Bill Text: CT HB05253 | 2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning A Determination Of The Neutrality Of Explanatory Texts Used In Local Proposals Or Questions.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-23 - Public Hearing 02/27 [HB05253 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-HB05253-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 5253
February Session, 2012		LCO No. 399
		*00399_______GAE*
Referred to Committee on Government Administration and Elections
Introduced by:
(GAE)

AN ACT CONCERNING A DETERMINATION OF THE NEUTRALITY OF EXPLANATORY TEXTS USED IN LOCAL PROPOSALS OR QUESTIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 9-7b of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subdivision (19) as follows (Effective July 1, 2012):

(NEW) (19) To issue written determinations, if requested, concerning explanatory texts, as provided for under subsection (a) of section 9-369b, as amended by this act.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9-369b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, authorize the preparation and printing of concise explanatory texts of local proposals or questions approved for submission to the electors of a municipality at a referendum. In a municipality that has a town meeting as its legislative body, the board of selectmen shall, by majority vote, determine whether to authorize an explanatory text or the dissemination of other neutral printed material. Thereafter, each such explanatory text shall be prepared by the municipal clerk, subject to the approval of the municipal attorney, and shall specify the intent and purpose of each such proposal or question. Such text shall not advocate either the approval or disapproval of the proposal or question. The municipal attorney may submit such text to the State Elections Enforcement Commission which shall, after the receipt of such text, issue to the municipal attorney a written determination, if requested, as to whether the text advocates either the approval or disapproval of the proposal or question. The municipal clerk shall cause such question or proposal and such explanatory text to be printed in sufficient supply for public distribution and shall also provide for the printing of such explanations of proposals or questions on posters of a size to be determined by said clerk. At least three such posters shall be posted at each polling place at which electors will be voting on such proposals or questions. Any posters printed in excess of the number required by this section to be posted may be displayed by said clerk at the clerk's discretion at locations which are frequented by the public. The explanatory text shall also be furnished to each absentee ballot applicant pursuant to subsection (d) of section 9-140. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, no expenditure of state or municipal funds shall be made to influence any person to vote for approval or disapproval of any such proposal or question. Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body and subject to the approval of its municipal attorney, authorize the preparation and printing of materials concerning any such proposal or question in addition to the explanatory text if such materials do not advocate the approval or disapproval of the proposal or question. This subsection shall not apply to a written, printed or typed summary of an official's views on a proposal or question, which is prepared for any news medium or which is not distributed with public funds to a member of the public except upon request of such member.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2012	9-7b(a)
Sec. 2	July 1, 2012	9-369b(a)

Statement of Purpose:

To require the State Elections Enforcement Commission to provide to municipal attorneys written determinations regarding the neutrality of explanatory texts used in local proposals or questions.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]