BILL REQ. #:  H-0306.2 



_____________________________________________ 

HOUSE BILL 2019
_____________________________________________
State of Washington60th Legislature2007 Regular Session

By Representatives McDermott, Ormsby, Appleton, Miloscia, Hunt, Kessler, Hasegawa and Kenney

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



     AN ACT Relating to the accountability of signature gatherers for ballot measure petitions; amending RCW 29A.72.110, 29A.72.120, 29A.72.130, and 29A.72.170; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 29A.72.110 and 2005 c 239 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Petitions for proposing measures for submission to the legislature at its next regular session must be substantially in the following form:

     The warning prescribed by RCW 29A.72.140; followed by:


          INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATURE


To the Honorable . . . . . ., Secretary of State of the State of Washington:
     We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Washington, respectfully direct that this petition and the proposed measure known as Initiative Measure No. . . . . and entitled (here set forth the established ballot title of the measure), a full, true, and correct copy of which is printed on the reverse side of this petition, be transmitted to the legislature of the State of Washington at its next ensuing regular session, and we respectfully petition the legislature to enact said proposed measure into law; and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Washington in the city (or town) and county written after my name, my residence address is correctly stated, and I have knowingly signed this petition only once.
     The following declaration must be printed on the reverse side of the petition:

     I, . . . . . . . . . . . ., swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.

Signature       
Date of Signature       
Print Name       
Print Street Address       
Print City, State, Zip Code       

     Signing this declaration constitutes an oath subjecting the signatory to the penalty of the law.
     RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law.

     The petition must include a place for each petitioner to sign and print his or her name, and the address, city, and county at which he or she is registered to vote.

Sec. 2   RCW 29A.72.120 and 2005 c 239 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Petitions for proposing measures for submission to the people for their approval or rejection at the next ensuing general election must be substantially in the following form:

     The warning prescribed by RCW 29A.72.140; followed by:


          INITIATIVE PETITION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE PEOPLE


To the Honorable . . . . . ., Secretary of State of the State of Washington:
     We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Washington, respectfully direct that the proposed measure known as Initiative Measure No. . . . ., entitled (here insert the established ballot title of the measure), a full, true and correct copy of which is printed on the reverse side of this petition, be submitted to the legal voters of the State of Washington for their approval or rejection at the general election to be held on the . . . . . day of November, (year); and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Washington, in the city (or town) and county written after my name, my residence address is correctly stated, and I have knowingly signed this petition only once.
     The following declaration must be printed on the reverse side of the petition:

     I, . . . . . . . . . . . ., swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.

Signature       
Date of Signature       
Print Name       
Print Street Address       
Print City, State, Zip Code       

     Signing this declaration constitutes an oath subjecting the signatory to the penalty of the law.
     RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law.

     The petition must include a place for each petitioner to sign and print his or her name, and the address, city, and county at which he or she is registered to vote.

Sec. 3   RCW 29A.72.130 and 2005 c 239 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Petitions ordering that acts or parts of acts passed by the legislature be referred to the people at the next ensuing general election, or special election ordered by the legislature, must be substantially in the following form:

     The warning prescribed by RCW 29A.72.140; followed by:


          PETITION FOR REFERENDUM


To the Honorable . . . . . ., Secretary of State of the State of Washington:
     We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Washington, respectfully order and direct that Referendum Measure No. . . . . ., filed to revoke a (or part or parts of a) bill that (concise statement required by RCW 29A.36.071) and that was passed by the . . . . . . legislature of the State of Washington at the last regular (special) session of said legislature, shall be referred to the people of the state for their approval or rejection at the regular (special) election to be held on the . . . . day of November, (year); and each of us for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Washington, in the city (or town) and county written after my name, my residence address is correctly stated, and I have knowingly signed this petition only once.
     The following declaration must be printed on the reverse side of the petition:

     I, . . . . . . . . . . . ., swear or affirm under penalty of law that I circulated this sheet of the foregoing petition, and that, to the best of my knowledge, every person who signed this sheet of the foregoing petition knowingly and without any compensation or promise of compensation willingly signed his or her true name and that the information provided therewith is true and correct. I further acknowledge that under chapter 29A.84 RCW, forgery of signatures on this petition constitutes a class C felony, and that offering any consideration or gratuity to any person to induce them to sign a petition is a gross misdemeanor, such violations being punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.

Signature       
Date of Signature       
Print Name       
Print Street Address       
Print City, State, Zip Code       

     Signing this declaration constitutes an oath subjecting the signatory to the penalty of the law.
     RCW 9A.46.020 applies to any conduct constituting harassment against a petition signature gatherer. This penalty does not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law.

     The petition must include a place for each petitioner to sign and print his or her name, and the address, city, and county at which he or she is registered to vote.

Sec. 4   RCW 29A.72.170 and 2003 c 111 s 1818 are each amended to read as follows:
     The secretary of state may refuse to file any initiative or referendum petition being submitted upon any of the following grounds:
     (1) That the petition does not contain the information required by RCW 29A.72.110, 29A.72.120, or 29A.72.130.
     (2) That the petition clearly bears insufficient signatures.
     (3) That the time within which the petition may be filed has expired.
     (4) That the declaration printed on the reverse side of the petition has not been properly signed and dated with a printed name and address.
     In case of such refusal, the secretary of state shall endorse on the petition the word "submitted" and the date, and retain the petition pending appeal.
     If none of the grounds for refusal exists, the secretary of state must accept and file the petition.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

--- END ---