AK
Alaska House Bill HB129

Alaska 2023-2024 Regular Session

Alaska House Bill HB129 Compare Versions

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10-SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 129(FIN) am S
10+SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 129(FIN)
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1212 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
1313
1414 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
1515
1616 BY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
1717
18-Amended: 5/15/24
1918 Offered: 5/14/24
19+Referred: Today's Calendar
2020
2121 Sponsor(s): HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
2222 A BILL
2323
2424 FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
2525
2626 "An Act relating to elections; relating to voter registration; relating to candidate legal 1
2727 funds; relating to voting; relating to special needs voting; relating to absentee voting; 2
2828 relating to defamation claims based on the use of synthetic media; relating to the use of 3
2929 synthetic media in electioneering communications; and providing for an effective date." 4
3030 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 5
3131 * Section 1. AS 09.65 is amended by adding a new section to read: 6
32-Sec. 09.65.360. Civil liability for defamation of a candidate based on synthetic 7
33-media. An action for defamation based on the use of synthetic media is a claim for 8
34-defamation brought by a candidate per se. In this section, (1) "candidate" has the meaning 9
35-given in AS 15.13.400; 10
36-(2) "synthetic media" has the meaning given in AS 15.80.009(g). 11
37- * Sec. 2. AS 15.07.130(a) is amended to read: 12
32+Sec. 09.65.360. Civil liability for defamation based on synthetic media. An 7
33+action for defamation based on the use of synthetic media is a claim for defamation 8
34+per se. In this section, "synthetic media" has the meaning given in AS 15.80.009(g). 9
35+ * Sec. 2. AS 15.07.130(a) is amended to read: 10
3836 (a) Periodically, at times of the director's choosing, but not [NO] less
39-13
40-frequently than in January of each calendar year, the director shall examine the master 14 33-LS0668\Y.A
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37+11
38+frequently than in January of each calendar year, the director shall examine the master 12
39+register maintained under AS 15.07.120 and shall send, by forwardable 13
40+[NONFORWARDABLE] mail to the voter's registration mailing address, and to the 14 33-LS0668\Y
41+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -2-
4242 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
4343
44-register maintained under AS 15.07.120 and shall send, by forwardable 1
45-[NONFORWARDABLE] mail to the voter's registration mailing address, and to the 2
46-voter's electronic mail address, if available, a notice requesting address 3
47-confirmation or correction. The notice must explain that the voter's registration 4
48-will be inactivated unless the voter responds to the notice within 45 days after the 5
49-date the notice is sent. The director shall send the notice to each voter 6
50-(1) whose mail from the division has been returned to the division in 7
51-the two years immediately preceding the examination of the register; 8
52-(2) who has not contacted the division in the two years immediately 9
53-preceding the examination of the register and [; OR (3)] who has not voted or 10
54-appeared to vote in the two general elections immediately preceding the examination 11
55-of the register; or 12
56-(3) who the division has learned, after registering to vote in this 13
57-state and in the two years immediately preceding the examination of the register, 14
58-has 15
59-(A) registered to vote in another state; 16
60-(B) received a driver's license from another state; 17
61-(C) served on a jury in another state; 18
62-(D) received benefits under a claim of residency in another 19
63-state, territory, or country; or 20
64-(E) established residence in another state, territory, or 21
65-country. 22
66- * Sec. 3. AS 15.07.130(b) is amended to read: 23
67-(b) If a registered voter does [HAS] not respond to a notice sent under (a) of 24
68-this section within 45 days after the date the notice is sent, the director shall 25
69-inactivate the voter's registration [, WITHIN THE PRECEDING FOUR 26
70-CALENDAR YEARS, CONTACTED THE DIVISION AND HAS NEITHER 27
71-VOTED NOR APPEARED TO VOTE IN A LOCAL, REGIONAL SCHOOL 28
72-BOARD, PRIMARY, SPECIAL, OR GENERAL ELECTION DURING THE LAST 29
73-FOUR CALENDAR YEARS AND A NOTICE SENT TO THE VOTER UNDER (a) 30
74-OF THIS SECTION WAS RETURNED AS UNDELIVERABLE, THE VOTER 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
75-HB0129F -3- SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S
44+voter's electronic mail address, if available, a notice requesting address 1
45+confirmation or correction. The notice must explain that the voter's registration 2
46+will be inactivated unless the voter responds to the notice within 45 days after the 3
47+date the notice is sent. The director shall send the notice to each voter 4
48+(1) whose mail from the division has been returned to the division in 5
49+the two years immediately preceding the examination of the register; 6
50+(2) who has not contacted the division in the two years immediately 7
51+preceding the examination of the register and [; OR (3)] who has not voted or 8
52+appeared to vote in the two general elections immediately preceding the examination 9
53+of the register; or 10
54+(3) who the division has learned, after registering to vote in this 11
55+state and in the two years immediately preceding the examination of the register, 12
56+has 13
57+(A) registered to vote in another state; 14
58+(B) received a driver's license from another state; 15
59+(C) served on a jury in another state; 16
60+(D) received benefits under a claim of residency in another 17
61+state, territory, or country; or 18
62+(E) established residence in another state, territory, or 19
63+country. 20
64+ * Sec. 3. AS 15.07.130(b) is amended to read: 21
65+(b) If a registered voter does [HAS] not respond to a notice sent under (a) of 22
66+this section within 45 days after the date the notice is sent, the director shall 23
67+inactivate the voter's registration [, WITHIN THE PRECEDING FOUR 24
68+CALENDAR YEARS, CONTACTED THE DIVISION AND HAS NEITHER 25
69+VOTED NOR APPEARED TO VOTE IN A LOCAL, REGIONAL SCHOOL 26
70+BOARD, PRIMARY, SPECIAL, OR GENERAL ELECTION DURING THE LAST 27
71+FOUR CALENDAR YEARS AND A NOTICE SENT TO THE VOTER UNDER (a) 28
72+OF THIS SECTION WAS RETURNED AS UNDELIVERABLE, THE VOTER 29
73+SHALL BE ADVISED BY A NOTICE SENT BY FORWARDABLE MAIL TO THE 30
74+VOTER'S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS THAT REGISTRATION WILL BE 31 33-LS0668\Y
75+ -3- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
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78-SHALL BE ADVISED BY A NOTICE SENT BY FORWARDABLE MAIL TO THE 1
79-VOTER'S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS THAT REGISTRATION WILL BE 2
80-INACTIVATED UNLESS THE VOTER RESPONDS TO THE NOTICE NO 3
81-LATER THAN 45 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE NOTICE SENT UNDER 4
82-THIS SECTION]. The director shall maintain on the master register the name of a 5
83-voter whose registration is inactivated. The director shall cancel a voter's inactive 6
84-registration in accordance with the procedures set out in 42 U.S.C. 1973gg-6 (sec. 8, 7
85-National Voter Registration Act of 1993) after the second general election that occurs 8
86-after the registration becomes inactive if the voter does not contact the division or vote 9
87-or appear to vote. 10
88- * Sec. 4. AS 15.07.130(d) is amended to read: 11
89-(d) The notice sent under (a) [(b)] of this section must include a postage 12
90-prepaid and pre-addressed return card on which the voter may state the voter's current 13
91-address. The notice must indicate 14
