| AO-05-13 |
A candidate who teaches for a public university as an adjunct professor, who provides services pursuant to a contract, may be eligible for certain employment benefits, and has an expectation that he will teach at least one course each year, is subject to Section 13, even if occasionally he has not taught a course in an academic year and has not yet received a contract to teach a particular course. He is subject to section 13 even if he forgoes compensation to which he is entitled. His committee may not solicit or receive contributions from students. |
| AO-05-12 |
Checks issued through banks' online bill pay services to make campaign contributions would not violate the campaign finance law and regulations. Money orders containing funds drawn directly from a campaign account, issued by that bank, and signed by an official representative of a non-depository candidate's committee, may be used to make campaign expenditures and would not violate the campaign finance law. |
| AO-05-11 |
Campaign funds may be used to reproduce an information packet to be distributed outside a legislative district. Expenditures to distribute such information would be similar to expenditures to distribute campaign literature or for constituent services, which are allowed by the regulations, and clearly would be consistent with enhancing your political future. |
| AO-05-10 |
Officers of a political party's city committee may serve on a scholarship award committee that selects recipients of a scholarship that is awarded by the city committee. The officers of the city committee may not, however be related to the recipient of a scholarship award. [Overruling contrary guidance in AO-89-13 and AO-89-19] |
| AO-05-09 |
A political committee may not pay a salary to a candidate. |
| AO-05-08 |
If an organization receives funds from business or professional corporations, the organization may not, without violating section 8, make expenditures to support or oppose candidates. An organization that wishes to contribute to candidates may not accept commission checks (2% on each premium paid by an enrolled member) from insurance companies, which provide discounted home and auto insurance to members of the organization. |
| AO-05-07 |
This opinion responds to several questions relating to the extent to which a political party committee may use the Internet for fundraising. It states that, subject to qualifications described in the opinion: (1) credit card contributions to political committees may be processed by Internet companies such as Amazon and Paypal; (2) contributions may be received through Internet auctions, e.g., through the use of an auction on Ebay; and (3) individuals may make contributions using referral fees which they collect from Internet companies having links on their individual websites. The opinion also states, however, that Internet companies may not directly pay referral fees to the party committee. |
| AO-05-06 |
An organization may distribute materials describing alternative approaches to health care reform, and may lobby the legislature, sponsor debates or hold informational forums, or raise funds for those purposes. It may not solicit or receive funds for the purpose of supporting or opposing a health-care related ballot question. If the mailing includes a solicitation indicating that the funds received may be used at least in part to support or oppose a ballot question, this would implicate Chapter 55 and therefore the organization should leave this type of fundraising activity to a ballot question committee. In addition to avoid being defined as a political committee, the organization may not solicit or receive earmarked contributions. If a contributor encourages or suggests that funds given to the organization be subsequently transferred by the organization to a ballot question committee, the organization must inform the donor that earmarked donations are prohibited and the funds must either be refunded or deposited in the organization's general treasury. |
| AO-05-05 |
This opinion responds to a number of questions relating to the extent to which a PTO may be involved in a ballot question campaign. The opinion states that PTO's may not have teachers distribute, via student backpacks, materials prepared by a vote yes group. In addition, it states that allowing distribution of materials for the vote yes group on school grounds would require those on the other side to be given the same opportunity upon request. |
| AO-05-04 |
Section 5A does not prohibit an elected member of town party committee from serving as treasurer of a PAC. |
| AO-05-03 |
This opinion responds to questions of an individual forming a taxpayer association. The opinion states that if the association will be soliciting or receiving contributions to support or oppose candidates it must organize as a political action committee. However, if only one person finances the association, and the association is not representing itself to be a political action committee, it will not need to organize as a PAC. |
| AO-05-02 |
Sheriff's political committee may make expenditures to pay for legal expenses in connection with an Ethics Commission investigation involving allegations that the Sheriff had inmates perform work on his residence without compensation and that Correctional Officers transported inmates to the Sheriff's home under the guise of a community service. In addition, the campaign may defray legal costs associated with a defamation action concerning such allegations. If the committee pays legal fees for a defamation action, neither the candidate nor the committee may retain any funds awarded pursuant to a judgment obtained in such action, and must donate such proceeds to a charitable or other entity in a manner consistent with the residual funds clause. |
| AO-05-01 |
A contribution made under a power of attorney is considered to be from the person who established and financed the account, who has authorized another to act on his or her behalf to make expenditures from the account. |
