HB10-1100 Summary

• Prohibits withdrawal of initiative petitions after submission to the secretary of state for verification of signatures, eliminating the previous 60-day pre-election withdrawal option.

• Defines petition withdrawal as occurring when proponents fail to submit for title setting, cease circulation after titles are fixed, discontinue circulation before the filing deadline, or fail to file for signature examination.

• Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to offer, promise, or pay money or valuable consideration to compel petition withdrawal, or to receive compensation for withdrawing a petition.

• Authorizes the secretary of state to conduct hearings on complaints regarding petition withdrawal violations and refer violations to the attorney general for criminal prosecution.

• Takes effect August 11, 2010, subject to potential voter approval if a referendum petition is filed within 90 days of legislative adjournment.