Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The thirteenth paragraph of section 18 of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1990 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence.

SECTION 2. Said section 18 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the thirteenth paragraph the following three paragraphs:-

Such residual funds shall be donated to:

(i) the Local Aid Fund established under the provisions of section two D of chapter twenty-nine or the Categorical Grants Fund established under the provisions of section two N of chapter twenty-nine, whichever is in effect;

(ii) an entity which is subject to chapter sixty-seven or section eight of chapter twelve; provided, however, that the candidate, treasurer or any official of the political committee shall not be related by consanguinity or affinity to any trustee, officer, principal or beneficiary of said entity either at the time of the gift or within ten years from the date of such gift; provided, further, that no entity may employ as a trustee, officer, principal or beneficiary any person related by consanguinity or affinity to the candidate, treasurer or any official of the political committee either at the time of the gift or within ten years from the date of such gift;

(iii) a scholarship fund; provided, however, that the candidate, treasurer or any official of the political committee shall not participate in the selection of the beneficiary of any scholarship awarded from such fund; and, provided further, the beneficiary of any scholarship awarded from such fund shall not be related by consanguinity or affinity to the candidate, treasurer or any official of the political committee; or

(iv) the general fund of any city or town in the commonwealth.

The director may petition the supreme judicial court for the dissolution of a political committee, if (i) such political committee fails to comply for two consecutive years with provisions of this section requiring the filing of reports of contributions received and expenditures made; (ii) the candidate on whose behalf such political committee has been organized has died; or (iii) such political committee was organized for the purpose of favoring or opposing the adoption or rejection of a question submitted to the voters and there has been a final determination made as to the adoption or rejection of such question.

By such petition, the director may request the court to authorize the administration of any funds held by such political committee in accordance with the provisions of this section regarding residual funds. The court, after notice by mail or otherwise as it may order, may dissolve such political committee. The director may include more than one political committee in a single application.