Behested Payments

The chart and table below show "behested payments" reported by Oakland elected officials to the Public Ethics Commission.

California law requires elected officials to report when they ask a person or group to give money to another person or group. These payments are called behested payments. Officials must report them if the payments add up to $5,000 or more from one source in a single calendar year. They have 30 days from when the payment is made to report it to the Public Ethics Commission. The table below is updated each month.

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Generally, a payment is considered "behested" and subject to reporting if:

  • The payment is made at the request, suggestion, or solicitation of, or made in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with the public official;
  • The payment is made for a legislative, governmental or charitable purpose; and
  • The payment does not qualify as a gift (made for personal purposes) or a contribution (made for election-related activity) to the elected official.
  • While state and Oakland laws limit the amount of gifts and campaign contributions, there are no limits on behested payments.

Learn more about rules for reporting behested payments

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