The Office of Campaign and Political Finance is responsible for the administration and enforcement of Chapter 55 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Commonwealth's campaign finance law. The Office reviews and audits more than 18,000 annual campaign finance reports that various candidates and committees are required to file. In addition, the Office prepares and distributes publications, memoranda, interpretive bulletins, and all the forms to be used for campaign finance filings at the state, county, and municipal levels.

The passage this past November of the campaign reform referendum, the Clean Elections Initiative, will impose new duties on the Office and re-structure the way statewide campaigns are financed and administered; for example, the Office will require electronic filing of candidate disclosure reports, which must then be posted on the Internet within three days of receipt.

In Fiscal Year 2000, the Office will focus on the impact of the Clean Elections Initiative on statewide campaigns, given that the election cycle for 2002 has already begun. The Office, through its review and analysis, will be called upon by candidates and interested parties to explain the statute and prepare the necessary regulations, forms, and educational materials.

The recommended funding for Fiscal Year 2000 includes $100,000 in expansion to allow the Office to develop and implement an electronic reporting system for the submission, retrieval, storage, and public disclosure of campaign finance reports and financial activity statements.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE
0920-0300	For the operation of the office of campaign and political finance	892,499
	General Fund 50.00% Local Aid Fund 50.00%