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NOTES FOR COMPLE'T'ING THIS FORM
<br /> NOTE I; M.G.L.c, 55,s,5 requires that the full name of a political committee:
<br /> (i) include the full words represented by any abbreviations,initials or acronyms in the name;
<br /> (ii) clearly identify the economic or other special interest,if identifiable,of a majority of tis contributors or organizers;
<br /> (iii) if a majority of its contributors or organizers share a common employer that identifies the employer;
<br /> (iv) if the committee is organized,financed,controlled or maintained by an individual,the name or phrase identifies said individual;and,
<br /> (v) the words"Political Action Conunittee"be included in the name.
<br /> NO'T'E 2.M.G.L.c.55,s.5 requires that the statement of purpose for which a political committee is organized include a list of specific issues in which the
<br /> committee takes an interest,and a list of specific interests,including but not limited to business,charitable,educational,or other interests represented by the
<br /> committee,or by a significant proportion of its officers,members or donors.
<br /> MOTE 3. M,(3,L,c.55,s,5A states,in general,that no candidate or individual holding elective public office shall establish,finance,maintain,control or
<br /> serve as a principal officer of a political action committee. In addition,public employees may not serve as treasurers of political cormnittees.
<br /> DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
<br /> 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
<br /> elected official)may not directly or indirectly solicit or receive political contributions.Such persons may not serve as treasurers of any political committee. If
<br /> you are unsure of your status,please contact OCPF for further guidance.
<br /> SELECTED EXTRACTS FROM M.G.L C. 55
<br /> Section defines political action committee: "Political Action Committee", a political committee which is not a candidate's corrnnittee,apolitical parl)>
<br /> conunittee not-a ballot question committee;provided,however, that a political comnnittee which does not receive contribrutiorns fr•onr any individual that
<br /> exceed one hundred dollars in any calendar year, which has been in existence for six months or more and which contributes to five or more candidate.,shall
<br /> not be a political action committee;
<br /> Section 3 requires the director to: "assess a civil penalty fur•airy(late filed]report..,of trventy-five dollars($25)per day....[rip to$5,000 per report]....
<br /> Section 5 outlines statements of organization of political committees: Each political committee shall organize by filing with the director or, if organized for
<br /> the purpose of a cit1)or town election only, with the city or town clerk,a statement of organization.
<br /> The statement of organization.shall include:(1)the frill name of the political conrnrittee... which, if not organized on behalf of a candidate,shall include
<br /> 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
<br /> for which the political committee is organized which shall include,...,a list of spec fe iasues in which the connirnittee takes an interest, and a list of.specific
<br /> interests, including but not limited to business,charitable, educational, or other interests represented by the committee, or by a significant proportion of its
<br /> officers, members or donors;(4)the name and residential address of the chairman and the treasurer, (5)the name, residential address,and position ofother
<br /> principal n.frcer:s, including offcer:s and members of the finance committee, if airy,acrd; (t)[lie name and address, if known, and party affiliation of each
<br /> candidate fire political conunittee is.supporting;provided, however, that if a candidate is nominated without reference to a political party, the name of his
<br /> political party shall not be required.
<br /> Any change in information previously submitted in a statement of organization shall be reported to the director, or f organized for the pru pose ofa city
<br /> or town election only, to the city or town clerk, within tell days following the change.
<br /> Each political conunittee shall have a treasurer who shall qualify for his office by filing a written acceptance thereof with the director; or iforganized for•
<br /> tire 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
<br /> 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
<br /> of, or our beha f of, airy political committee shall receive any money or anything of value, or expend or disburse the same, or incur expenses while it has no
<br /> treasurer qualified as aforesaid,or while the nanne and address of any of its officers or rnernbers, as originally or subsequently chosen, is not filed in
<br /> accordance with the provisions of this section or chapter 52, as the case pray be.
<br /> Each treasurer of a political committee shall beep acrd preserve detailed accounts, vouchers and receipts as prescribed for a candidate by the provisions
<br /> ofsection two,Each treasurer of a political cornnrittee shall keep said records for a period ofsic years following the dale of the relevant election....
<br /> No expenditure shall be made for, or on behalf of,apolitical committee without the authorization of the chairman or treasurer,or their designated
<br /> agents....
<br /> All funds ofa political committee shall be kept separate fi•oin any personal fronds of ofTcers, members or associates of.such corrnnittee.
<br /> Section 5A. No candidate or individual holding elective off ce shall establish,finance, maintain, control or serve as a principal officer of a political action
<br /> conrnrittee;provided, however, that each of the following pray authorize one such political committee to which this section shall not apply:a majority of the
<br /> rrnembers of each political party who are rnernbers of the house of representatives, and a majority of the rnernbers of each political party who are nrenrbers of
<br /> the serrate.
<br /> Section 5B. (a)Every political committee,other[hart a political party conunittee or a candidates conunittee,shall name and identify itself in its
<br /> organizational statement pursuant to section five by using a name o•phrase that:
<br /> (i) clearly identifres the economic or other special interest, if identifiable,of a majority of its contributors;and
<br /> (ii) if a majority of its contributors share a common employer; that identifies the employer,
<br /> (b) If the economic or other special interest or•common employer are not identifiable tender subsection(a), every such political committee shall
<br /> name and identify itself irr its organizafional statement using a rranre or phrase:
<br /> (i) that clearly identifies the economic or other special interest, if identifiable,of a majority of its organizers;and
<br /> (ii) if a majority of its organizers share a coin pion employer, that identifies the employer;and
<br /> (iii) if the connrittee is oiganized,financed, controlled or naintailred liy all individual, that identifies said individual.
<br /> (c) No political committeeshall rise any name other than the naine inchided in its oganizational statement.
<br /> IMPORTANT: Groups wishing to form an"Independent Expenditure PAC"must register with OCPF using the CPF 101 IEPC form,If a PAC wishes to
<br /> become a"people's committee,"it must first register as a political action committee,After six months of compliance with all of the provisions ofa"people's
<br /> committee",a PAC may apply to change its status to a"people's committee."Committees wishing to apply for a change in status should contact OCPF at
<br /> (617)979-8300 to obtain the necessary forms and information.
<br /> 101PC 1115
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