92-(1) that the voter should return the card not later than 45 days after the 15
93-date of the notice if the voter did not change residence; 16
94-(2) that failure to return the card by the 45-day deadline could result in 17
95-removal of the voter's name from the official registration list for a subsequent election; 18
96-(3) that the voter's registration will be cancelled if the voter does not 19
97-contact the division during, or vote or appear to vote in an election held during, the 20
98-period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the last day of 21
99-the fourth calendar year that occurs after the date of notice; and 22
100-(4) how the voter can continue to be eligible to vote if the voter has 23
101-changed residence. 24
102- * Sec. 5. AS 15.07.130 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 25
103-(g) The division shall adopt regulations providing for regular review and 26
104-updates of the master register. The regulations must provide for review of the register 27
105-for data breaches, the number of registered voters compared to persons eligible to vote 28
106-in the state, and the names of deceased voters, persons convicted of a felony involving 29
107-moral turpitude, persons not qualified to vote under AS 15.05, and persons registered 30
108-to vote in another state. The regulations may specify records and databases for use in 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
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78+INACTIVATED UNLESS THE VOTER RESPONDS TO THE NOTICE NO 1
79+LATER THAN 45 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE NOTICE SENT UNDER 2
80+THIS SECTION]. The director shall maintain on the master register the name of a 3
81+voter whose registration is inactivated. The director shall cancel a voter's inactive 4
82+registration in accordance with the procedures set out in 42 U.S.C. 1973gg-6 (sec. 8, 5
83+National Voter Registration Act of 1993) after the second general election that occurs 6
84+after the registration becomes inactive if the voter does not contact the division or vote 7
85+or appear to vote. 8
86+ * Sec. 4. AS 15.07.130(d) is amended to read: 9
87+(d) The notice sent under (a) [(b)] of this section must include a postage 10
88+prepaid and pre-addressed return card on which the voter may state the voter's current 11
89+address. The notice must indicate 12
90+(1) that the voter should return the card not later than 45 days after the 13
91+date of the notice if the voter did not change residence; 14
92+(2) that failure to return the card by the 45-day deadline could result in 15
93+removal of the voter's name from the official registration list for a subsequent election; 16
94+(3) that the voter's registration will be cancelled if the voter does not 17
95+contact the division during, or vote or appear to vote in an election held during, the 18
96+period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the last day of 19
97+the fourth calendar year that occurs after the date of notice; and 20
98+(4) how the voter can continue to be eligible to vote if the voter has 21
99+changed residence. 22
100+ * Sec. 5. AS 15.07.130 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 23
101+(g) The division shall adopt regulations providing for regular review and 24
102+updates of the master register. The regulations must provide for review of the register 25
103+for data breaches, the number of registered voters compared to persons eligible to vote 26
104+in the state, and the names of deceased voters, persons convicted of a felony involving 27
105+moral turpitude, persons not qualified to vote under AS 15.05, and persons registered 28
106+to vote in another state. The regulations may specify records and databases for use in 29
107+reviewing the master register; the records and databases may include databases 30
108+sourced from governmental agencies outside the division, including the United States 31 33-LS0668\Y
109+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -4-
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112-reviewing the master register; the records and databases may include databases 1
113-sourced from governmental agencies outside the division, including the United States 2
114-Postal Service national change of address database, the database of permanent fund 3
115-dividend recipients, Alaska Court System databases, state motor vehicle records, 4
116-records of the state programs of corrections, property and sales tax records, records of 5
117-the federal social security system, municipal assessor databases, the United States 6
118-Social Security Administration death index, an alien database maintained by the 7
119-United States Department of Homeland Security, and jury duty records from other 8
120-jurisdictions. The director may compare the master register to state welfare and public 9
121-assistance agency databases to identify information relevant to registration to vote in 10
122-state elections, including address changes, deaths, and citizenship status, and shall 11
123-review the number of voters registered at each registration address to identify 12
124-anomalous registration totals. 13
125-(h) The director shall adopt a best practice voter registration system to 14
126-improve identity matching when comparing the master register with the records and 15
127-databases used to review the master register. The director shall develop a written 16
128-maintenance schedule and guideline manual for the system and provide a report on the 17
129-system to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives on or 18
130-before the first day of the first regular session of each legislature and shall notify the 19
131-legislature that the report is available. 20
132-(i) The director shall, in a notice sent under (a) of this section, inform a voter 21
133-of the criteria to qualify as a voter and the penalties for voter misconduct. 22
134- * Sec. 6. AS 15.07 is amended by adding a new section to read: 23
135-Sec. 15.07.133. Process to cancel registration. The director shall develop a 24
136-process to allow a voter to cancel the voter's registration in person before an election 25
137-official or electronically. The director shall prominently display instructions for a 26
138-voter to cancel the voter's registration at each polling place. 27
139- * Sec. 7. AS 15.07.195 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 28
140-(e) Unless disclosure of information related to a data breach of information 29
141-made confidential by this section would compromise a criminal investigation, the 30
142-director shall, not less than 30 days after discovering the breach, publish notice of the 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
143-HB0129F -5- SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S
112+Postal Service national change of address database, the database of permanent fund 1
113+dividend recipients, Alaska Court System databases, state motor vehicle records, 2
114+records of the state programs of corrections, property and sales tax records, records of 3
115+the federal social security system, municipal assessor databases, the United States 4
116+Social Security Administration death index, an alien database maintained by the 5
117+United States Department of Homeland Security, and jury duty records from other 6
118+jurisdictions. The director may compare the master register to state welfare and public 7
119+assistance agency databases to identify information relevant to registration to vote in 8
120+state elections, including address changes, deaths, and citizenship status, and shall 9
121+review the number of voters registered at each registration address to identify 10
122+anomalous registration totals. 11
123+(h) The director shall adopt a best practice voter registration system to 12
124+improve identity matching when comparing the master register with the records and 13
125+databases used to review the master register. The director shall develop a written 14
