What is the difference between a Filing Officer and a Filing Liaison?

Filing Officer – The Department Head or the Executive Director of the City department/agency is the official filing officer for “designated filers." Filing officer responsibilities are generally delegated to department staff.

Filing officers receive training and gain access to the NetFile admin system to maintain and administer designated filer accounts and their filings electronically. Effective January 1, 2022, all designated positions identified in Sections 3.1- 103(d) and 3.1-108 of the Conflict of Interest Code file assuming office, annual, and leaving office Form 700 statements in electronic format using the Ethics Commission’s internet-based NetFile e-filing system. Paper filings are no longer accepted.

We recommend that departments designate more than one filing officer so that more than one person is trained and can access the NetFile admin system.

Filing Liaison – Filing liaisons play an important role as the intermediary between “City Officers” (who file Form 700s with the Ethics Commission) and Ethics Commission staff. The Ethics Commission is the official filing officer for City Officers.

Filing liaisons will not have access to the NetFile admin system since they only serve as the point-of-contact (or intermediary) for appointed and elected officials and department heads who already e-file their Form 700 statements electronically with the Ethics Commission.

Learn more about Designated Filers vs City Officers