General Laws of Massachusetts (Last Updated: January 16, 2020) |
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT |
TITLE VIII. ELECTIONS |
CHAPTER 55. DISCLOSURE AND REGULATION OF CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS |
SECTION 1. Definitions |
SECTION 2. Accounts of contributions and expenditures; violations; penalties |
SECTION 3. Director of campaign and political finance; selection; term; powers and duties; judicial review of decisions; procedure for violations; penalties; disclosure of fund transfers |
SECTION 4. Repealed, 1986, 631, Sec. 3 |
SECTION 5. Political committees; statement of organization; officers; duties; expenditures; incorporation; penalties |
SECTION 5A. Elected public officials; principal officers of political action committees |
SECTION 5B. Names or phrases identifying political committees in organizational statements |
SECTION 5C. Online training program for treasurers of political committees |
SECTION 6. Restrictions on expenditures; penalties |
SECTION 6A. Contributions from political action committees; limitations |
SECTION 6B. Ballot question committee; contributions |
SECTION 7. Receipts, disbursements and contributions regulated; limitations; penalties |
SECTION 7A. Campaign contributions to candidates from individuals; limitation; contributions from legislative and executive agents; contributions from gaming licensee |
SECTION 8. Political contributions by corporations; penalties |
SECTION 8A. Media organization offering time and space to qualified candidates at no cost or reduced price; limitations |
SECTION 9. Contributions and expenditures over $50 or $100; use of credit or debit card by committee; penalties |
SECTION 9A. Contributions by electronic means; acceptance by political action committees; authorization cards |
SECTION 9B. Joint contributions to be attributed equally to each contributor when unspecified; rules and regulations for joint contributions |
SECTION 10. Name and address of donor; disclosure; penalties |
SECTION 10A. Treatment of contributions to candidates through intermediaries or conduits |
SECTION 11. Solicitations from candidates prohibited; exception; penalties |
SECTION 12. Soliciting of money for nomination papers prohibited; penalties |
SECTION 13. Solicitation or receipt of political campaign contributions by appointive public officers or employees prohibited; exception; penalties |
SECTION 14. Soliciting contributions in public buildings prohibited; penalties |
SECTION 15. Political contributions by public officers or employees restricted; penalties |
SECTION 16. Requiring political contributions or services of persons in public service prohibited; penalty |
SECTION 16A. Obligation to make political contribution or render political service; penalty |
SECTION 16B. Obligation to make political contributions or render political service by persons employed for compensation; penalties |
SECTION 17. Public service status of officers or employees protected relative to political contributions; penalty |
SECTION 18. Reports of contributions and expenditures; persons required to file; contents; reporting periods; time limits; penalties |
SECTION 18A. Reports of independent expenditures |
SECTION 18B. Candidate or elected official sponsoring fund raising event on behalf of non-resident candidate; reports of contributions; penalty |
SECTION 18C. Electronic reporting system for campaign finance reports and financial activity statements |
SECTION 18D. Expenditures paid by or to vendors on behalf of political committee or on behalf of individual or group required to file report of ballot question expenditures |
SECTION 18E. Legal defense, inauguration or recount funds |
SECTION 18F. Electioneering communication expenditures |
SECTION 19. Campaign funds; designation of depository |
SECTION 20. Repealed, 1979, 335, Sec. 2 |
SECTION 21. Repealed, 1979, 335, Sec. 3 |
SECTION 22. Persons or corporations making contributions; filing of reports with director; penalties |
SECTION 22A. Expenditures for political purpose; report; punishment for violation; examination of accounts |
SECTION 23. Persons acting for political committees; accounts and vouchers to treasurers |
SECTION 24. Place for filing statements or reports; signing |
SECTION 25. Preservation of statements and reports by director; public inspection and reproduction |
SECTION 26. Preservation of statements and reports by city or town clerk; public inspection and reproduction; posting of campaign finance reports required by Sec. 18 on website |
SECTION 27. Furnishing forms for statements and reports, and summary of chapter |
SECTION 28. Inspection of statements and reports; delinquencies; notice; filing |
SECTION 29. Failure to file statement, report or affidavit; notice to and duties of director and attorney general |
SECTION 30. Courts' authority to compel filing of statements |
SECTION 31. Immunity of witnesses |
SECTION 32. Corrupt practices by candidate defined |
SECTION 33. Election petitions for corrupt practices; procedure |
SECTION 34. Application of preceding sections |
SECTION 35. Inquests upon complaint for violations |
SECTION 36. Conduct of inquests |
SECTION 37. Witnesses; attendance; process; fees |
SECTION 38. Stenographer |
SECTION 39. Witnesses; binding over to superior court |
SECTION 40. Apprehension of offenders |
SECTION 41. Witnesses; compulsory testimony; immunity |
SECTION 42. Forwarding certified copy of record of final judgment or conviction to city or town clerk; disqualification of defendant as voter |