Reporting of Contributors’ Occupation and Employer

(1) Generally. All candidates and political committees must report both the occupation and the employer or employers of each person whose contribution or contributions in the aggregate equal or exceed the sum of $200 within any one calendar year. Contributions received after the first $200 is received during a calendar year must be refunded if occupation and employer information is not obtained and reported after the exercise of a candidate or committee’s best efforts, as defined in 970 CMR 1.08(2). (2) Exception to Obligation to Disclose - Best Efforts. Contributions may be kept by a committee if the committee, after exercising best efforts to obtain the information, is not able to obtain the information from a contributor after making a request when the contribution is solicited and an additional written request. For the purposes of 970 CMR 1.08, best efforts shall include the following: (a) The first request for such information must be made, orally or in writing, at the time the contribution is solicited, if a contribution is $200 or more. (b) If the required information regarding both occupation and employer is not provided at the time of receipt of the contribution, an additional written request addressed to the contributor must be made within 45 days of a committee’s receipt of any contribution which brings the total received to $200 or more during a calendar year. The written request must specifically identify the contributor. (c) If the initial request is made at the time of solicitation and the subsequent written request is made in a timely manner as provided in 970 CMR 1.08(2)(b) and the requested information is not provided by the contributor, the committee may keep the contribution without reporting the occupation and employer information to the Director or the city, town or district election official. Committees should note on their campaign finance reports, however, that a letter was sent in compliance with 970 CMR 1.08(2)(b). (d) If a candidate or treasurer of a committee determines that information provided by a contributor is incomplete, but wishes to keep the contribution, the committee must keep records reflecting all attempts made by the committee to obtain the required information. (3) Obligation to Report Additional Information. If a committee files a campaign finance report which contains incomplete occupation and employer information regarding a contributor and subsequently obtains the required information, the committee must submit written notification to the Director or city, town or district election official reflecting receipt of the correct information, and supplementing the information previously filed. Such supplemental information must be submitted within 30 days of its receipt by the committee.