| AO-07-10 |
An issues group, which raises funds to influence town meeting, but not an election, is not required to register as a political committee. |
| AO-07-09 |
A legislator's political committee could make an expenditure for office space that would primarily be used for conducting political and legislative business in Boston, even if the legislator would occasionally use the office as a place to stay when she needs to stay in Boston overnight for legislative or political business. The legislator would forgo per diem. |
| AO-07-08 |
If NARAL, a lobbying organization, either sends an e-mail or letter to its members asking them to send a check to a candidate with a message that NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts sent me, or has someone who is not a registered legislative or executive agent deliver members' contributions to a candidate, such activities may result in the making of bundled contributions. |
| AO-07-07 |
This opinion addresses questions raised by a group that registered as a local PAC, that was seeking guidance regarding the extent it could be involved in supporting the recall of local candidates, supporting or opposing other candidates and ballot questions, and also being involved in community outreach and educating the public on issues in the community. |
| AO-07-06 |
A nonprofit organization may establish a "leadership program" consisting of a series of informational forums. The instruction provided would be useful to anyone seeking and serving in leadership roles in politics, government and their communities, and would include, e.g., instruction in public speaking, fundraising, field organizing, and campaign strategies. The prgram would only be available for women who are registered as Democrats. Candidates and persons working for political committees would have to pay a fee that would equal the fair market value for the classes. OCPF concluded that the organization would not be required to organize a political committee, but would not be allowed to accept donations from business or professional corporations. |
| AO-07-05 |
This advisory opinion sets forth the manner in which an association that receives funds from business corporations may support a PAC by soliciting contributions from existing and new members using the association's website. The Association would need to be reimbursed for all of the fees incurred in processing the contributions as well as the cost for initially designing the portion of the website which solicits contributions for the PAC. In addition, the PAC and the association must comply with the campaign finance law's recordkeeping and reporting requirements. |
| AO-07-04 |
A Warrant Committee Recording Secretary, who takes and distributes the minutes for a town's finance committee, types the minutes using her own laptop computer at home and at the meetings, receives no employment benefits, receives IRS Form 1099s, does not receive supplies or administrative facilities from the town, and is not subject to the supervision of municipal officials, is not "employed for compensation" by the town for the purposes of the campaign finance law. |
| AO-07-03 |
School officials may use automated phone system to advise parents of the date of an election and also to encourage them to vote. Extreme care should be taken to avoid any comment regarding the merits of a ballot question or any appearance of advocacy. |
| AO-07-02 |
Money given to a state political party committee for the purpose of raising funds to pay for a new building for the committee would be a "contribution" subject to the campaign finance law. Contributions are subject to limits, prohibitions and disclosure requirements under the campaign finance law. |
| AO-07-01 |
A town clerk who administers elections may not also serve as secretary for a local party committee, even if the local party committee is located in a different town, in accordance with section 5 as revised by chapter 299 of the Acts of 2006. |
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