HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1510        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1286

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve [Title].

Resolved, That there shall be a special commission to make an investigation and study of administrative fees charged by non-profit fundraisers. The commission shall consist of the attorney general or his designee; the undersecretary of the department of consumer affairs and business regulation or his designee; the chairs of the joint committee on consumer affairs and professional licensure; 2 members of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; 1 member of the senate to be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker; and 1 member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the minority leader.

The commission’s study shall include an analysis of the percentage of charitable donations that are used for administrative fees and how and if this information is made available to the public.  The commission shall make recommendations about whether it is necessary to impose a ceiling on administrative fees charged by non-profit fundraisers and appropriate reporting requirements for the percentage of donations actually received by charities.  The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect by filing them with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives on or before June 30, 2010.