From Ballotpedia
The
Arizona Reform the Initiative Process Amendment may qualify for the
November 2, 2010 ballot in Arizona as a
legislatively-referred constitutional amendment if its supporters in the
Arizona State Legislature can garner enough support in both chambers of the legislature to refer it to the ballot.
[1]
Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, is the lead legislative sponsor of the bill.
As the legislative package works it way through the process, changes in its provisions are likely to occur. What the bill originally called for is:
- Ban signature-gatherers from getting paid by signature or page.
- Require gatherers to register with the Secretary of State's Office.
- Fine those who fail to register.
- Reduce the number of total signatures that need to be gathered for an initiative to reach the ballot. (See Arizona signature requirements.)
- Move up the petition filing deadline by about two months.
- Require people or groups organizing a citizens initiative to submit a copy of the proposed text to the Legislature as well as to the secretary of state.
- Say the Legislature will hold a public hearing on the proposal and hear testimony, but for informational purposes only.
- Allow legislative staffers to propose text or draft suggestions to "improve" a proposal. The organizers have the right to reject the suggestions.
- Give the legislative staff the authority to establish the official name of a ballot measure in an effort to avoid misleading ballot titles.
- Allow about an extra month for challenges to be made against the initiative filing before it qualifies for the ballot.
- Increase the number of signatures that the secretary of state must randomly verify from 5 percent to 10 percent of the total submitted.
- Move up the date to file arguments for or against an initiative or referendum.
Constitutional changes
If enacted by Arizona voters, the measure would amend the Arizona Constitution by changing Party 1, Section 1 of Article IV.[2]
Path to the ballot
A majority vote is required in the Arizona State Legislature to refer a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment measure to the ballot. Arizona is one of ten states that allows a referred amendment to go on the ballot after a majority vote in one session of the state's legislature.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Citizens in Charge, "More fairness cited in bill to change ballot measure rules", February 12, 2009
- ↑ Arizona Legislature, "Introduced Version"
