NOTES FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM
NOTE 1. M.G.L. c. 55, s. 5 and 5B require that the full name of a political committee:
(i) include the full words represented by any abbreviations, initials or acronyms in the name;
(ii) clearly identify the economic or other special interest, if identifiable, of a majority of tis contributors or organizers;
(iii) if a majority of its contributors or organizers share a common employer that identifies the employer; and
(iv) if the committee is organized, financed, controlled or maintained by an individual, the name or phrase identifies said individual.
NOTE 2. M.G.L. c. 55, s. 5 and 5B require that the statement of purpose for which a political committee is organized include a list of specific
issues in which the committee takes an interest, and a list of specific interests, including but not limited to business, charitable, educational, or
other interests represented by the committee, or by a significant proportion of its officers, members or donors.
DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
M.G.L. Chapter 55, Section 13 states that a person who is employed for compensation by the Commonwealth or any county, city or town
(other than an elected official) may not directly or indirectly solicit or receive political contributions. Such persons may not serve as treasurers
of any political committee. If you are unsure of your status, please contact OCPF for further guidance.
SELECTED EXTRACTS FROM M.G.L C. 55
Section 1 defines a ballot question committee:
"a political committee which receives or expends money or other things of value for the purpose of favoring or opposing the adoption or
rejection of a specific question or questions submitted to the voters, including, without limitation, a charter change, an initiative or
referendum question or a constitutional amendment."
Section 3 requires the director to:
"assess a civil penalty for any [late filed] report ... of twenty-five dollars ($25) per day ... [up to $5,000 per report] ... the civil penalty
shall be assessed against the treasurer of the [ballot question] committee ... .
Section 5 outlines statements of organization of political committees:
Each political committee shall organize by filing with the director or, if organized for the purpose of a city or town election only, with
the city or town clerk, a statement of organization.
The statement of organization shall include: (1) the full name of the political committee ... which, if not organized on behalf of a
candidate, shall include the full words represented by any abbreviations, initials or acronyms in said name; ... (2) the address of the political
committee; (3) a statement of the purpose for which the political committee is organized which shall include, ..., a list of specific issues in
which the committee takes an interest, and a list of specific interests, including but not limited to business, charitable, educational, or other
interests represented by the committee, or by a significant proportion of its officers, members or donors; (4) the name and residential address
of the chair and the treasurer; (5) the name, residential address, and position of other principal officers, including officers and members of the
finance committee, if any ... .
Any change in information previously submitted in a statement of organization shall be reported to the director, or if organized for the
purpose of a city or town election only, to the city or town clerk, within ten days following the change.
Each political committee shall have a treasurer who shall qualify for his office by filing a written acceptance thereof with the director, or
if organized for the purpose of a city or town election only, with the city or town clerk. Said treasurer shall remain subject to all the duties and
liabilities imposed by this chapter until his written resignation of the office is received or his successor's written acceptance is filed as
aforesaid. No person acting under the authority of, or on behalf of, any political committee shall receive any money or anything of value, or
expend or disburse the same, or incur expenses while it has no treasurer qualified as aforesaid ... .
Each treasurer of a political committee shall keep and preserve detailed accounts, vouchers and receipts as prescribed for a candidate by
the provisions of section two. Each treasurer of a political committee shall keep said records for a period of six years following the date of the
relevant election ....
No expenditure shall be made for, or on behalf of, a political committee without the authorization of the chair or treasurer, or their
designated agents ....
All funds of a political committee shall be kept separate from any personal funds of officers, members or associates of such committee.
Section 5B. (a) Every political committee, other than a political party committee or a candidate's committee, shall name and identify itself in
its organizational statement pursuant to section five by using a name or phrase that:
(i) clearly identifies the economic or other special interest, if identifiable, of a majority of its contributors; and
(ii) if a majority of its contributors share a common employer, that identifies the employer.
(b) If the economic or other special interest or common employer are not identifiable under subsection (a), every such political
committee shall name and identify itself in its organizational statement using a name or phrase:
(i) that clearly identifies the economic or other special interest, if identifiable, of a majority of its organizers; and
(ii) if a majority of its organizers share a common employer, that identifies the employer; and
(iii) if the committee is organized, financed, controlled or maintained by an individual, that identifies said individual.
(c) No political committee shall use any name other than the name included in its organizational statement.
101BQ 12/17