126+maintenance schedule and guideline manual for the system and provide a report on the 15
127+system to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives on or 16
128+before the first day of the first regular session of each legislature and shall notify the 17
129+legislature that the report is available. 18
130+(i) The director shall, in a notice sent under (a) of this section, inform a voter 19
131+of the criteria to qualify as a voter and the penalties for voter misconduct. 20
132+ * Sec. 6. AS 15.07 is amended by adding a new section to read: 21
133+Sec. 15.07.133. Process to cancel registration. The director shall develop a 22
134+process to allow a voter to cancel the voter's registration in person before an election 23
135+official or electronically. The director shall prominently display instructions for a 24
136+voter to cancel the voter's registration at each polling place. 25
137+ * Sec. 7. AS 15.07.195 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 26
138+(e) Unless disclosure of information related to a data breach of information 27
139+made confidential by this section would compromise a criminal investigation, the 28
140+director shall, not less than 30 days after discovering the breach, publish notice of the 29
141+nature and severity of the breach on the division's Internet website and report the 30
142+details of the breach to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of 31 33-LS0668\Y
143+ -5- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
144144 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
145145
146-nature and severity of the breach on the division's Internet website and report the 1
147-details of the breach to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of 2
148-representatives. 3
149- * Sec. 8. AS 15.13.116(a) is amended to read: 4
150-(a) A candidate who, after the date of the general, special, municipal, or 5
151-municipal runoff election or after the date the candidate withdraws as a candidate, 6
152-whichever comes first, holds unused campaign contributions shall distribute the 7
153-amount held on February 1 for a general election or within 90 days after a special 8
154-election. The distribution may only be made to 9
155-(1) pay bills incurred for expenditures reasonably related to the 10
156-campaign and the winding up of the affairs of the campaign, including a victory or 11
157-thank you party, thank you advertisements, and thank you gifts to campaign 12
158-employees and volunteers, and to pay expenditures associated with post-election fund 13
159-raising that may be needed to raise funds to pay off campaign debts; 14
160-(2) make donations, without condition, to 15
161-(A) a political party; 16
162-(B) the state's general fund; 17
163-(C) a municipality of the state; or 18
164-(D) the federal government; 19
165-(3) make donations, without condition, to organizations qualified as 20
166-charitable organizations under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) if the organization is not controlled 21
167-by the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family; 22
168-(4) repay loans from the candidate to the candidate's own campaign 23
169-under AS 15.13.078(b); 24
170-(5) repay contributions to contributors, but only if repayment of the 25
171-contribution is made pro rata in approximate proportion to the contributions made 26
172-using one of the following, as the candidate determines: 27
173-(A) to all contributors; 28
174-(B) to contributors who have contributed most recently; or 29
175-(C) to contributors who have made larger contributions; 30
176-(6) a legal fund established under AS 15.13.118 [ESTABLISH A 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
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146+representatives. 1
147+ * Sec. 8. AS 15.13.116(a) is amended to read: 2
148+(a) A candidate who, after the date of the general, special, municipal, or 3
149+municipal runoff election or after the date the candidate withdraws as a candidate, 4
150+whichever comes first, holds unused campaign contributions shall distribute the 5
151+amount held on February 1 for a general election or within 90 days after a special 6
152+election. The distribution may only be made to 7
153+(1) pay bills incurred for expenditures reasonably related to the 8
154+campaign and the winding up of the affairs of the campaign, including a victory or 9
155+thank you party, thank you advertisements, and thank you gifts to campaign 10
156+employees and volunteers, and to pay expenditures associated with post-election fund 11
157+raising that may be needed to raise funds to pay off campaign debts; 12
158+(2) make donations, without condition, to 13
159+(A) a political party; 14
160+(B) the state's general fund; 15
161+(C) a municipality of the state; or 16
162+(D) the federal government; 17
163+(3) make donations, without condition, to organizations qualified as 18
164+charitable organizations under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) if the organization is not controlled 19
165+by the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family; 20
166+(4) repay loans from the candidate to the candidate's own campaign 21
167+under AS 15.13.078(b); 22
168+(5) repay contributions to contributors, but only if repayment of the 23
169+contribution is made pro rata in approximate proportion to the contributions made 24
170+using one of the following, as the candidate determines: 25
171+(A) to all contributors; 26
172+(B) to contributors who have contributed most recently; or 27
173+(C) to contributors who have made larger contributions; 28
174+(6) a legal fund established under AS 15.13.118 [ESTABLISH A 29
175+FUND FOR, AND FROM THAT FUND TO PAY, ATTORNEY FEES OR COSTS 30
176+INCURRED IN THE PROSECUTION OR DEFENSE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE 31 33-LS0668\Y
177+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -6-
178178 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
179179
180-FUND FOR, AND FROM THAT FUND TO PAY, ATTORNEY FEES OR COSTS 1
181-INCURRED IN THE PROSECUTION OR DEFENSE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE 2
182-OR CIVIL JUDICIAL ACTION THAT DIRECTLY CONCERNS A CHALLENGE 3
183-TO THE VICTORY OR DEFEAT OF THE CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTION]; 4
184-(7) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to an 5
185-account for a future election campaign; a transfer under this paragraph is limited to 6
186-(A) $50,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for governor 7
187-or lieutenant governor; 8
188-(B) $10,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for the state 9
189-senate; 10
190-(C) $5,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for the state 11
191-house of representatives; and 12
192-(D) $5,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for an office 13
193-not described in (A) - (C) of this paragraph; 14
194-(8) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 15
195-public office expense term account; a transfer under this paragraph is subject to the 16
196-following: 17
197-(A) the authority to transfer is limited to candidates who are 18
198-elected to the state legislature; 19
199-(B) the public office expense term account established under 20
200-this paragraph may be used only for expenses associated with the candidate's 21
201-serving as a member of the legislature; 22
202-(C) all amounts expended from the public office expense term 23
203-account shall be annually accounted for under AS 15.13.110(a)(4); 24
204-(D) a transfer under this paragraph is limited to $5,000 25
205-multiplied by the number of years in the term to which the candidate is elected 26
206-plus any accumulated interest; and 27
207-(E) unused campaign contributions transferred under this 28
208-paragraph must be disposed of as provided in (2), (3), or (5) of this subsection 29
209-at the end of the term of office immediately following the campaign for which 30
210-the contributions were received; and 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
