2019 -- H 5986

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LC000263

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS

     Introduced By: Representative Stephen R. Ucci

     Date Introduced: April 11, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-23-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-23 entitled "Election

Offenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     17-23-18. Political advertising from official budgets prohibited.

     (a) Except in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section, no No elected

official shall permit the expenditure of public funds from any official budget under his or her

authority for any publication, advertisement, broadcast, or telecast of his or her photograph,

voice, or other likeness to be broadcast or distributed to the public during the one hundred and

twenty (120) days preceding any primary or general election in which he or she is a candidate.

     (b) This section shall not be construed to prohibit an official from appearing on regular

capitol television programming operated by the general assembly or on television stations

operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation during the period of time or programming of

regular or special meetings of city or town councils or any local governmental board, agency or

other entity.

     (c) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the publication, broadcast, or telecast of

any photograph, voice, or other likeness of an elected official which is distributed to the public by

or through an official government website or social media presence provided that such website or

social media presence is continuously maintained in the regular course of official government

business exclusively for general informational or transparency purposes.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS

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     This act would permit the publication, broadcast, or telecast of the likeness of an elected

official within one hundred twenty (120) days preceding any primary or general election in which

that official is a candidate, when such likeness is distributed to the public by or through an official

government website or social media presence that is continuously maintained in the regular

course of official government business exclusively for general informational or transparency

purposes.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000263

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