According to a recent press release from the California Office of the Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has mandated increased transparency within his office by requiring the online publication of personal financial disclosure and travel disclosure filings for his senior staff and department heads. While Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700s) and Travel Expense Claims (TECs) have always been available through FOIA requests or in person, online publication will make these records more readily available.
Form 700s
After review by general counsel, Form 700s turned in by senior employees of the Governor’s office, state agencies and state departments will be posted online. All 2008 forms will be posted on the Governor’s website after they are turned in on April 1, 2009, and forms dating back to 2004 will be posted thereafter.
TECs
TECs submitted after March 6, 2009, will become available online by the end of this March. The records will be published on several different websites; TECs for senior staff and deputies will be on the Governor's website, TECs for agency secretaries and undersecretaries will be on their agency's websites, and TECs for department directors will be available on their department's website.