Statement of Financial Interests (SFI) and Financial Disclosure Law (G.L. c. 268B) Legal Opinions

Formal legal opinions by the State Ethics Commission relating to the filing of Statements of Financial Interests and the Financial Disclosure Law (G.L. c. 268B)

• EC-FD-23-1
  
  A state legislator may accept loyalty rewards program benefits offered by a casino without violating § 6 of the financial disclosure law, G.L. c. 268B, when membership in the loyalty card program is available to the general public and the benefits are offered to the legislator on the same terms and conditions as they are to all other program members.

• EC-FD-11-2

  A public official required to file a Statement of Financial Interests is required to report his position as co-counsel to a County Regional Retirement Board in response to Question 4 on the SFI form

• EC-FD-97-1

  An individual required to file an SFI who practices law privately is not required to disclose two loans from an institutional lender on his SFI.

• EC-FD-95-1

  An appointed state employee who is required to file an SFI is advised on the requirements to report assets held in trusts if he is an income beneficiary but does not otherwise have control of the trusts.  

• EC-FD-94-2
  
  A public employee designated to file an SFI is not required to report information concerning the financial holdings of a spouse who does not reside in the public employee's household.

• EC-FD-94-1
  
  In a review of EC-FD-93-1, the Commission found that a county deputy sheriff is still considered a major policy-maker and must file an SFI even if he does not receive a salary from the corporation he oversees to handle civil process functions, but rather receives a draw from corporate profits, because his duties fall within the category of "exercising similar authority" to other public officials who are required to file SFIs.

• EC-FD-93-1 
  
  A county deputy sheriff designated by the county commission as a major policy-maker must file an SFI even though the person oversees civil process functions through a private corporation and is not paid by the county and does not receive county benefits.

• EC-FD-92-2

  A member of a county charter commission who is appointed by the elected members to fill a vacancy on the commission is required to file an SFI pursuant to G.L. c. 268B, section 5.

• EC-FD-92-1

  A candidate for public office who is required to file an SFI is advised on the requirements to report real estate holdings subject to bankruptcy liquidation.

• EC-FD-89-21

  Tax shelters are reportable on Statements of Financial interest, pursuant to G.L.c. 268B, section 5, as either "investments" or "business" if the fair market value of the shelter is greater than $1,000, regardless of whether the shelter produces tax losses or income.