H 4606 General Bill, By Townsend
 A BILL 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.

   02/11/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   02/11/98  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6

A BILL

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.