HB 837 -- Initiative and Referendum Petitions

Sponsor:  Storch

This bill changes the laws regarding initiative and referendum
petitions.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires petition circulators to be residents of Missouri;

(2)  Prohibits individuals who have been convicted of, found
guilty of, or pled guilty to a forgery offense from serving as
petition circulators;

(3)  Prohibits petition circulators from being compensated based
on the number of signatures collected;

(4)  Specifies that anyone who knowingly signs a name other than
his or her own to a petition will be guilty of a class one
election offense that is punishable by up to five years in prison
or a fine of not less than $2,500 or greater than $10,000; and

(5)  Imposes a $500 deposit fee for the submission of a sample
sheet required to be filed with the Office of the Secretary of
State prior to the circulation for signatures for petitions.
Upon the certification of a proposed measure as having a
sufficient number of signatures, the deposit must be immediately
refunded.  If the ballot measure is not certified for the general
election, the deposit will be forfeited and deposited into the
General Revenue Fund.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am