SB284 Summary

• Requires organizations and entities paying for electioneering communications and political advertisements to disclose the names of funding sources, with certain exceptions designed to protect public's right to know while preserving free speech.

• Defines "electioneering communication" as any communication through broadcast media, mailings, electronic communication, phone banks, or publications that contains a candidate's name or image, is made within 120 days of an election, is clearly intended to influence the election outcome, and costs over $1,000.

• Exempts churches from disclosure requirements unless expenditures are used to influence election outcomes, and exempts membership or trade organization communications with their members, members' families, or employees.

• Requires paid political advertisements and electioneering communications in print and broadcast media to clearly and distinctly identify the entity directly paying for the communication, with exemptions for certain Internet-based, wearable, and text message formats.

• Effective July 1, 2011; corporate contribution limits continue to apply to principal campaign committees, political committees, and political parties but not to electioneering communications.