Advisory Opinions By Year Issued

Legal Topics Find Advisory Opinions and Guidance Letters, grouped by the topics to which they relate. OCPF's Searchable Legal Database Find all of the sections of the campaign finance law, OCPF regulations, interpretive bulletins, memoranda, advisory opinions and guidance letters that relate to a legal topic of interest.

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 AO-12-01 A PAC may poll legislative districts to determine vulnerability of districts for the purpose of then finding candidates to run in such districts. Providing such polling data to candidates may result in in-kind contributions from the PAC to the candidates receiving the polling results. AO-12-02 A public employee may, on his or her own time, design or maintain a campaign website if the parts of the website the public employee designs or maintains do not discuss or advertise fundraising or solicit or accept contributions. AO-12-03 Legislative or executive agents may use LinkedIn discussion groups to solicit contributions for a candidate from online group members. The legislative or executive agent may not, however, actually receive and forward the contributions if any one of the contributions exceeds $156. In addition, the legislative or executive agent may not provide a candidate or committee receiving contributions with written correspondence stating that the agent was responsible for arranging for the contributions to be made. AO-12-04 The Massachusetts Right to Repair Ballot Question Committee may remain in existence for the purpose of implementing legislation consistent with the ballot question on the 2012 ballot, and may expend funds for lobbying, legal and other services directly related to that purpose. The committee may not, however, solicit and receive additional contributions for that purpose because no new ballot question is contemplated.