HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2111 FILED ON: 1/15/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 543
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Garrett J. Bradley
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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 relative to disclosure of top contributors for independent expenditures or electioneering communications.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Garrett J. Bradley | 3rd Plymouth | 1/15/2015 |
Josh S. Cutler | 6th Plymouth | 8/27/2019 |
Ann-Margaret Ferrante | 5th Essex | 8/27/2019 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 8/27/2019 |
Ruth B. Balser | 12th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Kenneth I. Gordon | 21st Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Carolyn C. Dykema | 8th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Louis L. Kafka | 8th Norfolk | 8/27/2019 |
Tricia Farley-Bouvier | 3rd Berkshire | 8/27/2019 |
James M. Cantwell | 4th Plymouth | 8/27/2019 |
Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire | 8/27/2019 |
John V. Fernandes | 10th Worcester | 8/27/2019 |
Danielle W. Gregoire | 4th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Tom Sannicandro | 7th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester | 8/27/2019 |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Timothy R. Madden | Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket | 8/27/2019 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 8/27/2019 |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk | 8/27/2019 |
Jonathan Hecht | 29th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
James M. Murphy | 4th Norfolk | 8/27/2019 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
Chris Walsh | 6th Middlesex | 8/27/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2111 FILED ON: 1/15/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 543
By Mr. Bradley of Hingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 543) of Garrett J. Bradley and others relative to disclosures by individuals or entities making independent expenditures for electioneering communications. Election Laws. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act relative to disclosure of top contributors for independent expenditures or electioneering communications.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith voters with a clearer understanding of the source of funding for political advertisements, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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 18G of chapter 55 of the General Laws as amended by Chapter 210 of the Acts of 2014 is amended by striking the section and inserting the following in its place:-
Section 18G. An independent expenditure or electioneering communication which is transmitted through paid radio, television or internet advertising shall include a statement disclosing the identity of the individual, corporation, group or association paying for the advertisement. If the independent expenditure or electioneering communication is a radio or television advertisement, the advertisement shall include a statement by the individual paying for the advertisement in which the person acknowledges that he paid for the message and his city or town of residence. If the radio or television advertisement is paid for by a corporation, group, association or a labor union, the following statement shall be made by the chief executive officer of the corporation, the chairman or principal officer of the group or association or the chief executive or business manager of a labor union: "I am _________________ (name) the ______________________ (office held) of _____________________ (name of corporation, group, association or labor union) and ______________ (name of corporation, group, association or labor union) approves and paid for this message." Such statements in television advertisements shall be conveyed by an unobscured, full-screen view of the person making the statement. If an independent expenditure or electioneering communication is transmitted through internet advertising, the statement shall appear in a clearly readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement.
An independent expenditure or electioneering communication which is transmitted through paid television, internet advertising or print advertising appearing larger than 15 square inches, or direct mail or billboard shall include a written statement at the bottom of the advertisement or mailing that contains the words "Top Contributors" and a written statement that lists the 5 persons or entities or, if fewer than 5 persons or entities, all such persons or entities, that made the largest contributions, to that entity, regardless of the purpose for which the funds were given; provided, however, that only contributions in excess of $5,000 reportable under this chapter during the 12-month period before the date of the advertisement or communication shall be listed. If no such contribution is received by the entity making an independent expenditure or electioneering communication, the advertisement or communication may exclude the statement. The advertisement or communication shall also include a written statement, as specified by the director, at the bottom of the advertisement or communication that directs viewers to the official web address of the office of campaign and political finance. This paragraph shall also apply to advertisements or communications purchased to influence or affect the vote on any question submitted to the voters.
Whoever violates this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.