Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions
Section 17 - Public Service Status of Officers or Employees Protected Relative to Political Contributions; Penalty

Section 17. No officer or employee of the commonwealth or of any county, city or town shall discharge, promote, or degrade an officer or employee, or change his official rank or compensation, or promise or threaten so to do, for giving, withholding or neglecting to make a contribution of money or other valuable thing for a political purpose.
Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title VIII - Elections

Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Accounts of Contributions and Expenditures; Violations; Penalties

Section 3 - Director of Campaign and Political Finance; Selection; Term; Powers and Duties; Judicial Review of Decisions; Procedure for Violations; Penalties; Disclosure of Fund Transfers

Section 5 - Political Committees; Statement of Organization; Officers; Duties; Expenditures; Incorporation; Penalties

Section 5a - Elected Public Officials; Principal Officers of Political Action Committees

Section 5b - Names or Phrases Identifying Political Committees in Organizational Statements

Section 5c - Online Training Program for Treasurers of Political Committees

Section 6 - Restrictions on Expenditures; Penalties

Section 6a - Contributions From Political Action Committees; Limitations

Section 6b - Ballot Question Committee; Contributions

Section 7 - Receipts, Disbursements and Contributions Regulated; Limitations; Penalties

Section 7a - Campaign Contributions to Candidates From Individuals; Limitation; Contributions From Legislative and Executive Agents; Contributions From Gaming Licensee

Section 8 - Political Contributions by Corporations; Penalties

Section 8a - Media Organization Offering Time and Space to Qualified Candidates at No Cost or Reduced Price; Limitations

Section 9 - Contributions and Expenditures Over $50 or $100; Use of Credit or Debit Card by Committee; Penalties

Section 9a - Contributions by Electronic Means; Acceptance by Political Action Committees; Authorization Cards

Section 9b - Joint Contributions to Be Attributed Equally to Each Contributor When Unspecified; Rules and Regulations for Joint Contributions

Section 10 - Name and Address of Donor; Disclosure; Penalties

Section 10a - Treatment of Contributions to Candidates Through Intermediaries or Conduits

Section 11 - Solicitations From 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 Contributions or Render Political Service by Persons Employed for Compensation; Penalties

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 Reporting System for Campaign Finance Reports and Financial Activity Statements

Section 18d - Expenditures Paid by or to Vendors on Behalf of Political Committee or on Behalf of Individual or Group Required to File Report of Ballot Question Expenditures

Section 18e - Legal Defense, Inauguration or Recount Funds

Section 18f - Electioneering Communication Expenditures

Section 18g - Independent Expenditure or Electioneering Communication; Disclosure Statement Regarding Identity of Financially Responsible Individual or Entity; Form; Disclosure of Top Contributors; Penalty for Violation

Section 19 - Campaign Funds; Designation of Depository

Section 22 - Persons or Corporations Making Contributions; Filing of Reports With Director; Penalties

Section 22a - Expenditures for Political Purpose; Report; Punishment for Violation; Examination of Accounts

Section 23 - Persons Acting for Political Committees; Accounts and Vouchers to Treasurers

Section 24 - Place for Filing Statements or Reports; 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; Posting of Campaign Finance Reports Required by Sec. 18 on Website

Section 27 - Furnishing Forms for Statements and Reports, and Summary of Chapter

Section 28 - Inspection of Statements and Reports; Delinquencies; Notice; Filing

Section 29 - Failure to File Statement, Report or Affidavit; Notice to and Duties of Director and Attorney General

Section 30 - Courts' Authority 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