Under the Act, no CSU employee shall make, participate in making, or attempt to use his or her official position to influence a CSU decision in which he or she has a financial interest. University employees shall not vote, make recommendations, or in any way participate in personnel or financial decisions if such participation constitutes a conflict of interest.
The Division of Business and Administrative Services administers this Conflict of Interest process on behalf of CSU, Bakersfield.
Form 700 Introduction
The Political Reform Act requires certain state employees and officials who serve in positions designated in an agency's conflict-of-interest code to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700). Most "designated positions" at CSUB have some fiscal responsibility (for example, the ability to purchase items using state funds).
Employees in a designated position or COI Interim position must file an annual Statement of Economic Interests Form 700 by approximately April
1st of each year. Exception: If you assumed office between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 and filed an assuming office statement, you are not required to file an annual statement
until April 2026.When to File
Form 700 Filing Instructions
Resources
- 2024-2025 Statement of Economic Interests Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests Fillable Form and Schedules begin on page 5)
- Form 700 Tutorial - understanding what to report by the CSU Chancellor's Office (10 min)
- Form 700 Amendment 2024-2025
- CSU Disclosure Categories
- CSUB Designated Positions
- 2024-2025 Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests Reference Pamphlet
- Frequently Asked Questions: Form 700 Disclosure (Rev. 10/2024)
- Limitations and Restrictions on Gifts, Honoraria, Travel and Loans
- Late Fine Guidelines
Possible Late Fee Enforcement
Employees are subject to a $10 per day, per position fine up to a maximum of $100 for the late filing of a Statement of Economic Interests Form 700 (Government Code Section 91013). In addition, the President/Chancellor may be notified of the late filers. Employees who fail to file a Form 700, or fail to disclose material interests may be subject to a personal penalty. Penalties include disciplinary action against the employee, as well as potential civil and criminal penalties. Violations of the Conflict of Interest Code are addressed in the Conflict of Interest Handbook, prepared by the Office of General Counsel.
Late Statements
There is no provision for filing deadline extensions unless the filer is serving in active military duty. (See page 20 for information on penalties and fines.) Amendments Statements may be amended at any time. You are only required to amend the schedule that needs to be revised. It is not necessary to amend the entire filed form. The amended schedule(s) is attached to your original filed statement. Obtain amendment schedules at www.fppc.ca.gov. Filers authorized to file electronically amend their statements using their agency’s electronic filing system.
Gifts to Agency Reporting /Ceremonial Role Events and Ticket/Pass Distributions (HR 2014-14)
In addition to the administration of the annual filing of Statement of Economic Interests forms by designated positions, the University is required to report Gifts and Tickets/Admissions to Events given to the agency. The gift limit has increased to $630 for calendar years 2025 and 2026.
This form is for use by all state and local government agencies to disclose payments
made to the agency when the payments provide a personal benefit to an official of
the agency. Examples may include travel, meals or other benefits. Under certain circumstances,
these payments will not result in a gift to the official, but will be considered a
gift to the agency. The payments must be used for official agency business and must
meet other requirements that are set out in FPPC Regulation 18944.2. Form 801 is used to report certain payments received by state and local government agencies
that are used for agency purposes and paid by a third party. FPPC Regulations 18944 and 18950.1 provide a procedure that agencies may use to disclose these payments, which may include
a payment for an official’s travel expenses for the purpose of facilitating the public’s
business in lieu of using agency funds; and a payment that would otherwise be considered
a gift or income to the benefiting official, but is instead accepted on behalf of
the agency. This form is for use by all state and local government agencies to disclose the distribution
of tickets or passes that allow admission to facilities, events, shows, or performances
for entertainment, amusement, recreational, or similar purposes. The agency must complete Form 802 identifying agency officials who receive tickets or passes from the agency as well
as other individuals and organizations that receive tickets or passes at the behest
of agency officials. Further information regarding this reporting requirement are
set in FPPC Regulation 18944.1. FPPC Regulation 18944.1 sets out the circumstances under which an agency’s distribution of tickets to entertainment
events, sporting events, and like occasions would not result in a gift to individuals
that attend the function. In general, the agency must adopt a policy which identifies
the public purpose served in distributing the admissions. The Form 802 serves to detail each event and the public purpose of each ticket distribution. Form 802 - Reporting Ceremonial Role Events and Ticket/Admission Distribution Consultants who meet the following criteria must file Form 700: The above consultants are retained through the procurement process on each campus. Employees with principal responsibility for a research project funded or supported,
in whole or in part, by a contract, grant or gift (or other funds earmarked by the
donor for a specific research project or for a specific researcher) from a nongovernmental
entity, shall be designated employees subject to the disclosure and disqualification
requirements of the CSU Conflict of Interest Code. Principal Investigators are designated
under Disclosure Category 4 and have distinct requirements for disclosure of financial
interests. Disqualification shall not be required in connection with any decision
if the decision is substantively reviewed by an independent committee established
within CSU. (Refer to Sponsored Programs Administration: Conflict of Interest for Principal Investigators for further definitions.) Principal Investigators (PIs) required to file a Form 700-U are employees with principal
responsibility for a research project funded or supported, in whole or in part, by
a contract, grant or gift (or other funds earmarked by the donor for a specific research
project or for a specific researcher) from a nongovernmental entity. The 700-U disclosure process for PIs differs from the Conflict of Interest filing
requirements of other Form 700 filers. As a result, responsibility for the oversight
and administration of the Conflict of Interest policy for PIs is shared between Human
Resources and Sponsored Programs Administration. As such, the Conflict of Interest
policy for PIs is set forth both here and the Sponsored Programs Administration: Conflict of Interest for Principal Investigators. There is no “annual” filing requirement for PIs; however, Title 2 of the California
Code of Regulations requires PIs to file a Form 700-U (Statement of Economic Interests
for Principal Investigators) before the final acceptance of a contract, grant or gift
for a research project from a non-governmental entity, and within 30 days of renewal
of the contract, grant or gift. PIs must complete the ethics training within six (6) months of receiving the grant.
Subsequent training is required at least once within each two-calendar year period
that the contract, grant or gift is in place. For additional information regarding PIs and their filing requirements, please see
the Sponsored Programs Administration: Conflict of Interest for Principal InvestigatorsAdditional Designated Positions