is not required to, submit the copy electronically.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, once an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person files a statement, report, or other document electronically pursuant to subsection B, they must file all future statements, reports, or other documents electronically.

E. The City Clerk shall implement and maintain the electronic filing system consistent with the requirements of Government Code Section 84615, as amended from time to time.

F. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to adopt administrative policies and procedures as deemed necessary to implement this section.

G. If the electronic system cannot accept a specific type of statement, report, or other document, an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person shall submit that document to the City Clerk in an alternative format.

Section 4. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

Section 5. Effective Date and Publication. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately after it is adopted and shall be posted or published as required by State law.

The public can view both the adopted and proposed ordinances at the Fullerton City Clerk’s Office, located at 303 West Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832, during regular business hours. Additionally, ordinances presented at City Council meetings are available online at https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/Browse.aspx?id=265929&repo=r-3261686e or at https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/Browse.aspx?id=1641017&repo=r-3261686e

For more information, please contact the Fullerton City Clerk’s Office at 714-738-6350 or email cityclerksoffice@cityoffullerton.com.