AR SB102

Requires sponsors of local option election petitions to obtain criminal background checks from Arkansas State Police on all paid canvassers within 30 days before they begin collecting signatures, at the sponsor's expense

Restricts canvassers to U.S. citizens who are Arkansas residents and prohibits paying canvassers based on the number of signatures obtained

Creates new felony penalties (Class D) for canvassers who allow false verification affidavits and for sponsors who knowingly pay for or submit petition signatures not personally witnessed by the verifying canvasser

Requires sponsors to certify to county clerks that paid canvassers have no disqualifying offenses and to submit signature cards and final lists of canvasser names and addresses upon filing petitions

Signatures obtained in violation of these requirements will not be counted, and willful violations by sponsors or canvassers constitute a Class A misdemeanor