Report Title:

Candidates for Public Office; Public Service Announcements

Description:

Prohibits candidates for public office from appearing in public service announcements from the time of filing nomination papers until the time the person is no longer a candidate. (HB389 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	389
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to elections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§11-   Candidates for public office; public service announcements; public funds. (a)  No person who is a candidate for office shall appear in, or lend the person's name, image, or voice to, any public service announcement or any advertisement that is produced on behalf of any state-administered program or paid for with state or public funds, from the time the candidate files nomination papers until the day after the day of:

(1) The primary election, in the case of a candidate in a primary election who fails to be nominated to stand in a general election; or

(2) The general election, in the case of a candidate who is nominated in a primary election and seeks election in a general election.

(b)  A candidate who is a public official shall be exempt from the prohibition specified in subsection (a) if the announcement or advertisement is in response to a disaster or state or national emergency; provided that the announcement or advertisement is reasonably necessary for an official function of the candidate.

(c)  This section shall not be construed to prohibit a candidate from appearing in a broadcast of official state or county proceedings."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.