Missouri 2025 2025 Regular Session

Missouri House Bill HB575 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/24/2025

                    FIRSTREGULARSESSION
[PERFECTED]
HOUSECOMMITTEESUBSTITUTEFOR
HOUSEBILLNOS.575&551
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
1511H.02P	JOSEPHENGLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections116.030,116.040,116.050,116.080,116.090,116.110,116.130,116.153,
116.190,116.200,116.332,and116.334,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereoftwelve
newsectionsrelatingtoinitiativepetitionsandreferendums,withpenaltyprovisions.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections116.030,116.040,116.050,116.080,116.090,116.110,116.130,
2116.153,116.190,116.200,116.332,and116.334,RSMo,arerepealedandtwelvenew
3sectionsenactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections116.030,116.040,116.045,116.050,
4116.080,116.090,116.110,116.130,116.190,116.200,116.332,and116.334,toreadas
5follows:
116.030.Thefollowingshallbesubstantiallytheformofeachpageofreferendum
2petitionsonanylawpassedbythegeneralassemblyofthestateofMissouri:
3	County______
4	PageNo.______
5 ItisaclassAmisdemeanorpunishable,notwithstandingtheprovisions
6 ofsection[560.021] 558.002, RSMo,tothecontrary,foratermof
7 imprisonmentnottoexceedoneyearinthecountyjailorafinenotto
8 exceedtenthousanddollarsorboth,foranyonetosignanyreferendum
9 petitionwithanynameotherthanhisorherown,orknowinglytosign
10 hisorhernamemorethanonceforthesamemeasureforthesame
11 election,ortosignapetitionwhensuchpersonknowsheorsheisnota
12 registeredvoter.
13	PETITIONFORREFERENDUM
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 14 TotheHonorable______,SecretaryofStateforthestateofMissouri:
15 We,theundersigned,registeredvotersofthestateofMissouriand___
16 ___County(orCityofSt.Louis),respectfullyorderthattheSenate(or
17 House)BillNo.______entitled(titleoflaw),passedbythe______
18 generalassemblyofthestateofMissouri,atthe______regular(or
19 special)sessionofthe______generalassembly,shallbereferredtothe
20 votersofthestateofMissouri,fortheirapprovalorrejection,atthe
21 generalelectiontobeheldonthe______dayof______,______,
22 unlessthegeneralassemblyshalldesignateanotherdate,andeachfor
23 himselforherselfsays:Ihavepersonallysignedthispetition;Iama
24 registeredvoterofthestateofMissouriand______County(orCityof
25 St.Louis);myregisteredvotingaddressandthenameofthecity,town
26 orvillageinwhichIlivearecorrectlywrittenaftermyname.
27	(OfficialBallottitle)______
28	CIRCULATOR'SAFFIDAVIT
29 StateOfMissouri,
30 CountyOf______
31 I,______,beingfirstdulysworn,say(printortypenamesofsigners)
NAME
DATE
SIGNED
32	REGISTERED
33	VOTING
34	ADDRESS
ZIP
CODE
CONGR.
DIST.NAME
35 (Signature) (Street)(City,	(Printedor
36	TownorVillage)	Typed)
37	(Herefollownumberedlinesforsigners)
38 signedthispageoftheforegoingpetition,andeachofthemsignedhis
39 orhernametheretoinmypresence;Ibelievethateachhasstatedhisor
40 hername,registeredvotingaddressandcity,townorvillagecorrectly,
41 andthateachsignerisaregisteredvoterofthestateofMissouriand__
42 ____County.FURTHERMORE,IHEREBYSWEARORAFFIRM
43 UNDERPENALTYOFPERJURYTHATALLSTATEMENTS
44 MADEBYMEARETRUEANDCORRECTANDTHATIHAVE
45 NEVERBEENCONVICTEDOF,FOUNDGUILTYOF,ORPLED
46 GUILTYTOANYOFFENSEINVOLVINGFORGERY.
47 Ihavemetthequalificationsofsection116.080andamatleast18
48 yearsofage.Ido______donot______(checkone)expecttobepaid
49 forcirculatingthispetition.Ifpaid,listthepayer______
HCSHBs575&551	2 50	_______________
51	SignatureofAffiant
52	(Personobtainingsignatures)
53	_______________
54	(PrintedNameofAffiant)
55	_______________
56	AddressofAffiant
57 Subscribedandsworntobeforemethis______dayof______,A.D._
58 _____
59	_______________
60	SignatureofNotary
61	AddressofNotary
62 NotaryPublic(Seal)
63 Mycommissionexpires______
64
65Ifthisformisfollowedsubstantiallyandtherequirementsof[section] sections116.045,
66116.050, and[section] 116.080aremet,itshallbesufficient,disregardingclericalandmerely
67technicalerrors.