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180+OR CIVIL JUDICIAL ACTION THAT DIRECTLY CONCERNS A CHALLENGE 1
181+TO THE VICTORY OR DEFEAT OF THE CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTION]; 2
182+(7) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to an 3
183+account for a future election campaign; a transfer under this paragraph is limited to 4
184+(A) $50,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for governor 5
185+or lieutenant governor; 6
186+(B) $10,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for the state 7
187+senate; 8
188+(C) $5,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for the state 9
189+house of representatives; and 10
190+(D) $5,000, if the transfer is made by a candidate for an office 11
191+not described in (A) - (C) of this paragraph; 12
192+(8) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 13
193+public office expense term account; a transfer under this paragraph is subject to the 14
194+following: 15
195+(A) the authority to transfer is limited to candidates who are 16
196+elected to the state legislature; 17
197+(B) the public office expense term account established under 18
198+this paragraph may be used only for expenses associated with the candidate's 19
199+serving as a member of the legislature; 20
200+(C) all amounts expended from the public office expense term 21
201+account shall be annually accounted for under AS 15.13.110(a)(4); 22
202+(D) a transfer under this paragraph is limited to $5,000 23
203+multiplied by the number of years in the term to which the candidate is elected 24
204+plus any accumulated interest; and 25
205+(E) unused campaign contributions transferred under this 26
206+paragraph must be disposed of as provided in (2), (3), or (5) of this subsection 27
207+at the end of the term of office immediately following the campaign for which 28
208+the contributions were received; and 29
209+(9) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 30
210+municipal office account; a transfer under this paragraph is subject to the following: 31 33-LS0668\Y
211+ -7- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
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214-(9) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 1
215-municipal office account; a transfer under this paragraph is subject to the following: 2
216-(A) the authority to transfer is limited to candidates who are 3
217-elected to municipal office, including a municipal school board; 4
218-(B) the municipal office account established under this 5
219-paragraph may be used only for expenses associated with the candidate's 6
220-serving as mayor or as a member of the assembly, city council, or school 7
221-board; 8
222-(C) all amounts expended from the municipal office account 9
223-shall be annually accounted for under AS 15.13.110(a)(4); 10
224-(D) a transfer under this paragraph is limited to $5,000; and 11
225-(E) unused campaign contributions transferred under this 12
226-paragraph must be disposed of as provided in (2), (3), or (5) of this subsection 13
227-at the end of the term of office immediately following the campaign for which 14
228-the contributions were received. 15
229- * Sec. 9. AS 15.13 is amended by adding a new section to read: 16
230-Sec. 15.13.118. Legal funds. (a) A candidate for office in an election may 17
231-establish a legal fund to pay attorney fees and costs incurred in connection with a 18
232-recount of votes for that office under AS 15.20.510 or an election contest under 19
233-AS 15.20.540 relating to that office. 20
234-(b) Notwithstanding AS 15.13.074(c), a candidate may, after the election, 21
235-accept donations to a legal fund. Donations to and payments from the legal fund must 22
236-be reported to the commission in the manner prescribed by the commission. 23
237-(c) The balance remaining in a legal fund after allowable attorney fees and 24
238-costs under (a) of this section have been paid must be disposed of as provided in 25
239-AS 15.13.116(a)(2)(A) or (3). A candidate may not transfer unused donations under 26
240-this section to an account for a future election campaign. 27
241- * Sec. 10. AS 15.13.390(a) is amended to read: 28
242-(a) A person who 29
243-(1) fails to register when required by AS 15.13.050(a), fails to report 30
244-donations and payments when required under AS 15.13.118(b), or who fails to file 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
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214+(A) the authority to transfer is limited to candidates who are 1
215+elected to municipal office, including a municipal school board; 2
216+(B) the municipal office account established under this 3
217+paragraph may be used only for expenses associated with the candidate's 4
218+serving as mayor or as a member of the assembly, city council, or school 5
219+board; 6
220+(C) all amounts expended from the municipal office account 7
221+shall be annually accounted for under AS 15.13.110(a)(4); 8
222+(D) a transfer under this paragraph is limited to $5,000; and 9
223+(E) unused campaign contributions transferred under this 10
224+paragraph must be disposed of as provided in (2), (3), or (5) of this subsection 11
225+at the end of the term of office immediately following the campaign for which 12
226+the contributions were received. 13
227+ * Sec. 9. AS 15.13 is amended by adding a new section to read: 14
228+Sec. 15.13.118. Legal funds. (a) A candidate for office in an election may 15
229+establish a legal fund to pay attorney fees and costs incurred in connection with a 16
230+recount of votes for that office under AS 15.20.510 or an election contest under 17
231+AS 15.20.540 relating to that office. 18
232+(b) Notwithstanding AS 15.13.074(c), a candidate may, after the election, 19
233+accept donations to a legal fund. Donations to and payments from the legal fund must 20
234+be reported to the commission in the manner prescribed by the commission. 21
235+(c) The balance remaining in a legal fund after allowable attorney fees and 22
236+costs under (a) of this section have been paid must be disposed of as provided in 23
237+AS 15.13.116(a)(2)(A) or (3). A candidate may not transfer unused donations under 24
238+this section to an account for a future election campaign. 25
239+ * Sec. 10. AS 15.13.390(a) is amended to read: 26
240+(a) A person who 27
241+(1) fails to register when required by AS 15.13.050(a), fails to report 28
242+donations and payments when required under AS 15.13.118(b), or who fails to file 29
243+a properly completed and certified report within the time required by AS 15.13.040, 30
244+15.13.060(b) - (d), 15.13.110(a)(1), (3), or (4), (e), or (f) is subject to a civil penalty of 31 33-LS0668\Y
245+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -8-
246246 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
247247
248-a properly completed and certified report within the time required by AS 15.13.040, 1
249-15.13.060(b) - (d), 15.13.110(a)(1), (3), or (4), (e), or (f) is subject to a civil penalty of 2
250-not more than $50 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the 3
251-commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court. A person who fails to file a 4
252-properly completed and certified report within the time required by 5
253-AS 15.13.110(a)(2) or 15.13.110(b) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 6
254-a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission subject 7
255-to right of appeal to the superior court; 8
256-(2) whether as a contributor or intermediary, delays in reporting a 9
257-contribution as required by AS 15.13.040(r) is subject to a civil penalty of not more 10
258-than $1,000 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the 11
259-commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court; 12
260-(3) whether as a contributor or intermediary, misreports or fails to 13
261-disclose the true source of a contribution in violation of AS 15.13.040(r) or 14
