| AO-96-32 |
Residual Funds may be transferred from a candidate's account to a university capital/building campaign where the candidate and chairman are faculty members, but not trustees, officer, principals, beneficiaries, or otherwise able to exercise control over the transferred funds. |
| AO-96-31 |
Former candidate may have fundraiser to retire civil penalty assessed by OCPF and Attorney General in Disposition Agreement, but must first dissolve his political committee. |
| AO-96-30 |
Opinion discusses when expenditures by a board of selectman made in connection with town meeting might also be considered to have been made to influence a ballot question. |
| AO-96-29 |
Newspaper space for column provided to an incumbent legislator is not a "contribution" if no solicitation of contributions and no advocacy for or against a candidate is involved. |
| AO-96-28 |
Public employee taking 4 month leave of absence is not subject to s. 13, even if leave is not taken immediately before the primary. |
| AO-96-27 |
Discount coupon books may be provided to committee, for the committee to distribute to potential contributors as an incentive to encourage contributions, on consignment. The committee must pay the corporation providing the books the books' market value. |
| AO-96-26 |
The same person may generally be both the treasurer and chairman of a political committee. |
| AO-96-25 |
A building housing a non-profit corporation receiving state funds is not necessarily "occupied for state, county or municipal purposes." The building is, however, subject to the Anderson opinion, and may also be subject to s. 14 if staffed and operated by the commonwealth. |
| AO-96-24 |
Providing the use of a bulk mail permit is an in-kind contribution. At the time of this opinion, the amount of the contribution was $170 (the cost to obtain the permit). |
| AO-96-23 |
A public employee seeking election to a state political party committee is subject to s. 13 and may not solicit or receive contributions. If the employee organizes a committee, the committee is not required to file reports. |
| AO-96-22 |
An inactive town committee is not subject to residual funds clause, because c. 52 does not contemplate the dissolution of such committees. If the treasurer of a defunct town committee resigns, residual funds must be transferred to the state party committee. |
| AO-96-21 |
Legislator's committee may not pay a share of legislator's law office rent even if portion of office is sometimes used to provide constituent services. |
| AO-96-20 |
Massachusetts candidate may participate in joint fundraising event with federal candidate, but must comply with Mass. regulations. |
| AO-96-19 |
Organization raising/spending funds to influence candidate elections is a PAC, even if not a business or union group. |
| AO-96-18 |
A political committee may pay legal expenses in connection within litigation concerning the counting of write-in votes and certification for the position of vice-chair of a city council. |
| AO-96-17 |
Restriction as to "personal relationship" in regulations applies only if the personal relationship is the primary reason for gift. A candidate may make expenditures for gifts to be given to major contributors, if regulations are complied with. |
| AO-96-16 |
Public employee may chair political committee. |
| AO-96-15 |
An "0-3" employee has a contractual relationship with the commonwealth or one of its subdivisions and may be a "person employed for compensation," subject to s. 13, or may be an independent contractor not subject to s. 13. |
| AO-96-14 |
Town board of library trustees may use trust funds to support a ballot question. |
| AO-96-13 |
A ballot question committee that is promoting or opposing a ballot question submitted only to the voters of a municipality files with local official not OCPF. |
| AO-96-12 |
A public employee may not solicit contributions for "party-building" organizations, such as the Republican Women's Club. Public employees may not serve as treasurer, or allow name to appear on fundraising solicitations, for such groups. |
| AO-96-11 |
An insurance company may give discounts to party members without violating s. 8. |
| AO-96-10 |
The bundling provision of the campaign finance law, M.G.L. c. 55, s, 10A does not apply to contributions made to federal candidates. |
| AO-96-09 |
An invitation to a fundraiser featuring a musical group consisting of public employees should not list the names of employees. |
| AO-96-08 |
A candidate may be reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred in attending a conference if attending the conference enhanced the candidate's ability to provide legislative and constituent services. If the candidate arrives early or remains after the conclusion of the conference, meals, lodging or other expenditures could not be reimbursed with campaign funds. |
| AO-96-07 |
A person is not subject to the $200 contribution limit imposed on lobbyists by s. 7A(b) until the person registers as, or takes the actions that meet the definition of, a legislative or executive agent. Contributions made prior to that time are not considered in determining whether the $200 limit has been reached. |
| AO-96-06 |
Chairman of conservation commission may serve as treasurer of local party committee if committee adopts ban on contributions from public servants or "persons in the service" of the commonwealth or one of its subdivisions. [But see s. 15 as amended] |
| AO-96-05 |
Ballot question committee may become civic organization in certain circumstances. |
| AO-96-04 |
City may establish link from city's homepage to homepage of city councilors. The link would include a disclaimer regarding a councilor's homepage containing partisan, promotional or advocacy positions. OCPF recommended that the link be disconnected 60 days prior to a municipal election. [But see AO-01-05] |
| AO-96-03 |
Town may expend public funds to print and mail charter commission report regarding ballot questions. |
| AO-96-02 |
A candidate or elected officer "sponsors" a non-resident fundraiser if the candidate or officer is primarily responsible for arranging for the event, hosts the event, or takes significant action to encourage fundraising in connection with the event. |
| AO-96-01 |
A town may not make expenditures relating to ballot question even if question is also on town meeting warrant. |
