BILL REQ. #:  S-3608.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to signature gathering by sex offenders; and adding a new section to chapter 29A.72 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 29A.72 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any person with a duty to register as a sex offender under RCW 9A.44.130 is prohibited from gathering signatures for any initiative or referendum measure.
     (2) Petitions circulated by a person with a duty to register as a sex offender under RCW 9A.44.130 shall not be counted when determining whether the initiative measure contains sufficient signatures.
     (3) A valid signatory may recover statutory damages of two hundred dollars and actual damages from the entity or person employing a sex offender with a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 as a paid or volunteer signature gatherer. For the purposes of this section, a valid signatory is a person whose signature on a petition would count but for the fact that the petition was circulated by a person with a duty to register as a sex offender under RCW 9A.44.130. In an action to recover statutory or actual damages under this section, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.