Oakland Municipal Code Art. VIII Enforcement

Any person who violates this Act is subject to criminal, civil, administrative, and other penalties provided for in this Section. In the event criminal violations of this Act come to the attention of the Public Ethics Commission, it may forward the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

A. Criminal Penalties. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this Act is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who knowingly or willfully causes any other person to violate any provision of this Act, or who aids and abets any other person in the violation of any provision of this Act, shall be liable under the provisions of this Act.

1. No person convicted of a misdemeanor under this Act shall act as a lobbyist or as a City contractor for a period of four (4) years following the date of the conviction unless a court, at the time of sentencing, specifically determines that this provision shall not be applicable.

2. For the purposes of this Section, a plea of nolo contendere shall be deemed a conviction.

B. Civil Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall be liable in a civil action for an amount up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation, or up to three (3) times the amount the person failed to report properly or unlawfully contributed expended, gave or received, whichever is greater. A decision by the Public Ethics Commission to bring a civil action requires an affirmative vote of at least five (5) of its members.

1. If two (2) or more persons are responsible for any violation, they shall be jointly and severally liable.

2. In determining the amount of liability, a court may take into account the seriousness of the violation and the degree of culpability of the defendant.

C. Administrative Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this Act, who causes any other person to violate any provision of this Act, or who aids and abets any other person in the violation of any provision of this Act, shall be liable in an administrative proceeding before the Public Ethics Commission held pursuant to the Public Ethics Commission's Complaint Procedures. The Public Ethics Commission may impose administrative penalties in an amount up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per violation, or up to three (3) times the amount the person failed to report properly or unlawfully contributed, expended, gave or received, whichever is greater. In addition to administrative penalties, the Public Ethics Commission may issue warnings or require other remedial measures.

1. If two (2) or more persons are responsible for any violation, they shall be jointly and severally liable.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

A. The Public Ethics Commission may sue for injunctive relief to enjoin violations or to compel compliance with the provisions of Articles III, IV, V, VI, and VII of this Act.

B. Any individual residing within the City may sue for injunctive relief to enjoin violations or to compel compliance with the provisions of Articles III, IV, V, and VI of this Act.

C. Any individual, other than the Public Ethics Commission, before filing a civil action pursuant to this Section, shall first file with the Public Ethics Commission a written request for the Public Ethics Commission to commence the action. The request shall contain a statement of the grounds for believing a cause of action exists. The Public Ethics Commission shall respond in writing within ninety (90) days after receipt of the request indicating whether they intend to file an administrative or civil action. If the Public Ethics Commission indicates in the affirmative and brings an administrative or civil action within sixty (60) days thereafter, no other action may be brought unless the action brought by the Public Ethics Commission is dismissed without prejudice.

D. If the Public Ethics Commission needs additional time to determine whether to bring an action or needs additional time to bring an action, it may, by resolution indicating evidence of good cause and notice thereof to the requestor, extend the ninety-day time period by another sixty (60) days. If the Public Ethics Commission indicates they will not pursue the matter, or if it does not pursue an administrative or civil action within the sixty-day period following their affirmative response to the requestor, the requestor may file suit pursuant to this Section. No resident may bring an action pursuant to this Section if the Public Ethics Commission has commenced an administrative action or a law enforcement agency has commenced criminal action arising out of the same facts.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

Any person who receives a financial benefit as a result of a violation of this Act by any person shall be liable for disgorging to the City's general fund up to the amount of the financial benefit received as a result of the violation.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

The court may award to a party, other than the City or any of its commissions, boards, departments or agencies, who prevails in any civil action authorized by this Act, his or her costs of litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

A. A criminal action alleging a violation of this Act may only be commenced by the Alameda County District Attorney or the California Attorney General and no more than four (4) years after the date of the violation.

B. A civil action alleging a violation of this Act may only be commenced by the Public Ethics Commission or an individual residing in the City and no more than five (5) years after the date of the violation.

C. An administrative action alleging a violation of this Act may only be commenced by the Public Ethics Commission and no more than five (5) years after the date of the violation.

D. Commencement of an administrative action is the date the Public Ethics Commission sends written notification to the respondent of the allegation pursuant to the Commission's Complaint Procedures.

E. Unless otherwise prescribed by applicable law, the date of the violation means the earliest date when the complainant, the Public Ethics Commission, or other prosecuting authority has, or reasonably should have, knowledge of the violation and its cause, and a suspicion of wrongdoing. Suspicion shall be determined from an objective standpoint of what is reasonable for the complainant, the Public Ethics Commission, or other prosecuting authority to know or suspect under the facts of the situation.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

A. In addition to a committee itself, persons who qualify under the California Political Reform Act as principal officers of the committee are jointly and severally liable for violations by the committee. For committees controlled by a candidate, the candidate and the committee's treasurers are deemed to be principal officers.

B. In addition to a person whose conduct is required or prohibited under this Act, an agent acting on behalf of that person is jointly and severally liable for a violation that arises out of the agent's actions. There is a rebuttable presumption that the following persons are agents of a committee:

1. A current or former officer of the committee;

2. An employee of the committee;

3. A person who has received compensation or reimbursement from the committee; and

4. A person who holds or has held a position within the committee organization that reasonably appears to be able to authorize expenditures for committee activities.

C. This Section does not limit potential liability for persons who cause another person to violate this Act or who aids and abets another person in a violation.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)

In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, if a candidate receives a contribution in violation of Sections 3.12.050 and 3.12.060, the official shall not be permitted to make, participate in making or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence a governmental decision in which the contributor has a financial interest. The provisions of Government Code Sections 87100 et seq. and the regulations of the California Fair Political Practices Commission shall apply to interpretations of this Section.

(Res. No. 89316, § 3, 7-22-2022)