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HB 466: "An Act relating to violations of state election laws."

00HOUSE BILL NO. 466 01 "An Act relating to violations of state election laws." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. AS 15.56.014(a) is amended to read: 04  (a) A person commits the crime of campaign misconduct in the second degree 05 if the person 06  (1) knowingly circulates or has written, printed or circulated a letter, 07 circular, or publication relating to an election, to a candidate at an election, or an 08 election proposition or question without the name and address of the author appearing 09 on its face; 10  (2) except as provided by AS 15.13.090(b), knowingly prints or 11 publishes an advertisement, billboard, placard, poster, handbill, paid-for television or 12 radio announcement, or other communication intended to influence the election of a 13 candidate or outcome of a ballot proposition or question without the words "paid for 14 by" followed by the name and address of the candidate, group, or individual paying

01 for the advertising or communication and, if a candidate or group, with the name of 02 the campaign chair [; 03  (3) KNOWINGLY WRITES OR PRINTS AND CIRCULATES, OR 04 HAS WRITTEN, PRINTED AND CIRCULATED, A LETTER, CIRCULAR, BILL, 05 PLACARD, POSTER, OR ADVERTISEMENT IN A NEWSPAPER, ON RADIO OR 06 TELEVISION 07  (A) CONTAINING FALSE FACTUAL INFORMATION 08 RELATING TO A CANDIDATE FOR AN ELECTION; 09  (B) THAT THE PERSON KNOWS TO BE FALSE; AND 10  (C) THAT WOULD PROVOKE A REASONABLE PERSON 11 UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO A BREACH OF THE PEACE OR 12 THAT A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONSTRUE AS DAMAGING 13 TO THE CANDIDATE'S REPUTATION FOR HONESTY, INTEGRITY, OR 14 THE CANDIDATE'S QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE IF ELECTED TO 15 OFFICE]. 16 * Sec. 2. AS 15.56 is amended by adding a new section to read: 17  Sec. 15.56.027. Campaign misconduct involving false information. (a) A 18 person commits the crime of campaign misconduct involving false information if the 19 person disseminates false or misleading information, knowing that the information is 20 false or with reckless disregard for whether the information is false, and the 21 information 22  (1) relates to a candidate for an election; and 23  (2) would provoke a reasonable person under the circumstances to a 24 breach of the peace or that a reasonable person would construe as damaging to the 25 candidate's reputation for honesty, integrity, or qualification to serve if elected to 26 office. 27  (b) Violation of this section is a corrupt practice. However, notwithstanding 28 AS 15.20.540, only a defeated candidate may contest the nomination or election of a 29 person for violation of this section. 30  (c) In this section, "disseminates" means to convey to another person by any 31 means.

01  (d) Publication campaign misconduct is a class C felony. 02 * Sec. 3. AS 15.56.025 is repealed. 03 * Sec. 4. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to offenses committed on or after the 04 effective date of this Act.