Section 22. Any person or the treasurer of a corporation, association, organization or other group of persons, other than a political committee organized under section 5, which has given, paid, expended or contributed, or promised to give, pay, expend or contribute, any money or other thing of value in order to influence or affect the vote on any question submitted to the voters shall file reports setting forth the amount or value of every gift, payment, expenditure or contribution or promise to give, pay, expend or contribute, together with the date, purpose and full name and address of the person to whom it was made.
Any person who makes an expenditure of $250 or more other than a contribution to a ballot question committee or incurs a liability of $250 or more to influence or affect the vote on any question submitted to the voters shall file reports setting forth the amount or value of the expenditure or liability, together with the date, purpose and full name of the person to whom the expenditure was made or the liability incurred.
If the question appears on ballots at a state election, such report shall be filed with the director as follows: (1) the sixtieth day prior to the election; (2) on or before the fifth and twentieth day of each month complete as of the preceding first and fifteenth day of the month, until the election; (3) the twentieth day of November following such election, complete as of the fifteenth day of the month; and (4) the twentieth day of January of each year, complete as of the thirty-first day of December of the prior year, until all declared liabilities of such person or corporation, association, organization or other group of persons have been discharged.
If the question appears on ballots at a city or town election or appears on ballots for use in a city or town at a state election, such report shall be filed with the city or town clerk as follows: (1) the eighth day preceding a preliminary or primary, including a caucus, the eighth day preceding a city or town election and, if a city election, as a final report, the twentieth day of January in the following year, complete as of the thirty-first day of December of the prior year and, if a town election, as a final report, the thirtieth day following such election; (2) the eighth day preceding a special primary, including a caucus, the eighth day preceding a special election and, as a final report, the thirtieth day following a special election; and (3) the twentieth day of January of each year, complete as of the thirty-first day of December of the prior year, until all declared liabilities of such person or corporation, association, organization or other group of persons have been discharged.
Except as otherwise provided, the end of the reporting period of each report required to be filed under the provisions of this section shall be as of the tenth day preceding the last day for filing. The beginning of the reporting period for each report subsequent to the initial report shall be the day following the end of the reporting period of the last report filed. A person, corporation, association, organization or group required to file a report under this section is also subject to subvendor disclosure requirements under section 18D.
Any person or corporation, association, organization or other group of persons, other than a political committee organized under said section 5, violating any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000 and any officer, director or agent of any such person or corporation, association, organization or other group of persons violating any provision hereof or authorizing any such violation or any person who violates or in any way knowingly aids or abets the violation of any provision hereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 55 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Expenditures and Contributions
Section 2 - Accounts of Contributions and Expenditures; Violations; 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 8 - Political Contributions by Corporations; Penalties
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 14 - Soliciting Contributions in Public Buildings Prohibited; Penalties
Section 15 - Political Contributions by Public Officers or Employees Restricted; Penalties
Section 16a - Obligation to Make Political Contribution or Render Political Service; Penalty
Section 18a - Reports of Independent Expenditures
Section 18e - Legal Defense, Inauguration or Recount Funds
Section 18f - Electioneering Communication Expenditures
Section 19 - Campaign Funds; Designation of Depository
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 27 - Furnishing Forms for Statements and Reports, and Summary of Chapter
Section 28 - Inspection of Statements and Reports; Delinquencies; Notice; Filing
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 39 - Witnesses; Binding Over to Superior Court
Section 40 - Apprehension of Offenders