BILL REQ. #:  H-1616.3 

Read first time 02/05/2007.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to the licensing of paid signature-gatherers for initiative petitions; and adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to establish reasonable guidelines for the collection of signatures for initiative petitions by paid signature-gatherers. The initiative petition process is a tool of the people and has a particular role in a representative democracy. Because the debate, deliberation, and compromise that underpin the democratic legislative process are absent from the initiative process, it is necessary to take measures to protect the voters of this state from fraud, misrepresentation, and undue influence.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of licensing.
     (2) "Paid signature-gatherer" means a person who is compensated through payments of money, either as an employee or independent contractor, to obtain signatures on a petition.
     (3) "Petition" means an initiative, referendum, or recall petition that calls for the enactment, repeal, or recall of state or local legislation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   All businesses operating in this state engaged in the activity of collecting signatures for initiative petitions and that are using paid signature-gatherers must apply to the department for a license.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) All businesses operating in this state engaged in the activity of collecting signatures for initiative petitions and that are using paid signature-gatherers must apply to the department for a permit for every individual signature-gatherer in its employ.
     (2) The application must demonstrate that the employees for whom the permit is being requested have been through training on the laws and rules governing the petition process.
     (3) Training must be conducted in consultation with the secretary of state.
     (4) A permit is valid for only one petition. In the event an individual is gathering signatures for more than one petition, a permit is required for each petition.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) A petition may not be distributed by a paid signature-gatherer unless that person has displayed on his or her person, or on the petition clipboard, the permit for distributing that petition.
     (2) A permitted paid signature-gatherer who submits fraudulent signatures: (a) Will have his or her permit or permits revoked; and (b) is prohibited from obtaining future permits.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the application of any other statute or rule that applies to petitions or petition gatherers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The department is directed to adopt rules to implement this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 1 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.