Wednesday, August 26, 2009

SAG CAMPAIGN RESTRICTIONS FOR AGENTS AND MANAGERS

'09 CAMPAIGN
SAG RESTRICTIONS ON CAMPAIGN DONATIONS


TO AGENTS, MANAGERS, CASTING AGENTS, AND PRODUCERS
REGARDING RESTRICTIONS ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

This statement from the Screen Actors Guild National, Hollywood and New York Division
Elections Committees is to inform you of various obligations imposed on you by federal law in
connection with the upcoming SAG internal union elections.

Federal law prohibits any employer including employers who are agents, managers, casting
agents or producers from contributing anything of value to candidates for any SAG elected
office. In addition, federal law may require that candidates who receive such contributions
report them to the Department of Labor.

This prohibition includes indirect, as well as direct, expenditures. The prohibition against the
use of employer money includes any costs incurred by an employer, or anything of value
contributed by an employer, in order to support the candidacy of the member. The use of an
employer's office equipment without charge has been construed to be an impermissible
contribution by an employer.1

The following are examples of the application of these legal obligations to situations which
commonly are confronted by candidates for Guild office:
• No employer may provide any contributions or assistance of any kind to any
candidate. Thus, for example, no candidate may solicit the support of any employer that
is a talent agency for an individual’s candidacy nor may any talent agency lend such
support – through financial contributions, solicitations of support through emails or
mailings, etc. – even if the candidate did not request the support. Even forwarding emails
may be a violation of this policy.
• Employees may make contributions only if those employees are not acting on behalf
of their employer.

Engaging in any of the conduct described above may jeopardize the integrity of the SAG election
process. Please do not violate SAG Election Guidelines or federal law. If you have any
questions, please direct them to Michelle Bennett, Governance Executive Director, at 323-549-6094.

You can download this document by visiting www.sag.org