116.040.Thefollowingshallbesubstantiallytheformofeachpageofeachpetition
2foranylaworamendmenttotheConstitutionofthestateofMissouriproposedbythe
3initiative:
4	County______
5	(Optional)PageNo.______
6 ItisaclassAmisdemeanorpunishable,notwithstandingtheprovisions
7 ofsection[560.021] 558.002, RSMo,tothecontrary,foratermof
8 imprisonmentnottoexceedoneyearinthecountyjailorafinenotto
9 exceedtenthousanddollarsorboth,foranyonetosignanyinitiative
10 petitionwithanynameotherthanhisorherown,orknowinglytosign
11 hisorhernamemorethanonceforthesamemeasureforthesame
12 election,ortosignapetitionwhensuchpersonknowsheorsheisnota
13 registeredvoter.
14	INITIATIVEPETITION
15 TotheHonorable______,SecretaryofStateforthestateofMissouri:
16 We,theundersigned,registeredvotersofthestateofMissouriand___
17 ___County(orCityofSt.Louis),respectfullyorderthatthefollowing
18 proposedlaw(oramendmenttotheconstitution)shallbesubmittedto
HCSHBs575&551	3 19 thevotersofthestateofMissouri,fortheirapprovalorrejection,atthe
20 generalelectiontobeheldonthe______dayof______,______,and
21 eachforhimselforherselfsays:Ihavepersonallysignedthispetition;I
22 amaregisteredvoterofthestateofMissouriand______County(or
23 CityofSt.Louis);myregisteredvotingaddressandthenameofthe
24 city,townorvillageinwhichIlivearecorrectlywrittenaftermyname.
25	(OfficialBallottitle)______
26	CIRCULATOR'SAFFIDAVIT
27 StateOfMissouri,
28 CountyOf______
29 I,______,beingfirstdulysworn,say(printortypenamesofsigners)
NAME
DATE
SIGNED
30	REGISTERED
31	VOTING
32	ADDRESS
ZIP
CODE
CONGR.
DIST.NAME
33 (Signature) (Street)(City,	(Printedor
34	Townor
35	Village)	Typed)
36	(Herefollownumberedlinesforsigners)
37 signedthispageoftheforegoingpetition,andeachofthemsignedhis
38 orhernametheretoinmypresence;Ibelievethateachhasstatedhisor
39 hername,registeredvotingaddressandcity,townorvillagecorrectly,
40 andthateachsignerisaregisteredvoterofthestateofMissouriand__
41 ____County.
42 FURTHERMORE,IHEREBYSWEARORAFFIRMUNDER
43 PENALTYOFPERJURYTHATALLSTATEMENTSMADEBYME
44 ARETRUEANDCORRECTANDTHATIHAVENEVERBEEN
45 CONVICTEDOF,FOUNDGUILTYOF,ORPLEDGUILTYTO
46 ANYOFFENSEINVOLVINGFORGERY.
47 Ihavemetthequalificationsofsection116.080andamatleast18
48 yearsofage.Ido______donot______(checkone)expecttobepaid
49 forcirculatingthispetition.Ifpaid,listthepayer______
50	_______________
51	SignatureofAffiant
52	(Personobtainingsignatures)
53	_______________
54	(PrintedNameofAffiant)
HCSHBs575&551	4 55	_______________
56	AddressofAffiant
57 Subscribedandsworntobeforemethis______dayof______,A.D._
58 _____
59	_______________
60	SignatureofNotary
61	AddressofNotary
62 NotaryPublic(Seal)
63 Mycommissionexpires______
64
65Ifthisformisfollowedsubstantiallyandtherequirementsof[section] sections116.045,
66116.050, and[section] 116.080aremet,itshallbesufficient,disregardingclericalandmerely
67technicalerrors.
116.045.Initiativepetitionandreferendumpetitionsignaturepagesshallbe
2printedonaformasprescribedbythesecretaryofstatethatshallincludeallofthe
3informationandstatementsrequiredbysection116.030or116.040,asapplicable,and
4complywithsection116.050.Theformshallbemadeavailableinelectronicformatto
5beusedforprintingpetitionsforcirculating.
116.050.1.Initiativeandreferendumpetitionsfiledundertheprovisionsofthis
2chaptershallconsistofpagesofauniformsize.Eachpage,excludingthetextofthemeasure,
3shallbenolargerthaneightandone-halfbyfourteeninches.Thetextoftheproposed
4measureshallbeinafontthatisnotsmallerthantwelve-pointTimesNewRomanand
5haveatop,bottom,left,andrightmarginofnotlessthanoneinch.Pagenumbersmay
6appearinthebottommargin.Eachpageofaninitiativepetitionshallbeattachedtoorshall
7containafullandcorrecttextoftheproposedmeasure.Eachpageofareferendumpetition
8shallbeattachedtoorshallcontainafullandcorrecttextofthemeasureonwhichthe
9referendumissought.