262-15.13.074(b) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than the amount of the 15
263-contribution that is the subject of the misreporting or failure to disclose; upon a 16
264-showing that the violation was intentional, a civil penalty of not more than three times 17
265-the amount of the contribution in violation may be imposed; these penalties as 18
266-determined by the commission are subject to right of appeal to the superior court; 19
267-(4) violates a provision of this chapter, except as otherwise specified in 20
268-this section, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50 a day for each day the 21
269-violation continues as determined by the commission, subject to right of appeal to the 22
270-superior court; and 23
271-(5) is assessed a civil penalty may submit to the commission an 24
272-affidavit stating facts in mitigation; however, the imposition of the penalties 25
273-prescribed in this section or in AS 15.13.380 does not excuse that person from 26
274-registering or filing reports required by this chapter. 27
275- * Sec. 11. AS 15.20.030 is amended to read: 28
276-Sec. 15.20.030. Preparation of ballots, envelopes, and other material. The 29
277-director shall provide ballots for use as absentee ballots in a
278-ll districts. The director 30
279-shall provide a secrecy sleeve in which the voter shall initially place the marked ballot, 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
280-HB0129F -9- SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S
248+not more than $50 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the 1
249+commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court. A person who fails to file a 2
250+properly completed and certified report within the time required by 3
251+AS 15.13.110(a)(2) or 15.13.110(b) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 4
252+a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission subject 5
253+to right of appeal to the superior court; 6
254+(2) whether as a contributor or intermediary, delays in reporting a 7
255+contribution as required by AS 15.13.040(r) is subject to a civil penalty of not more 8
256+than $1,000 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the 9
257+commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court; 10
258+(3) whether as a contributor or intermediary, misreports or fails to 11
259+disclose the true source of a contribution in violation of AS 15.13.040(r) or 12
260+15.13.074(b) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than the amount of the 13
261+contribution that is the subject of the misreporting or failure to disclose; upon a 14
262+showing that the violation was intentional, a civil penalty of not more than three times 15
263+the amount of the contribution in violation may be imposed; these penalties as 16
264+determined by the commission are subject to right of appeal to the superior court; 17
265+(4) violates a provision of this chapter, except as otherwise specified in 18
266+this section, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50 a day for each day the 19
267+violation continues as determined by the commission, subject to right of appeal to the 20
268+superior court; and 21
269+(5) is assessed a civil penalty may submit to the commission an 22
270+affidavit stating facts in mitigation; however, the imposition of the penalties 23
271+prescribed in this section or in AS 15.13.380 does not excuse that person from 24
272+registering or filing reports required by this chapter. 25
273+ * Sec. 11. AS 15.20.030 is amended to read: 26
274+Sec. 15.20.030. Preparation of ballots, envelopes, and other material. The 27
275+director shall provide ballots for use as absentee ballots in all districts. The director 28
276+shall provide a secrecy sleeve in which the voter shall initially place the marked ballot, 29
277+and shall provide an envelope with the prescribed voter's certificate on it, in which the 30
278+secrecy sleeve with ballot enclosed shall be placed. The director shall prescribe the 31 33-LS0668\Y
279+ -9- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
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282281
283-and shall provide an envelope with the prescribed voter's certificate on it, in which the 1
284-secrecy sleeve with ballot enclosed shall be placed. The director shall prescribe the 2
285-form of and prepare the voter's certificate, envelopes, and other material used in 3
286-absentee voting. The voter's certificate shall include a declaration, for use when 4
287-required, that the voter is a qualified voter in all respects, a blank for the voter's 5
288-signature, a certification that the affiant properly executed the marking of the ballot 6
289-and gave the voter's identity, [BLANKS FOR THE ATTESTING OFFICIAL OR 7
290-WITNESS,] and a place for recording the date the envelope was sealed [AND 8
291-WITNESSED]. The envelope with the voter's certificate must include a notice that 9
292-false statements made by the voter [OR BY THE ATTESTING OFFICIA L OR 10
293-WITNESS] on the certificate are punishable by law. 11
294- * Sec. 12. AS 15.20.072 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 12
295-(h) If a voter satisfies the requirements of (d) of this section, the division may 13
296-not reject a voter's special needs ballot based on an error by an election official or 14
297-representative on the register under (c) of this section or an error by a representative 15
298-under (d) of this section. 16
299- * Sec. 13. AS 15.20.081(d) is amended to read: 17
300-(d) Upon receipt of an absentee ballot by mail, the voter [, IN THE 18
301-PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC, COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE 19
302-ARMED FORCES INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD, DISTRICT JUDGE 20
303-OR MAGISTRATE, UNITED STATES POSTAL OFFICIAL, REGISTRATION 21
304-OFFICIAL, OR OTHER PERSON QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER OATHS,] may 22
305-proceed to mark the ballot in secret, to place the ballot in the secrecy sleeve, to place 23
306-the secrecy sleeve in the envelope provided, and to sign the voter's certificate on the 24
307-envelope. The [IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OFFICIAL LISTED IN THIS 25
308-SUBSECTION WHO SHALL SIGN AS ATTESTING OFFICIAL AND SHALL 26
309-DATE THE SIGNATURE. IF NONE OF THE OFFICIALS LISTED IN THIS 27
310-SUBSECTION IS REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE, AN ABSENTEE VOTER 28
311-SHALL SIGN THE VOTER'S CERTIFICATE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN 29
312-INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, WHO SHALL SIGN AS 30
313-A WITNESS AND ATTEST TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE VOTER SIGNED 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
314-SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S -10- HB0129F
282+form of and prepare the voter's certificate, envelopes, and other material used in 1
283+absentee voting. The voter's certificate shall include a declaration, for use when 2
284+required, that the voter is a qualified voter in all respects, a blank for the voter's 3
285+signature, a certification that the affiant properly executed the marking of the ballot 4
286+and gave the voter's identity, [BLANKS FOR THE ATTESTING OFFICIAL OR 5
287+WITNESS,] and a place for recording the date the envelope was sealed [AND 6
288+WITNESSED]. The envelope with the voter's certificate must include a notice that 7
289+false statements made by the voter [OR BY THE ATTESTING OFFICIA L OR 8
290+WITNESS] on the certificate are punishable by law. 9
291+ * Sec. 12. AS 15.20.072 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 10
292+(h) If a voter satisfies the requirements of (d) of this section, the division may 11
293+not reject a voter's special needs ballot based on an error by an election official or 12
294+representative on the register under (c) of this section or an error by a representative 13
295+under (d) of this section. 14
