SB 96 Summary

• Amends Section 17-5-16 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to prohibit fraudulent misrepresentation of candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, and political parties through phone banks or automated dialing services.

• Makes it unlawful for owners, employees, agents, or representatives of phone banks and automated telephone dialing services to fraudulently misrepresent themselves or their affiliations when speaking on behalf of political candidates or organizations in a manner that damages or intends to damage other candidates or political entities.

• Requires all communications via phone bank or automated dialing service to include notice at the beginning and ending of calls identifying that the communication is a paid political advertisement and clearly identifying who paid for it.

• Mandates that any live or recorded telephone call must identify the name of the person calling and the candidate or campaign being represented.

• Provides that violations constitute a Class A misdemeanor, with enforcement authority vested in the Alabama Attorney General; act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval.