M.G.L. Chapter 55 The Massachusetts Finance Law

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Section 1. Definitions.
Section 2. Accounts of campaign contributions and expenditures; violations; penalties.
Section 3. Director of campaign and political finance; selection, etc.; powers and duties; judicial review of decisions; procedure for violations; penalties.
Section 4. Repealed, 1986, 631, Sec. 3.
Section 5. Political committees; statement of organization; treasurer; secretary; duties; expenditures; penalties.
Section 5A. Elected public officials; political action committees.
Section 5B. Names or phrases identifying political committees in organizational statements.
Section 5C. Online Training.
Section 6. Restrictions on expenditures; penalties.
Section 6A. Contributions from political action committees; limitations.
Section 6B. Ballot question committees; contributions.
Section 7. Receipts, disbursements and contributions regulated; limitations; penalties.
Section 7A. Campaign contributions to candidates from individuals; limitations.
Section 8. Political contributions, etc., by corporations; penalties.
Section 8A. Media organizations offering time or space to qualified candidates at no cost or at reduced cost; limitations.
Section 9. Contributions and expenditures over $50; use of credit card by committee; penalties.
Section 9A. Contributions by direct deposit; authorization cards.
Section 9B. Joint Contributions
Section 10. True name and address of donor to be given; penalties
Section 10A. Treatment of contributions made to candidate or on behalf of candidate or through intermediary or conduit.
Section 11. Soliciting of money, etc. from, and payment thereof by, candidates prohibited; exception; penalties.
Section 12. Soliciting of money for nomination papers prohibited; penalties.
Section 13. Solicitation or receipt of political campaign contributions by appointive public officers or employees prohibited; exception; penalties.
Section 14. Soliciting contributions in public buildings prohibited; penalties.
Section 15. Political contributions by public officers or employees restricted; penalties.
Section 16. Requiring political contributions or services of persons in public service prohibited; penalty.
Section 16a. Obligation to make political contribution or render political service; penalty.
Section 16b. Obligation to make political contribution or render political service employed for compensation; penalty.
Section 17. Public service status of officers or employees protected relative to political contributions; penalty.
Section 18. Reports of contributions and expenditures; persons required to file; contents; reporting periods; time limits; penalties.
Section 18A. Reports of independent expenditures.
Section 18B. Candidate or elected official sponsoring fund raising event on behalf of non-resident candidate; reports of contributions; penalty.
Section 18C. Electronic disclosure for candidates and political committees.
Section 18D. Reports of subvendor expenditures.
Section 18E. Legal Defense, Inaugural and Recount Funds, Reporting.
Section 18F. Reports of electioneering communications expenditures.
Section 18G. Corporate election advertising.
Section 19. Campaign funds; designation of depository.
Section 20. Repealed, 1979, 335, Sec. 2.
Section 21. Repealed, 1979, 335, Sec. 3.
Section 22. Corporations making contributions; filing of reports with director; penalties.
Section 22A. Expenditures for political purposes; report; punishment for violation; examination of accounts.
Section 23. Persons acting for political committees; accounts and vouchers to treasurers.
Section 24. Place of filing statements; signing.
Section 25. Preservation of statements and reports by director; public inspection and reproduction.
Section 26. Preservation of statements and reports by city or town clerk; public inspection and reproduction.
Section 27. Furnishing blanks and forms for statements and reports, and summary of laws.
Section 28. Inspection of statements and reports; delinquencies; notice; filing.
Section 29. Failure to file or unlawful statement, report or affidavit; notice to and duties of director and attorney general.
Section 30. Courts authorized to compel filing of statements.
Section 31. Immunity of witnesses.
Section 32. Corrupt practices by candidate defined.
Section 33. Election petitions for corrupt practices; procedure.
Section 34. Application of preceding sections.
Section 35. Inquests upon complaint for violations.
Section 36. Conduct of inquests.
Section 37. Witnesses; attendance; process; fees.
Section 38. Stenographer.
Section 39. Witnesses; binding over to superior court.
Section 40. Apprehension of offenders.
Section 41. Witnesses; compulsory testimony; immunity.
Section 42. Forwarding certified copy of record of final judgment or conviction to city or town clerk; disqualification of defendant as voter.

Important notice

The OCPF website provides an unofficial version of M.G.L. Chapter 55. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, please do not rely on this information without first checking it against the Official Edition of the General Laws of Massachusetts.

Last updated 8/6/14