Bill Text: CA AB1678 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Election campaigns: libel and slander.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - Died at Desk. [AB1678 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1678-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1678
| Introduced by Assembly Member Hart |
February 17, 2023 |
An act to amend Section 20502 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1678, as introduced, Hart.
Election campaigns: libel and slander.
Existing law provides that libel is a false and unprivileged written publication that injures the reputation and that slander is a false and unprivileged publication, orally uttered, that injures the reputation, as specified. Existing law applies the provisions relating to libel and slander to campaign advertisements and communications, and it further provides that a defendant’s willingness or unwillingness to retract or correct a communication made in the course of a campaign is admissible for purposes of determining damages, as specified.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 20502 of the Elections Code is amended to read:20502.
(a) In any action for libel or slander brought by a candidate, the willingness or unwillingness of the defendant to retract or correct a communication made in the course of a campaign, and(b) The remedy provided by this section is in addition to any other remedy provided by law.