296+ * Sec. 13. AS 15.20.081(d) is amended to read: 15
297+(d) Upon receipt of an absentee ballot by mail, the voter [, IN THE 16
298+PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC, COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE 17
299+ARMED FORCES INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD, DISTRICT JUDGE 18
300+OR MAGISTRATE, UNITED STATES POSTAL OFFICIAL, REGISTRATION 19
301+OFFICIAL, OR OTHER PERSON QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER OATHS,] may 20
302+proceed to mark the ballot in secret, to place the ballot in the secrecy sleeve, to place 21
303+the secrecy sleeve in the envelope provided, and to sign the voter's certificate on the 22
304+envelope. The [IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OFFICIAL LISTED IN THIS 23
305+SUBSECTION WHO SHALL SIGN AS ATTESTING OFFICIAL AND SHALL 24
306+DATE THE SIGNATURE. IF NONE OF THE OFFICIALS LISTED IN THIS 25
307+SUBSECTION IS REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE, AN ABSENTEE VOTER 26
308+SHALL SIGN THE VOTER'S CERTIFICATE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN 27
309+INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, WHO SHALL SIGN AS 28
310+A WITNESS AND ATTEST TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE VOTER SIGNED 29
311+THE CERTIFICATE IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRESENCE, AND, IN ADDITION, 30
312+THE] voter shall certify, as prescribed in AS 09.63.020, under penalty of perjury, that 31 33-LS0668\Y
313+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -10-
315314 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
316315
317-THE CERTIFICATE IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRESENCE, AND, IN ADDITION, 1
318-THE] voter shall certify, as prescribed in AS 09.63.020, under penalty of perjury, that 2
319-the statements in the voter's certification are true. 3
320- * Sec. 14. AS 15.20.220(b) is amended to read: 4
321-(b) The state review board shall review and count absentee ballots under 5
322-AS 15.20.081(e) and (h), absentee ballots properly cured under AS 15.20.221, and 6
323-questioned ballots that have been forwarded to the director and that have not been 7
324-reviewed or counted by a district counting board. 8
325- * Sec. 15. AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 9
326-Sec. 15.20.221. Procedure for curing uncounted ballot. (a) If a voter's ballot 10
327-is rejected because the certificate is missing a signature or the voter provided 11
328-insufficient voter identification, the director shall immediately make a reasonable 12
329-effort to contact the voter, explain the ballot deficiency, explain how the deficiency 13
330-may be cured, and inform the voter of the deadline to cure the ballot. The director 14
331-shall, within 24 hours, send a notice of deficiency by electronic mail to the voter's 15
332-electronic mail address if the voter has provided an electronic mail address. If the 16
333-voter has provided a telephone number, the director shall, within 24 hours, attempt to 17
334-notify the voter of the deficiency by telephone call and text message. The director 18
335-shall, within 48 hours, but not later than five days after election day, send a notice of 19
336-deficiency by first class, nonforwardable mail to the address in the voter's registration 20
337-record. 21
338-(b) A notice of deficiency must include a form for the voter to confirm that the 22
339-voter returned a ballot to the division, provide a copy of a form of identification 23
340-accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a), and provide a signature. The director 24
341-shall provide a printed copy of the form with the notice of deficiency mailed to the 25
342-voter. The director shall also make the form available in a format that can be 26
343-completed and returned electronically. 27
344-(c) The rejected ballot of a voter who received a notice of deficiency may be 28
345-counted only if 29
346-(1) the voter returns the completed form sent with the notice of 30
347-deficiency, the division receives the form within 14 days after election day, and the 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
348-HB0129F -11- SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S
316+the statements in the voter's certification are true. 1
317+ * Sec. 14. AS 15.20.220(b) is amended to read: 2
318+(b) The state review board shall review and count absentee ballots under 3
319+AS 15.20.081(e) and (h), absentee ballots properly cured under AS 15.20.221, and 4
320+questioned ballots that have been forwarded to the director and that have not been 5
321+reviewed or counted by a district counting board. 6
322+ * Sec. 15. AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 7
323+Sec. 15.20.221. Procedure for curing uncounted ballot. (a) If a voter's ballot 8
324+is rejected because the certificate is missing a signature or the voter provided 9
325+insufficient voter identification, the director shall immediately make a reasonable 10
326+effort to contact the voter, explain the ballot deficiency, explain how the deficiency 11
327+may be cured, and inform the voter of the deadline to cure the ballot. The director 12
328+shall, within 24 hours, send a notice of deficiency by electronic mail to the voter's 13
329+electronic mail address if the voter has provided an electronic mail address. If the 14
330+voter has provided a telephone number, the director shall, within 24 hours, attempt to 15
331+notify the voter of the deficiency by telephone call and text message. The director 16
332+shall, within 48 hours, but not later than five days after election day, send a notice of 17
333+deficiency by first class, nonforwardable mail to the address in the voter's registration 18
334+record. 19
335+(b) A notice of deficiency must include a form for the voter to confirm that the 20
336+voter returned a ballot to the division, provide a copy of a form of identification 21
337+accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a), and provide a signature. The director 22
338+shall provide a printed copy of the form with the notice of deficiency mailed to the 23
339+voter. The director shall also make the form available in a format that can be 24
340+completed and returned electronically. 25
341+(c) The rejected ballot of a voter who received a notice of deficiency may be 26
342+counted only if 27
343+(1) the voter returns the completed form sent with the notice of 28
344+deficiency, the division receives the form within 14 days after election day, and the 29
345+form confirms that the voter returned a ballot to the division; 30
346+(2) the voter provides a signature and includes a copy of a form of 31 33-LS0668\Y
347+ -11- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
349348 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
350349
351-form confirms that the voter returned a ballot to the division; 1
352-(2) the voter provides a signature and includes a copy of a form of 2
353-identification accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a); and 3
354-(3) the ballot is otherwise valid. 4
355-(d) A voter's rejected ballot may not be counted and the director shall, if 5
356-applicable, send copies of the signature on the voter's return envelope to the attorney 6
357-general for investigation if the voter returns the form and the form indicates that the 7
358-voter did not return a ballot to the division. 8
359- * Sec. 16. AS 15.80 is amended by adding a new section to read: 9
360-Sec. 15.80.006. Cybersecurity. The director shall, by regulation, develop a 10
361-cybersecurity program to defend the voter registration records kept by the division 11
362-against cyber attacks and data breaches and enable the division to detect and recover 12
363-from cyber attacks. The program must include cybersecurity training for election 13
364-officials. 14
365- * Sec. 17. AS 15.80 is amended by adding a new section to read: 15
366-Sec. 15.80.009. Synthetic media in electioneering communications. (a) A 16
