SB 860 Summary

• Requires registered voters to sign initiative and referendum petitions in their own handwriting with their name, address, birth date, and signing date; allows assistance for disabled persons with documentation by the assistant.

• Establishes that persons under 18 cannot serve as canvassers and paid canvassers on statewide petitions must have sponsor information filed with Secretary of State before soliciting signatures.

• Creates Class A misdemeanor penalties for falsifying petition signatures, printing false information, soliciting unqualified signers, paying for signatures, misrepresenting petition purposes, and filing petitions with known fraudulent signatures.

• Requires paid canvassers to submit background information including full name, current address, sworn statement regarding criminal history, and photograph within 90 days; sponsors must obtain state and federal criminal background checks within 30 days prior to canvasser registration.

• Prohibits signature counting on petition parts that lack proper canvasser verification, notarization, contain non-original documents, or have material defects; suspends circulation of filed petitions until Secretary of State determines sufficiency.