CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING

OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE

Non-Depository System

About OCPF
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance is a non-partisan, independent agency established in 1973. Portions of the state campaign finance law were on the books as early as 1884. The agency, which administers MGL Chapter 55, is headed by a director who is appointed by a commission and serves a term of six years. More than 2,600 committees are organized with OCPF. Those committees filed more than 23,000 electronic disclosure reports in 2010.

A Focus on Disclosure
Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

Important Ground Rules

Public employees Public buildings Public resources
MGL c. 55, Sec. 13 - 17

Government Jobs and Campaigning

The ground rules separate the business of government from campaigning Protects public employees

Public Employees
May not solicit or receive campaign contributions, directly or indirectly
Restrictions
May not solicit (verbal or written), collect money or sell tickets to a fundraiser May not host a fundraiser May not help identify people to be targeted for fundraising May not serve as treasurers of any political committee Elected officials are exempt

Public Employees
Permitted activities May run for office, provided they organize a committee to handle all fundraising May contribute to candidates and attend fundraisers May endorse candidates in ads, letters and postcards Work for a campaign in a non-fundraising capacity and host meet the candidate sessions that do not involve raising money Serve as a member of a political committee in any nonfundraising capacity

Government Buildings
Not Permitted Solicit or receive contributions in a public building

Use a government building as a return address or contact number for buying tickets to a fundraiser Display posters or fliers advertising a fundraiser Mailing fundraiser invitations to government buildings Solicitations to public e-mail addresses

Public Resources
Anderson v. City of Boston (1978): Public resources may not be used for political campaign purposes Examples of Public Resources Copiers Paper Labor and employee time

Phones E-mail Vehicles

Exception: Equal access

The Summary Page

Raising Money
Contributions of greater than $50 must be itemized Contributions of $50 or less dont have to be itemized on the report, but must be disclosed as a lump sum. Contributions over $50 must be in the form of a check (or credit card) Cash and money orders under $50 are permitted $500 limit from individuals and PACs Contributions of $200 or more must include occupation and employer Records must be kept for every dollar received

No Corporate Contributions
State law bans corporate contributions in all forms, including LLCs and partnerships If a corporation contributes a service, such as the use of a function room, the campaign committee must pay the corporation for that service Corporations may only donate to ballot question committees and independent expenditure committees

In-Kind Contributions
Things of value that are not money Two exceptions: personal services and

ordinary hospitality
No corporate in-kinds

Out-of-Pocket Expenditures
Candidates can make out of pocket campaign

expenditures The expenditure amount is a donation (receipt) to the campaign The expenditure is also listed on Schedule B as an expenditure to the vendor (to balance the books and disclose the purpose of the purchase) If the candidates wants to be paid back, the expenditure is also listed as a liability

Spending Money
A candidate can make expenditures to

enhance his or her political

future Personal expenditures are prohibited Expenditures in excess of $50 must be itemized. Expenditures $50 and under can be disclosed in a lump sum, or itemized Reimbursements are reported as expenditures, and itemized on R-1 forms

Reimbursements

Liabilities

Mayoral Filing Dates

Resolving Cases
Late Filers: $25 fines are assessed daily, up to $5,000 Public resolution letters Disposition agreements Referral to AG

OCPF On-Line
Reporter 5 and Web Reporter www.mass.gov/ocpf Electronic Filing System

Download Rep. 5 from the OCPF website

Reporter 5 icon will appear on your desktop

Reporter 5 Receipts Page

Reporter 5 Expenditures Page

First step to file: create a report

Choose the type of report

Add the beginning and ending dates, check the beginning balance, then press Finish

Highlight the required report

Print and E-File

Technical & Legal Support

Contact the Office of Campaign & Political Finance:

Telephone: Fax: E-Mail: Website: Mail:

617.979.8300 617.727.6549 Legal, general help: ocpf@cpf.state.ma.us www.mass.gov/ocpf One Ashburton Place, Rm. 411 Boston, MA 02108