Chapter 302 |
2019 -- H 5986 Enacted 07/19/2019 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO ELECTIONS |
Introduced By: Representative Stephen R. Ucci |
Date Introduced: April 11, 2019 |
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 that is distributed to the |
public by or through an official government website or social media presence provided that such |
the 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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LC000263 |
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