|
| Sec. 6. 13-C MRSA §§106, 107 and 108 are enacted to read: |
|
| §106.__Corporation speech rights |
|
| | 1.__Engage in commercial communication. A corporation may | engage in commercial communication and hire, retain and contract | with 3rd parties to assist the corporation in engaging in | commercial communication. |
|
| | 2.__Engage in political speech or activity.__Notwithstanding | any law to the contrary, a corporation may not make a | contribution or expenditure to finance political speech or | activity, including the hiring of 3rd parties and the payment for | political advertising in any form; however, a corporation may | make a contribution or expenditure to pay the salary and | reasonable travel expenses of employees, officers or directors of | the corporation while those persons are engaging in political | speech or activity, including writing print and electronic | editorials, articles or letters to the editor, appearing at | hearings, interviews, meetings or any other public event and | expressing views, either individually or as representatives of | the corporation. |
|
| As used in this subsection, "contribution or expenditure" | includes any direct or indirect payment, distribution, loan, | advance, deposit or gift of money or any services or anything of | value but does not include: |
|
| A.__Communications by a corporation to its stockholders and | executive or administrative personnel and their families; |
|
| B.__Nonpartisan registration and so-called "get out the | vote" campaigns by a corporation aimed at its stockholders | and executive or administrative personnel and their | families; or |
|
| C.__The establishment or administration of, or solicitation | of contributions to, a separate segregated fund to be used | for political purposes by the corporation. |
|
| §107.__Other corporation rights |
|
| | In addition to the rights specified in section 106, a | corporation has the following__rights: |
|
| | 1.__Petition.__To petition the government for a redress of | grievances; |
|
|