2003 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 196 – Public money, support candidate

HOUSE BILL NO. 196

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View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



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Daily Data Tracking History



H0196......................................................by LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC MONEY - SUPPORT CANDIDATE/MEASURE - Amends and adds to existing law to
prohibit the expenditure of public moneys by political subdivisions of the
state of Idaho to support or oppose ballot measures or candidates; and to
provide penalties.
                                                                        
02/07    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/10    Rpt prt - to W/M

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 196
                                                                        
                               BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO EXPENDITURES OF PUBLIC MONEYS TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE BALLOT MEASURES
  3        OR CANDIDATES; AMENDING CHAPTER 66, TITLE 67, IDAHO CODE, BY THE  ADDITION
  4        OF  A  NEW  SECTION  67-6630, IDAHO CODE, TO PROHIBIT THE EXPENDITURE BY A
  5        POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO OF PUBLIC MONEYS TO SUPPORT OR
  6        OPPOSE BALLOT MEASURES OR CANDIDATES AND TO  PROVIDE  PENALTIES;  AMENDING
  7        SECTION  67-6625,  IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR
  8        THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEYS TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE BALLOT  MEASURES  OR
  9        CANDIDATES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION  1.  That  Chapter  66,  Title 67, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
 12    hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and  des-
 13    ignated as Section 67-6630, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14        67-6630.  PROHIBITING  EXPENDITURES  OF PUBLIC MONEYS TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE
 15    BALLOT MEASURES OR CANDIDATES. No political subdivision of the state of  Idaho
 16    shall  expend  public moneys, as defined in sections 57-105 and 18-5703, Idaho
 17    Code, to support or oppose political candidates or ballot  measures.  Provided
 18    however,  a  political  subdivision, when authorized by law, may expend public
 19    moneys to inform voters of the pros and cons of a ballot measure in accordance
 20    with the provisions of sections 34-1812A, 34-1812B and 34-1812C,  Idaho  Code.
 21    Any  person  who  authorizes the expenditures of public moneys in violation of
 22    this section shall be subject to the penalties provided  in  section  67-6625,
 23    Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 24        SECTION  2.  That  Section 67-6625, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 25    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 26        67-6625.  VIOLATIONS -- CIVIL FINE -- MISDEMEANOR PENALTY  --  PROSECUTION
 27    --  LIMITATION -- VENUE. (a) Any person who violates the provisions of section
 28    67-6603 through 67-6614A, 67-6617, 67-6619, 67-6620, 67-6621(a),  67-6624,  or
 29    67-6629 or 67-6630, Idaho Code, shall be liable for a civil fine not to exceed
 30    two hundred fifty dollars ($250) if an individual, and not more than two thou-
 31    sand  five  hundred dollars ($2,500) if a person other than an individual. The
 32    burden of proof for such civil liability shall be met by showing a  preponder-
 33    ance of the evidence.
 34        (b)  Any  person  who  violates section 67-6605 or 67-6621(b), Idaho Code,
 35    and any person who knowingly and willfully violates  section  67-6603  through
 36    67-6614A,  67-6617,  67-6619,  67-6620,  67-6621(a),  67-6624,  or  67-6629 or
 37    67-6630, Idaho Code, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, in addi-
 38    tion to the fines set forth in subsection (a) of this section, may be  impris-
 39    oned for not more than six (6) months or be both fined and imprisoned.
 40        (c)  The  attorney  general  or  the  appropriate prosecuting attorney may
 41    prosecute any violations of this act.
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (d)  Prosecution for violation of this act must be  commenced  within  two
  2    (2) years after the date on which the violation occurred.
  3        (e)  Venue  for  prosecution under the provisions of this chapter shall be
  4    in the county of residence of the defendant if the defendant is a resident  of
  5    the state of Idaho, otherwise venue shall be in Ada county.
                                                                        
  6        SECTION  3.  An  emergency  existing  therefor,  which emergency is hereby
  7    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
  8    passage and approval.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                             RS 12788
This legislation will make it clear that expenditures of public
funds cannot be used to support or oppose political candidates or
ballot measures.  The legislation would allow a governmental
agency, when authorized by its enabling statute, to publicize an
election with public money so long as both the pro and con sides
of the measure were provided to the voters.  This is the same
type of procedure that the Secretary of State employs in
advertising initiatives and constitutional amendments.  
                          FISCAL IMPACT

There would be no fiscal impact on the state.  The legislation
would likely result in a saving of funds for some local
governmental agencies.  



Contact
Name: Rep. Jim Clark 
Phone: 332-1200




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                 H 196