An Act To Require Correction of False Information Distributed in a Campaign

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA c. 13, sub-c. 6  is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 6

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

§ 1111.  False campaign information

The commission, upon complaint made by a candidate for Governor, State Senate or State House of Representatives, shall investigate an allegation that a person distributed factually incorrect information about that candidate. If the commission determines that a person distributed factually incorrect information about a candidate, the commission shall impose a fine of $10,000 on that person and that person shall distribute a correction of the factually incorrect information in the same manner as the factually incorrect information was distributed.

summary

This bill requires the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, upon complaint made by a candidate for Governor, State Senate or State House of Representatives, to investigate an allegation that a person distributed factually incorrect information about that candidate. If the commission determines that a person distributed factually incorrect information about a candidate, the commission must impose a fine of $10,000 on that person and that person must distribute a correction of the factually incorrect information in the same manner as the factually incorrect information was distributed.