Current Status Bill Number:4606 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19980211 Primary Sponsor:Townsend All Sponsors:Townsend Drafted Document Number:pt\1685dw.98 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Elections, candidates, advertisement material with unfounded information; Ethics, Campaign practices, actual malice
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19980211 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 8-13-1540 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY ADVERTISEMENT MATERIAL OR PUBLICATION ON BEHALF OF A CANDIDATE BY AN ORGANIZATION NOT MEETING THE DEFINITION OF "COMMITTEE" UNDER SECTION 8-13-1300(6) IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE THAT ACTUAL MALICE IS NOT PROVED IN A DEFAMATION ACTION BY A CANDIDATE AGAINST THIS ORGANIZATION FOR FALSE, ERRONEOUS, UNFOUNDED INFORMATION, OR ACCUSATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 8-13-1540. (A) An organization not included within the definition of 'committee' under Section 8-13-1300(6) is subject to the same requirements of the committee when the organization endorses or aligns itself with a candidate.
(B) Actual malice is not an element of defamation action by a candidate against an organization that endorses or aligns itself with another candidate for false, erroneous, unfounded information, or accusations."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.