Conflict of Interest
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 Office of Human Resources 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).
When to File
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.
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
Additional Designated Positions
Consultants who meet the following criteria must file Form 700:
- A consultant authorized and hired to make a CSU decision on behalf of the institution.
- A consultant hired to influence a CSU decision, whose input is not independently reviewed.
- A consultant hired to work on an ongoing basis for a year or more, in a position that otherwise would be designated and require a CSU employee to file a Form 700.
- A consultant who provides investment advice. The above consultants are retained through
the procurement process on each campus.
The above consultants are retained through the procurement process on each campus.
Title 2 regulations require Principal Investigators 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 funding for such a contract or grant. Principal Investigators must complete the on-line 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 grant is in place.
There is no COI “annual” filing requirement for Principal Investigators (PIs), however all Principal Investigators with state-side grants are required to take an on-line CSU COI training via CSULearn.
Need Help?
Diana Diaz
COI Filing Coordinator
(661) 654-2265
ddiaz@csub.edu
Lori Blodorn
COI Filing Officer
(661) 654-3206
lblodorn@csub.edu
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
FPPC Website
Toll-Free
1-866-ASK-FPPC (1-866-275-3772)
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Contact Us
HR Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Office Location:
Administration 104
Mailing Address:
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099
Email: hr@csub.edu
Phone: (661) 654-2266
Fax: (661) 654-2299
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