It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 17-23-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-23 entitled "Election Offenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 17-23-18. Political advertising from official budgets prohibited. -- ADD} (a) No elected official shall permit the expenditure of public funds from any official budget under his or her authority for any publication, advertisement, broadcast, or telecast of his or her photograph, voice, or other likeness to be broadcasted or distributed to the public during the one hundred and twenty (120) days preceding any primary or general election in which he or she is a candidate.

(b) This section shall not be construed to prohibit an official from appearing on regular capitol television programming operated by the general assembly or on television stations operated by the Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority during said period of time {DEL . DEL} {ADD or programming of regular or special meetings of city or town councils or any local governmental board, agency or other entity. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.