HB2381 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2381

initiative and referendum; pamphlet; signatures

Sponsors: Representatives McClure: Anderson, Binder, Blendu, et al.

DP	Committee on Retirement & Government Operations
X	Committee on Counties & Municipalities
	Caucus and COW
	Third Read
	As Passed the House

HB 2381 makes changes to the initiative and referendum law by establishing liability of political committees for the cost of signature verification if the invalidity rate is one-third or more. The bill further requires Legislative Council to review proposed initiatives or referenda before the primary election.

Current Status

HB 2381 passed the Retirement & Government Operations Committee unamended.

Provisions

· Requires the Secretary of State to prepare an official title for any proposed law, constitutional amendment or measure within ten days of receiving the application.

· Stipulates that the official title must be appended to each petition before signatures may be collected.

· Requires the Secretary of State provide notice to the applicant that the Legislative Council will review the proposed law, constitutional amendment or measure.

· Allows the applicant to request that the review be done before the applicant collects signatures.

· Makes a political committee liable for the costs incurred for signature verification if one-third or more of the total signatures submitted are invalid.

· Stipulates that the amount of the liability is the amount of actual expenses incurred, not to exceed 50 cents per signature.

· Requires the Executive Director of Legislative Council to review initiatives or referenda for substantive import, unclear or inconsistent provisions and conflicts with existing law at least 60 days before the primary election.

· Specifies that the recommendations by Legislative Council are advisory and that the applicant may reject them.

· Makes other technical and conforming changes.

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· 45th Legislature