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'''Missouri House Bill 1763''' has been introduced as legislation in [[Missouri]] in the 2008 [[Missouri State Legislature|Missouri General Assembly]] in order to aggressively restrict initiative rights in that state.  It is sponsored by Rep. Michael Parson<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/482239.html ''Legislation in Missouri would tighten rules for those who conduct petition drives''] Kansas City Star, February 8, 2008</ref>,<ref>[http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/HB1763.htm ''HB 1763 bill tracking'']</ref>

The proposed legislation would:

* Require people who [[circulator|circulate petitions]] to be Missouri [[residency requirements for petition circulators|residents]];
* Prohibit them from being paid by the signature;
* Restrict them to circulating one petition at a time.
* Forbids people to ask for signatures "via the Internet" or "by mail".

The proposed penalty for violating the new restrictions is to be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, up to a year in jail, and a fine not to exceed $10,000, or both.

===House passes House Bill 1763===
The Missouri House has passed HB 1763 on February 28, 2008.  The bill was opposed by House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D, Independence), who said "It's not a terrible bill, and that's typically what we find in Jefferson City...there's not (a lot of) bills that are so terrible, but overall I was concerned that this would limit the people of Missouri's right to use the petition-initiative process."<ref>[http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1235838&sectionID=1 ''Missouri House passes stricter guidelines for petition workers'', KWMU News, Feb. 28, 2008]</ref>

The proposed effective date of the bill is August 28, 2008.

A similar bill is being sponsored in the [[Missouri State Legislature|Missouri Senate]] by Kevin Engler, a Republican.

==Newspaper Endorsements==
The ''Joplin Globe'' opposes the bill saying it will restrict the [[initiative]] process and that it is a way to tell Missourians "not to interfere" with the legislature's agenda.<ref>[http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/local_story_064224815.html?keyword=topstory ''In our view: We have a right to use petitions'', The Joplin Globe, March 4, 2008]</ref>

==See also==

* [[Changes in 2008 to laws governing the initiative process]]
* [[Laws governing petition circulators]]
* [[Nebraska Legislative Bill 39]]
* [[Washington House Bill 2601]]
* [[Petition blocking]]

==External links==

* [http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/biltxt/intro/HB1763I.htm Text of the proposed legislation]
* [http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/HB1763.htm HB 1763 bill tracking]

===Additional reading===
* [http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/270675.html ''Mo. lawmakers try to make harder for others to make laws'', Associated Press, March 2, 2008]
* [http://www.missourinet.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=C3147B85-B3A1-768F-6D4D1507F03AAF95 ''Senators move to clean up initiative process'']
* [http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Mar/20080305News024.asp ''Associated Press'', Lawmakers target initiatives (op-ed), March 5, 2008]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Initiative rights, Colorado]]
[[Category:Petition blocking]]
[[Category:Laws governing the initiative process]]
[[Category:Residency requirements]]
[[Category:Pay-per-signature]]