HB 1197 Summary

• Requires any person soliciting on roads, streets, highways, medians, or intersections to obtain a solicitation permit from the municipality, county, or political subdivision where solicitation occurs, with a maximum permit fee of $25.00.

• Establishes solicitation conditions including: daylight hours only (9:00 a.m. to one hour before sunset), remaining within 100 feet of approved intersection, only entering roadways when traffic signals prohibit vehicular movement, and prohibits persistent, demanding, or harassing behavior.

• Limits permits to one per intersection per day on a first-come basis and allows governing authorities to stop solicitation activities if conditions are not met.

• Creates criminal penalties: forgery of solicitation permits is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $300 fine and/or six months imprisonment; violating permit requirements violates existing obstruction laws with penalties up to $500 fine and/or six months imprisonment.

• Allows counties and municipalities to opt out of the Safe Solicitation Act through board or governing authority vote within six months of the effective date and authorizes the Capitol Police Chief to issue permits within the Capitol Complex Improvement District.