HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1451        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3340

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James J. Lyons, Jr., (BY REQUEST)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to increase transparency within campaigns.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1451        FILED ON: 1/16/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3340

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to increase transparency within campaigns.

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. Section 9 of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the following words:- if the aggregate amount contributed in a calendar year exceeds $50.

SECTION 2. Section 18 of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- The office of campaign and political finance will prohibit political committees from expensing motor vehicles but shall allow mileage reimbursement.

SECTION 3. Chapter 159C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 15. As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Robocall”, is an automated phone call that uses both a computerized auto-dialer and a computer-delivered pre-recorded message.

“Robocall telephone solicitation”, a voice or text communication, whether prerecorded or a facsimile, over a telephone line or wireless telephone network or via a commercial mobile radio service that is a robocall telephone solicitation to a telephone subscriber for the purpose of soliciting or encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services; obtaining or providing information that will or may be used for that purpose; soliciting or encouraging a telephone subscriber’s participation in any contest, sweepstakes, raffle, or lottery, whether legal or illegal; or obtaining a charitable donation. “Robocall telephone solicitation” shall include a political message if the message is communicated by use of an automatic dialing and recorded message player.

“Robocall telephone solicitor”, an individual, association, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, Limited Liability Company or other business entity, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, doing business in the commonwealth who makes or causes to be made a telephonic sales call.

Every political committee overseen by office of campaign and political finance will be required to disclose within a robocall who paid for the call.

SECTION 4. Subsection (a) of section 18A of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- All political organizations and committees conducting an independent expenditure exceeding $1000 will be required to notify the office of campaign and political finance. The expenditure shall be disclosed within 5 days along with details on the expenditures and any donation 21 days prior to the expenditure.