An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0176
Committee Amendment CA_A_H98 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §903-A, 21-A MRSA §903-C

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 134, L.D. 176, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Law Governing the Gathering of Signatures for Direct Initiatives and People's 
Veto Referenda" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the integrity of the process for collecting signatures of direct initiative and 
people's veto referenda is paramount to the implementation of this form of direct 
democracy; and 
Whereas, the collection of signatures for new direct initiatives and potential 
people's veto referenda may occur before the 90-day period has expired; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §903-A, first " as enacted by PL 1989, c. 92, § 1, is 
amended to read: 
Petitions issued under this chapter may be circulated by any Maine resident who is a 
registered voter acting as a circulator of a petition. A circulator of a petition solicits 
signatures for the petition by presenting the petition to the voter, asking the voter to sign 
the petition and personally witnessing the voter affixing the voter's signature to the 
petition. The circulator ofthe petition must comply with the provisions of section 902. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §903-C, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 611, §4, is 
amended to read: 
Page I - 127LR002S(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
R. of S. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 134, L.D. 176 
1. Registration. Prior to organizing, supervising or managing the circulation of 
petitions for a direct initiative of legislation or a people's veto referendum, a petition 
organization, in addition to meeting any other requirement to transact business in this 
State, shall register with the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the Secretary of 
State. The registration form must include the following: 
A. The ballot question or title of each direct initiative of legislation or people's veto 
referendum for which the petition organization will receive compensation; 
B. 
Contact information for the petition organization, including the name of the 
petition organization, street address or post office box, telephone number and e-mail 
address; arul 
C. The name and signature of a designated agent for the petition organization7; and 
D. A list containing the names of all individuals hired by the petition organization to 
assist in circulating petitions or in organizing, supervising or managing the 
circulation. The list must be updated and resubmitted to the Secretary of State when 
the petitions are filed pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, 
Section 17 or 18. 
The information contained in the registration form must be made available for public 
inspection and must be posted on the publicly accessible website of the Secretary of 
State. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which imposes limitations and residency 
restrictions on circulators of petitions. The amendment clarifies the law regarding the 
solicitation of signatures for a direct initiative or a people's veto referendum. It also 
requires a petition organization that receives compensation for working on a signature-
gathering effort to submit to the Secretary of State as part of the organization's 
registration process a list containing the names of those hired by the organization, which 
must be updated when the petitions are ultimately filed with the Secretary of State. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/22/15 
;Wac... 
LD 176 
LR 25(02) 
An Act To Amend the Law Governing the Gathering of Signatures for Direct Initiatives and People's 
Veto Referenda 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' {H .. q~) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with this legislation can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR0025(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1