Individuals covered by G.L. c. 268A and G.L. c. 268B are entitled to receive confidential advice about whether proposed activities are permissible under the laws. Opinions of the Commission serve as a legal defense in subsequent proceedings concerning the requesting individual’s conduct, unless the request omits or misstates material facts.

Most requests for advice are handled over the telephone on the day of the call. Written requests for advisory opinions generally are answered within four weeks. Formal opinions address new issues and may take longer than four weeks to complete. Although advisory opinions issued by the Commission are confidential, the Commission publishes summaries of formal advisory opinions as well as public versions of such opinions with the identifying information deleted. Informal opinions are based on precedent, issued by an attorney within four weeks and are not published.

Conflict of interest opinions may also be issued by city solicitors or town counsel. Such opinions must be filed with the Commission for review to ensure that these opinions are consistent with Commission precedent. The Commission has 30 days to notify the municipal counsel of any objections to an opinion; if there are no objections, the advisory opinion can serve as a legal defense in any subsequent Commission proceeding.