(A) There is hereby established a Hartford City Government Channel Fund pursuant to the provisions and authorization of I.C. 36-1-3-2, I.C. 36-1-3-3(a) and (b), I.C. 36-1-3-4(b)(1) and (b)(2) and I.C. 36-4-6-13(b) et seq.
(B) The Board of Public Works and Safety may accept funds in donation from contributors constituting a grant or sponsorship of a specific program or presentation aired over the city government channel or in financial support of the general operations of said channel. Any grants or fees in sponsorship of programming, donations of money or earnings received in the course of operations of the city government channel shall be deposited in the Hartford City Government Channel Fund.
(C) (1) Funds accrued and deposited under the provisions of division (B) above may be allocated and spent by the Board of Public Works and Safety for any purpose determined by said Board to be properly and legitimately necessary for the operation, broadcast, equipment, professional services or any other expenses incurred by the city government channel, and may be so allocated and spent by said Board without appropriation or approval by the Common Council when properly invoiced and established as services, products or other operational costs duly performed, rendered or received in the operation of the city government channel.
(2) The Board of Public Works and Safety shall establish an estimated budget of income and expenditures for each calendar year, and the Clerk- Treasurer shall record all receipts and expenditures of the Fund and maintain said records in the same manner as provided by statute for other municipal funds and expenditures.
(D) Funds accrued and deposited under the provisions of division (B) above may be used for the expressed purpose of broadcasting, program production, professional services or other legitimated expenses incurred by operation of the city government channel and for no other purpose.
(E) (1) No funds accrued under the provisions of this section shall be employed to support the broadcast or dissemination of any religious organization or belief or any candidate for public office or political organization, nor shall said funds be employed to broadcast any program content which is prohibited for over-the-air broadcast by federal or state statutes and regulations.
(2) Any accreditation or recognition of a sponsoring group during broadcasts over the city government channel shall only state the name of the donor.
(3) No commercial message or messages advocating an active effort by the viewers shall be permitted to be broadcast at any time.
(F) It is the expressed intent of the Fund herein established to provide for the broadcast of factual events and information pertaining to governmental and community affairs. Advocacy of any position or action is expressly prohibited when the broadcast thereof is in conflict with federal or state statutes or requires the expenditure of funds accrued under the terms of division (B) above.
(Res. 2002-07, passed 2-4-2002)