AB 501

Under current law, the committee, group, or individual making payment or

reimbursement or assuming responsibility for a political communication must

ensure that certain information identifying the source of the communication appears

on or in the communication.

Under the bill, each political communication must include an Internet site or

telephone number where the committee, group, or individual making payment or

reimbursement or assuming responsibility for the communication may be contacted.

Also under the bill, in a radio communication, all information that is currently

required, or required under the bill, must be spoken at the beginning and end of the

communication; in a television communication, all such information must appear on

the screen during the entire communication over the full width of the screen and

must be readable by viewers of the communication. Violators are subject to a

forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $500 for each violation. Intentional

violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $1,000 or

imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.