367-person may not knowingly use synthetic media in an electioneering communication 17
368-with the intent to influence an election. 18
369-(b) An individual who is harmed by an electioneering communication that 19
370-violates this section may bring an action in the superior court to recover damages, full 20
371-reasonable attorney fees, and costs from 21
372-(1) the person who created the electioneering communication or 22
373-retained the services of another to create the electioneering communication; 23
374-(2) a person who disseminates an electioneering communication 24
375-knowing that the electioneering communication includes synthetic media; or 25
376-(3) a person who removes a disclosure statement described in (d) of 26
377-this section from an electioneering communication with the intent to influence an 27
378-election and knowing that the electioneering communication includes synthetic media. 28
379-(c) An individual who is harmed by an electioneering communication that 29
380-violates this section may seek injunctive relief in the superior court to prohibit
381-30
382-publication of the synthetic media. 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
383-SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S -12- HB0129F
350+identification accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a); and 1
351+(3) the ballot is otherwise valid. 2
352+(d) A voter's rejected ballot may not be counted and the director shall, if 3
353+applicable, send copies of the signature on the voter's return envelope to the attorney 4
354+general for investigation if the voter returns the form and the form indicates that the 5
355+voter did not return a ballot to the division. 6
356+ * Sec. 16. AS 15.80 is amended by adding a new section to read: 7
357+Sec. 15.80.006. Cybersecurity. The director shall, by regulation, develop a 8
358+cybersecurity program to defend the voter registration records kept by the division 9
359+against cyber attacks and data breaches and enable the division to detect and recover 10
360+from cyber attacks. The program must include cybersecurity training for election 11
361+officials. 12
362+ * Sec. 17. AS 15.80 is amended by adding a new section to read: 13
363+Sec. 15.80.009. Synthetic media in electioneering communications. (a) A 14
364+person may not knowingly use synthetic media in an electioneering communication 15
365+with the intent to influence an election. 16
366+(b) An individual who is harmed by an electioneering communication that 17
367+violates this section may bring an action in the superior court to recover damages, full 18
368+reasonable attorney fees, and costs from 19
369+(1) the person who created the electioneering communication or 20
370+retained the services of another to create the electioneering communication; 21
371+(2) a person who disseminates an electioneering communication 22
372+knowing that the electioneering communication includes synthetic media; or 23
373+(3) a person who removes a disclosure statement described in (d) of 24
374+this section from an electioneering communication with the intent to influence an 25
375+election and knowing that the electioneering communication includes synthetic media. 26
376+(c) An individual who is harmed by an electioneering communication that 27
377+violates this section may seek injunctive relief in the superior court to prohibit 28
378+publication of the synthetic media. 29
379+(d) It is a defense to an action under this section that 30
380+(1) the electioneering communication included the following
381+31 33-LS0668\Y
382+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -12-
384383 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
385384
386-(d) It is a defense to an action under this section that 1
387-(1) the electioneering communication included the following 2
388-disclosure statement: "This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated" and 3
389-(A) for visual media that included other text, the text of the 4
390-disclosure statement remained visible throughout the entirety of the 5
391-communication, was easily readable by the average viewer, and was in a font 6
392-not smaller than the largest font size of any other text that appeared in the 7
393-visual component; 8
394-(B) for visual media that did not include any other text, the 9
395-disclosure statement was in a font size that was easily readable by the average 10
396-viewer; 11
397-(C) for a communication that consisted of only audio, the 12
398-disclosure statement was read 13
399-(i) at the beginning of the audio, at the end of the audio, 14
400-and, if the audio was longer than two minutes in duration, at intervals 15
401-interspersed within the audio that occurred at least once every two 16
402-minutes; and 17
403-(ii) in a clear manner and in a pitch and at a speed that 18
404-was easily heard by the average listener; or 19
405-(2) the synthetic media constitutes satire or parody. 20
406-(e) An interactive computer service, Internet service provider, cloud service 21
407-provider, telecommunications network, or radio or television broadcaster, including a 22
408-cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, is not liable under this 23
409-section for hosting, publishing, or distributing an electioneering communication 24
410-provided by another person. For purposes of this section, a developer of the 25
411-technology used to create synthetic media that is in an electioneering communication 26
412-is not the creator of the electioneering communication. This subsection does not 27
413-prevent an individual from bringing an action under (b)(3) of this section for removing 28
414-a disclosure statement. 29
415-(f) In this section, 30
416-(1) "access software provider" means a provider of client, server, or 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
417-HB0129F -13- SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S
385+disclosure statement: "This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated" and 1
386+(A) for visual media that included other text, the text of the 2
387+disclosure statement remained visible throughout the entirety of the 3
388+communication, was easily readable by the average viewer, and was in a font 4
389+not smaller than the largest font size of any other text that appeared in the 5
390+visual component; 6
391+(B) for visual media that did not include any other text, the 7
392+disclosure statement was in a font size that was easily readable by the average 8
393+viewer; 9
394+(C) for a communication that consisted of only audio, the 10
395+disclosure statement was read 11
396+(i) at the beginning of the audio, at the end of the audio, 12
397+and, if the audio was longer than two minutes in duration, at intervals 13
398+interspersed within the audio that occurred at least once every two 14
399+minutes; and 15
400+(ii) in a clear manner and in a pitch and at a speed that 16
401+was easily heard by the average listener; or 17
402+(2) the synthetic media constitutes satire or parody. 18
403+(e) An interactive computer service, Internet service provider, cloud service 19
404+provider, telecommunications network, or radio or television broadcaster, including a 20
405+cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, is not liable under this 21
406+section for hosting, publishing, or distributing an electioneering communication 22
407+provided by another person. This subsection does not prevent an individual from 23
408+bringing an action under (b)(3) of this section for removing a disclosure statement. 24
409+(f) In this section, 25
410+(1) "access software provider" means a provider of client, server, or 26
411+other software or enabling tools that 27
412+(A) filter, screen, allow, or disallow content; 28
413+(B) pick, choose, analyze, or digest content; or 29
414+(C) transmit, receive, display, forward, cache, search, subset, 30
415+organize, reorganize, or translate content; 31 33-LS0668\Y
416+ -13- SCS CSHB 129(FIN)
418417 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
419418
