Bill Text: IL HB5977 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Provides that any expenditure made by a news publication or an entity that owns a news publication for the purpose of supporting or opposing a public official or candidate shall be treated as an in-kind contribution for the purposes of the Code. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB5977 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2017-HB5977-Introduced.html
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning elections.
| |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| |||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly:
| |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | 9-8.7 as follows:
| |||||||||||||||||||
6 | (10 ILCS 5/9-8.7 new) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 9-8.7. Expenditures by newspaper entities. | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | (a) As used in this Section only, "expenditure" means: | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | (1) a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance,
| |||||||||||||||||||
10 | deposit, gift of money, or anything of value, in connection | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | with the nomination for election, election, or retention of | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | any person to or in public office or in connection with any | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | question of public policy; or | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | (2) a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance,
| |||||||||||||||||||
15 | deposit, gift of money, or anything of value that | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | constitutes an electioneering communication, regardless of | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | whether made in concert or cooperation with or at the | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | request, suggestion, or knowledge of a candidate, a | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | political committee, or any of their agents. | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | As used in this Section only, "expenditure" does not | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | include normal publication costs associated with a news story, | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | commentary, or editorial, but does include costs associated | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | with advertising related to a particular news story, |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | commentary, or editorial. | ||||||
2 | (b) Any expenditure made by a news publication or an entity | ||||||
3 | that owns a news publication for the purpose of supporting or | ||||||
4 | opposing a public official or candidate shall be treated as an | ||||||
5 | in-kind contribution for the purposes of this Code.
| ||||||
6 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
7 | becoming law.
|