Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 970 CMR - OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE › Title 970 CMR 2.00 - Political Expenditures › Section 2.11 - Joint Campaign Activities

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Two or more Massachusetts candidate committees or political
				party committees may jointly make expenditures including, but not necessarily
				limited to, expenditures for a joint fundraising event in accordance with
				970 CMR
				2.12, or the purchase of campaign materials,
				media services or political flyers for a joint campaign event. The expenditures
				defined in 970 CMR 2.11, as well as any expenditure which is similar to the
				following and not inconsistent with M.G.L. c. 55 and 970 CMR, shall be
				permitted:
(1)
Definitions
. For the purposes of 970 CMR 2.11, the
			 following phrases shall have the following meanings:
Campaign Material
means any materials
				used in political campaigns including, but not limited to, buttons, bumper
				stickers, signs, balloons, hats, or T-shirts.
Media Services
means a media service
				including, but not limited to, advertisements or announcements in newspapers,
				radio, broadcast or cable television, video, or billboards.
Political Flyer
means any written
				material used in political campaigns including, but not limited to, a flyer,
				pamphlet, booklet, brochure, or slate card prepared by a candidate or political
				committee.
(2)
Primary Purpose of Expenditure
. An expenditure by a
			 candidate committee or political party committee for the purpose of making a
			 joint expenditure with another candidate or political party committee is
			 permitted only if the primary purpose of the expenditure is the promotion of
			 the nomination or election of the candidate whose committee makes the
			 expenditure, or the promotion of the political party for which the committee
			 was organized.
(3)
Resulting Contribution
. An expenditure by any
			 political committee made in connection with another political committee which
			 is not expressly authorized by 970 CMR 2.11 or does not comply with the
			 requirements of 970 CMR 2.11, shall be considered a contribution as defined by
			 M.G.L. c. 55, § 1 from the committee making the expenditure to the other
			 committee(s) involved in and benefitting from the expenditure, and will be
			 subject to the contribution limitations of M.G.L. c. 55, §§ 6, 6A and
			 6B.
(4)
Cost
			 Allocation
. Costs incurred pursuant to 970 CMR 2.11 shall be
			 allocated between the participating committees according to the benefit
			 reasonably expected to be derived by each committee based upon factors that
			 include, but are not limited to, the amount of print space, airtime, consultant
			 or staff time, or office space allocated to each committee, or the comparative
			 benefit or use of goods or services received by each committee. The relative
			 prominence or popularity of the participating candidates are not appropriate
			 factors to consider when allocating costs for joint expenditures.
(5)
Distribution of Joint
			 Campaign Materials
. Candidate committees or political party
			 committees making expenditures to purchase joint campaign materials shall
			 distribute such materials in a manner which benefits each candidate or
			 committee.
(6)
Reporting
.
(a) Each
			 candidate or committee making joint expenditures must disclose the expenditures
			 to the Director, or with the local election official, if applicable, in
			 campaign finance reports as required by M.G.L. c. 55, §§ 18 and 19.
			 Each participating candidate or committee's report must identify the other
			 candidate(s) or committee(s) participating in the joint expenditure.
(b) Reports shall be filed according to the
			 schedule provided in M.G.L. c. 55, §§ 18 and 19.