SF0171 - Public funds-prohibited use.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0622

 

 

 

SENATE FILE NO.  SF0171

 

 

Public funds-prohibited use.

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to elections; prohibiting the use of public
 2  funds in certain circumstances; providing for exceptions;
 3  providing for criminal offenses; providing for penalties;
 4  and providing for an effective date.

 5 

 6  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 7 

 8         Section 1.  W.S. 22-26-122 is created to read:

 9 

10         22-26-122.  Prohibiting public funds used to influence
11  the outcome of an election.

12 

13         (a)  Public monies shall not be expended directly or
14  indirectly in an attempt to influence the outcome of any
15  election or in support of any candidate, party, political
16  or nonpolitical group in any election.

17 

 

Page  1

 

 

 

 1         (b)  "Public monies" includes any property, facility,
 2  equipment, salaries, supplies, materials, services, other
 3  purchase or expenditure for which public funds are used.

 4 

 5         (c)  Nothing in this act shall prevent a public entity
 6  from using public monies to disseminate factual information
 7  to the public to assist the public in understanding ballot
 8  issues provided that public officials shall not use the
 9  dissemination of factual information to advocate for or
10  against any issue.

11 

12         (d)  Nothing in this act shall prevent public
13  officials from providing factual information concerning
14  ballot issues in forums, news interviews or similar public
15  arenas, provided that public officials shall not use the
16  publication of factual information to advocate for or
17  against any issue.

18 

19         (e)  Nothing in this act shall be construed to deny
20  any public employee his right to exercise first amendment
21  rights so long as the protected activity does not use
22  public monies.

23 

 

Page  2

 

 

 

 1         (f)  A person who violates this act upon order of a
 2  supervisor and who attempts to influence ten (10) or fewer
 3  persons is guilty of a misdemeanor pursuant to W.S.
 4  22-26-101(a).

 5 

 6         (g)  A person who violates this act by directing his
 7  employees to violate this act or attempts to influence more
 8  than ten (10) persons is guilty of a felony pursuant to
 9  W.S. 22-26-112(a).

10 

11         Section 2.  W.S. 22-26-101(a) by creating a new
12  subsection (xi) and 22-26-112(a) by creating a new
13  subsection (xi) are amended to read:

14 

15         22-26-101.  Felony offenses generally.

16 

17         (a)  The following acts in connection with or related
18  to the election process or an election, if knowingly and
19  willfully committed, are felony offenses punishable by not
20  more than five (5) years' imprisonment in the state
21  penitentiary or a fine of not more than ten thousand
22  dollars ($10,000.00), or both:

23 

24              (xi)  Violating W.S. 22-26-122(g).

 

Page  3

 

 

 

 1 

 2         22-26-112.  Misdemeanor offenses generally.

 3 

 4         (a)  Unless a different penalty is specifically
 5  provided in this code, the following acts, if knowingly and
 6  willfully committed, are misdemeanor offenses punishable by
 7  not more than six (6) months in a county jail or a fine of
 8  not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both:

 9 

10              (xi)  Violating W.S. 22-26-122(f).

11 

12         Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2001.

13 

14                         (END)

 

Page  4