420-other software or enabling tools that 1
421-(A) filter, screen, allow, or disallow content; 2
422-(B) pick, choose, analyze, or digest content; or 3
423-(C) transmit, receive, display, forward, cache, search, subset, 4
424-organize, reorganize, or translate content; 5
425-(2) "artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for 6
426-explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input the system receives, how to 7
427-generate outputs, including predictions, content, recommendations, and decisions that 8
428-can influence physical or virtual environments, with different artificial intelligence 9
429-systems varying in levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment; 10
430-(3) "electioneering communication" means a communication that 11
431-(A) directly or indirectly identifies a candidate or political 12
432-party; 13
433-(B) is disseminated through a mailing, a newspaper, the 14
434-Internet, or broadcast media, including radio, television, cable, or satellite, to 15
435-an audience that includes voters who will have the opportunity to vote on a 16
436-candidate identified in the communication or on a candidate of a party 17
437-identified in the communication; and 18
438-(C) when read as a whole and with limited reference to outside 19
439-events, is susceptible of no other reasonable interpretation but as an 20
440-exhortation to vote for or against a specific candidate; 21
441-(4) "interactive computer service" means an information service, 22
442-system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by 23
443-multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that 24
444-provides access to the Internet and such systems operated or services offered by 25
445-libraries or educational institutions; 26
446-(5) "synthetic media" 27
447-(A) means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an 28
448-individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that is manipulated by artificial 29
449-intelligence in a manner that creates a realistic but false image, audio 30
450-recording, or video recording and produces 31 33-LS0668\Y.A
451-SCS CSHB 129(FIN) am S -14- HB0129F
419+(2) "artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for 1
420+explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input the system receives, how to 2
421+generate outputs, including predictions, content, recommendations, and decisions that 3
422+can influence physical or virtual environments, with different artificial intelligence 4
423+systems varying in levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment; 5
424+(3) "electioneering communication" means a communication that 6
425+(A) directly or indirectly identifies a candidate or political 7
426+party; 8
427+(B) is disseminated through a mailing, a newspaper, the 9
428+Internet, or broadcast media, including radio, television, cable, or satellite, to 10
429+an audience that includes voters who will have the opportunity to vote on a 11
430+candidate identified in the communication or on a candidate of a party 12
431+identified in the communication; and 13
432+(C) when read as a whole and with limited reference to outside 14
433+events, is susceptible of no other reasonable interpretation but as an 15
434+exhortation to vote for or against a specific candidate; 16
435+(4) "interactive computer service" means an information service, 17
436+system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by 18
437+multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that 19
438+provides access to the Internet and such systems operated or services offered by 20
439+libraries or educational institutions; 21
440+(5) "synthetic media" 22
441+(A) means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an 23
442+individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that is manipulated by artificial 24
443+intelligence in a manner that creates a realistic but false image, audio 25
444+recording, or video recording and produces 26
445+(i) a depiction that a reasonable person would believe is 27
446+of a real individual in appearance, speech, or conduct but did not 28
447+actually occur in reality; and 29
448+(ii) a materially different understanding or impression 30
449+than a reasonable person would have from the unaltered, original 31 33-LS0668\Y
450+SCS CSHB 129(FIN) -14-
452451 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
453452
454-(i) a depiction that a reasonable person would believe is 1
455-of a real individual in appearance, speech, or conduct but did not 2
456-actually occur in reality; and 3
457-(ii) a materially different understanding or impression 4
458-than a reasonable person would have from the unaltered, original 5
459-version of the image, audio recording, or video recording; 6
460-(B) does not include an image, audio recording, or video 7
461-recording that is minimally edited, adjusted, or enhanced by artificial 8
462-intelligence without materially altering how the meaning or significance of the 9
463-depiction would be perceived by a reasonable person. 10
464- * Sec. 18. AS 24.60.080(e) is amended to read: 11
465-(e) A political contribution is not a gift under this section if it is reported under 12
466-AS 15.13.040 or is exempt from the reporting requirement under AS 15.13.040(g). A 13
467-donation to a legal fund under AS 15.13.118 is not a gift under this section if it is 14
468-reported under AS 15.13.118(b). The use of a bulk mailing permit owned by a 15
469-legislator's campaign committee or used in a legislator's election campaign is not a gift 16
470-to that legislator under this section. 17
471- * Sec. 19. AS 39.52.130(d) is amended to read: 18
472-(d) The restrictions relating to gifts imposed by this section do not apply to a 19
473-campaign contribution to a candidate for elective office or a donation to a legal fund 20
474-under AS 15.13.118 if the contribution or donation complies with laws and 21
475-regulations governing elections and campaign disclosure. 22
476- * Sec. 20. AS 15.20.203(b)(2) and 15.20.203(b)(3) are repealed. 23
477- * Sec. 21. Sections 1, 8 - 10, and 17 - 19 of this Act take effect immediately under 24
478-AS 01.10.070(c). 25
479- * Sec. 22. Sections 2 - 6 and 16 of this Act take effect July 1, 2025. 26
480- * Sec. 23. Except as provided in sections 21 and 22 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 27
481-2024. 28
453+version of the image, audio recording, or video recording; 1
454+(B) does not include an image, audio recording, or video 2
455+recording that is minimally edited, adjusted, or enhanced by artificial 3
456+intelligence without materially altering how the meaning or significance of the 4
457+depiction would be perceived by a reasonable person. 5
458+ * Sec. 18. AS 24.60.080(e) is amended to read: 6
459+(e) A political contribution is not a gift under this section if it is reported under 7
460+AS 15.13.040 or is exempt from the reporting requirement under AS 15.13.040(g). A 8
461+donation to a legal fund under AS 15.13.118 is not a gift under this section if it is 9
462+reported under AS 15.13.118(b). The use of a bulk mailing permit owned by a 10
463+legislator's campaign committee or used in a legislator's election campaign is not a gift 11
464+to that legislator under this section. 12
465+ * Sec. 19. AS 39.52.130(d) is amended to read: 13
466+(d) The restrictions relating to gifts imposed by this section do not apply to a 14
467+campaign contribution to a candidate for elective office or a donation to a legal fund 15
468+under AS 15.13.118 if the contribution or donation complies with laws and 16
469+regulations governing elections and campaign disclosure. 17
470+ * Sec. 20. AS 15.20.203(b)(2) and 15.20.203(b)(3) are repealed. 18
471+ * Sec. 21. Sections 1, 8 - 10, and 17 - 19 of this Act take effect immediately under 19
472+AS 01.10.070(c). 20
473+ * Sec. 22. Sections 2 - 6 and 16 of this Act take effect July 1, 2025. 21
474+ * Sec. 23. Except as provided in sections 21 and 22 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 22
475+2024. 23