HOUSE BILL 279

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Janice E. Arnold-Jones

AN ACT

RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL CONDUCT; REGULATING THE USE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of the Governmental Conduct Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] USE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS LIMITED.--

          A. Officials are prohibited from using public funds at any time to prepare, publish or broadcast a public service announcement in which the official's image or name appears or in which the official's voice is heard.

          B. An official shall not permit such a service announcement to be prepared, published or broadcast.

          C. For the purposes of this section:

                (1) "official" means persons elected pursuant to the constitution of New Mexico to statewide office, state legislators and local elected officials; and

                (2) "public service announcement" includes a paid or unpaid placement released by an official or the official's office for inclusion in broadcasts or publications with the expectation that the placement will be included at the convenience of a broadcast station or publisher without charge to the official as part of the broadcast station's or publisher's interest in providing a community service."

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