H-0487.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1247

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Prince, Ferguson, Wynne, Jacobsen and Basich.

 

Read first time January 23, 1991.  Referred to Committee on State Government.Requiring advance notice of political advertising.


     AN ACT Relating to advance notice of political advertising; and adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:

     A candidate for public office shall notify an opponent who will be mentioned by name or inference in any campaign literature, media advertising, letter, or press release, three days in advance of publication.  At least twenty-four hours before public distribution, the candidate shall give the opponent written copies of the printed materials or television and radio scripts.

     An opponent, so notified, need not provide copies of his or her response to the candidate unless he or she refers to the candidate in the response.  In that event, the responder shall include the following statement in the response:

"This is a response to my opponent's comments in the ..........  (flyer, brochure, letter, press release, or media advertisement) regarding my .......... (record, activities, or beliefs)."