SB1429

THE CONTEXT: Currently, statute outlines that an initiative petition circulator must declare whether they are a paid or a volunteering circulator by checking the appropriate line on the petition prior to circulating the petition for signatures. For statewide initiative and referendum measures, circulators who are not residents of Arizona and all paid circulators must register with the Secretary of State before circulating petitions.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would require a circulator of an initiative or referendum petition to state whether the circulator is paid, a volunteer or an out-of-state resident by checking all applicable lines on an initiative or referendum petition sheet prior to circulating the petition for signatures, strikes statewide from statute outlining the standard of review of initiative petitions to reflect expanded applicability to all initiative measures, including those limited to municipalities and counties, and extend existing registration requirements for non-resident circulators and paid circulators to municipal and county initiative measures.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for ballot measures into an enforceable rule. It would require a circulator of an initiative or referendum petition to state whether the circulator is paid, a volunteer or an out-of-state resident by checking all applicable lines on an initiative or referendum petition sheet prior to circulating the petition for signatures, and would also strikes statewide from statute outlining the standard of review of initiative petitions to reflect expanded applicability to all initiative measures, including those limited to municipalities and counties, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.