Signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that modifies regulations relating to the obtaining of signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum, recall petition, or prospective petition.

Highlights:

-Prohibits a person from being paid to collect signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum, recall petition, or prospective petition if, during the five years prior to applying for registration, the person has had a civil penalty imposed for a violation of statutes related to the accounts of a chief petitioner or registration and training for paid petition circulators or the person has had a civil or criminal penalty imposed for a violation of a statute subject to a criminal penalty under ORS 260.993 (Sec. 2). -Allows the the Secretary of State to direct the Department of State Police to furnish information relating to whether an applicant for registration as a paid petition circulator has been convicted of a criminal offense involving fraud, forgery, or identification theft (which under existing law disqualifies the applicant from registration) or whether he or she has had a penalty imposed for one of the violations listed in the previous highlight (Sec. 2). -Specifies that a chief petitioner of a statewide initiative or referendum petition shall be considered liable for a violation committed by a person obtaining signatures on that chief petitioner's petition (or prospective petition) or a contractor or subcontractor if the chief petitioner "has knowledge or should have had knowledge" that said violator committed a violation related to any of the following (Sec. 5):

-knowingly making a false statement, oath, or affidavit when such a statement, oath, or affidavit is required under election laws (ORS 260.715 (1)); -altering information on petition signature sheets (ORS 260.567); -undue influence to affect registration, voting, or candidacy (ORS 260.665); -prohibitions relating to circulation, filing, or certification of initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.555); -payment for signing or not signing initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.558); -sale or purchase of signature sheets (ORS 260.558); -use of threats and intimidation for the purpose of extorting money (ORS 260.575); -requirements related to registration and training for paid petition circulators (ORS 250.048); -requirements related to the accounts of chief petitioners (ORS 260.262); -constitutional prohibitions on paying or receiving money or other valuables based on the number of signatures obtained on an initiative or referendum petition (Oregon Constitution, Article IV, Section 1b); or -any rules adopted by the Secretary of State related to the aforementioned section of the constitution, petition sheets, circulator training, registration, or certification.

-Allows the Secretary of State or Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of statutes or sections of the Constitution relating to the following (Sec. 11):

-circulation, filing, or certification of initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.555); -sale or purchase of signature sheets (ORS 260.558); -use of threats and intimidation for the purpose of extorting money (ORS 260.575); -knowingly making a false statement, oath, or affidavit when such a statement, oath, or affidavit is required under election laws (ORS 260.715 (1)); or -constitutional prohibitions on paying or receiving money or other valuables based on the number of signatures obtained on an initiative or referendum petition (Oregon Constitution, Article IV, Section 1b).

-Requires the chief petitioner of an initiative petition relating to a state measure to file all signature sheets containing signatures obtained by paid individuals with the Secretary of State once a month (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that modifies regulations relating to the obtaining of signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum, recall petition, or prospective petition.

Highlights:

-Prohibits a person from being paid to collect signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum, recall petition, or prospective petition if, during the five years prior to applying for registration, the person has had a civil penalty imposed for a violation of statutes related to the accounts of a chief petitioner or registration and training for paid petition circulators or the person has had a civil or criminal penalty imposed for a violation of a statute subject to a criminal penalty under ORS 260.993 (Sec. 2). -Allows the the Secretary of State to direct the Department of State Police to furnish information relating to whether an applicant for registration as a paid petition circulator has been convicted of a criminal offense involving fraud, forgery, or identification theft (which under existing law disqualifies the applicant from registration) or whether he or she has had a penalty imposed for one of the violations listed in the previous highlight (Sec. 2). -Specifies that a chief petitioner of a statewide initiative or referendum petition shall be considered liable for a violation committed by a person obtaining signatures on that chief petitioner's petition (or prospective petition) or a contractor or subcontractor if the chief petitioner "has knowledge or should have had knowledge" that said violator committed a violation related to any of the following (Sec. 5):

-knowingly making a false statement, oath, or affidavit when such a statement, oath, or affidavit is required under election laws (ORS 260.715 (1)); -altering information on petition signature sheets (ORS 260.567); -undue influence to affect registration, voting, or candidacy (ORS 260.665); -prohibitions relating to circulation, filing, or certification of initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.555); -payment for signing or not signing initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.558); -sale or purchase of signature sheets (ORS 260.558); -use of threats and intimidation for the purpose of extorting money (ORS 260.575); -requirements related to registration and training for paid petition circulators (ORS 250.048); -requirements related to the accounts of chief petitioners (ORS 260.262); -constitutional prohibitions on paying or receiving money or other valuables based on the number of signatures obtained on an initiative or referendum petition (Oregon Constitution, Article IV, Section 1b); or -any rules adopted by the Secretary of State related to the aforementioned section of the constitution, petition sheets, circulator training, registration, or certification.

-Allows the Secretary of State or Attorney General to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of statutes or sections of the Constitution relating to the following (Sec. 11):

-circulation, filing, or certification of initiative, referendum, or recall petitions (ORS 260.555); -sale or purchase of signature sheets (ORS 260.558); -use of threats and intimidation for the purpose of extorting money (ORS 260.575); -knowingly making a false statement, oath, or affidavit when such a statement, oath, or affidavit is required under election laws (ORS 260.715 (1)); or -constitutional prohibitions on paying or receiving money or other valuables based on the number of signatures obtained on an initiative or referendum petition (Oregon Constitution, Article IV, Section 1b).

-Requires the chief petitioner of an initiative petition relating to a state measure to file all signature sheets containing signatures obtained by paid individuals with the Secretary of State once a month (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text