10 2.Thefullandcorrecttextofallinitiativeandreferendumpetitionmeasuresshall:
11 (1)Containallmatterwhichistobedeletedincludedinitsproperplaceenclosedin
12bracketsandallnewmattershownunderlined;
13 (2)Includeallsectionsofexistinglaworoftheconstitutionwhichwouldberepealed
14bythemeasure;and
15 (3)Otherwiseconformtotheprovisionsof[ArticleIII,Section28and]ArticleIII,
16[Section] Sections28,49,50,51,and52(a)oftheConstitutionofMissouriandthoseofthis
17chapter.
HCSHBs575&551	5 116.080.1.EachpetitioncirculatorshallbeacitizenoftheUnitedStates,[atleast]
2eighteenyearsofageorolder,aresidentofthisstateorphysicallypresentinthisstatefor
3atleastthirtyconsecutivedayspriortothecollectionofsignatures,andregisteredwith
4thesecretaryofstate.Nopetitioncirculatorshallbepaidanythingofvaluethatisbased
5onthenumberofsignaturescollected.Signaturescollectedbyanycirculatorwhohasnot
6registeredwiththesecretaryofstatepursuanttothischapteronorbefore5:00p.m.onthe
7finaldayforfilingpetitionswiththesecretaryofstateshallnotbecounted.Apetition
8circulatorshallbedeemedregisteredatthetimesuchcirculatordeliversasignedcirculator's
9affidavitpursuanttosection116.030,withrespecttoareferendumpetition,orsection
10116.040,withrespecttoaninitiativepetition,totheofficeofthesecretaryofstate.Noperson
11shallqualifyasapetitioncirculatorwhohasbeenconvictedof,foundguiltyof,orpledguilty
12toanoffenseinvolvingforgeryunderthelawsofthisstateoranoffenseunderthelawsofany
13otherjurisdictionifthatoffensewouldbeconsideredforgeryunderthelawsofthisstate.
14 2.Eachpetitioncirculatorshallsubscribeandsweartotheproperaffidavitoneach
15petitionpagesuchcirculatorsubmitsbeforeanotarypubliccommissionedinMissouri.
16Whennotarizingacirculator'ssignature,anotarypublicshallsignhisorherofficialsignature
17andaffixhisorherofficialsealtotheaffidavitonlyifthecirculatorpersonallyappearsbefore
18thenotaryandsubscribesandswearstotheaffidavitinhisorherpresence.
19 3.Anycirculatorwhofalselyswearstoacirculator'saffidavitknowingittobefalseis
20guiltyofaclassAmisdemeanorpunishable,notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsection
21[560.021] 558.002tothecontrary,foratermofimprisonmentnottoexceedoneyearinthe
22countyjailorafinenottoexceedtenthousanddollarsorboth.
116.090.1.Anypersonwhocommitsanyofthefollowingactionsisguiltyofthe
2crimeofpetitionsignaturefraud:
3 (1)Signsanynameotherthanhisorherowntoanypetition,orwhoknowinglysigns
4hisorhernamemorethanonceforthesamemeasureforthesameelection,orwhoknowshe
5orsheisnotatthetimeofsigningorcirculatingthesameaMissouriregisteredvoteranda
6residentofthisstate;or
7 (2)Intentionallysubmitspetitionsignaturesheetswiththeknowledgethattheperson
8whosenameappearsonthesignaturesheetdidnotactuallysignthepetition;or
9 (3)Causesavotertosignapetitionotherthantheonethevoterintendedtosign;or
10 (4)Forgesorfalsifiessignatures;or
11 (5)Knowinglyacceptsoroffersmoneyoranythingofvaluetoanotherpersonin
12exchangeforasignatureonapetition.
13 2.Anypersonwhoknowinglycausesapetitioncirculator'ssignaturestobesubmitted
14forcounting,andwhoeitherknowsthatsuchcirculatorhasviolatedsubsection1ofthis
15sectionor,afterreceivingnoticeoffactsindicatingthatsuchpersonmayhaveviolated
HCSHBs575&551	6 16subsection1ofthissection,causesthesignaturestobesubmittedwithrecklessindifference
17astowhethersuchcirculatorhascompliedwithsubsection1ofthissection,shallalsobe
18deemedtohavecommittedthecrimeofpetitionsignaturefraud.
19 3.Apersonwhoviolatessubsection1or2ofthissection,shall,uponconviction
20thereof,beguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanorpunishable,notwithstandingtheprovisionsof
21section[560.021] 558.002tothecontrary,byatermofimprisonmentnottoexceedoneyear
22inthecountyjailorafinenottoexceedtenthousanddollarsorboth.
23 4.Anypersonemployedbyorservingasanelectionauthority,thathasreasonable
24causetosuspectapersonhascommittedpetitionsignaturefraud,shallimmediatelyreportor
25causeareporttobemadetotheappropriateprosecutingauthorities.Failuretosoreportor
26causeareporttobemadeshallbeaclassAmisdemeanor.
116.110.Anyvoterwhohassignedaninitiativeorreferendumpetitionmaywithdraw
2hisorhersignaturefromthatpetitionbysubmittingtothesecretaryofstate,beforethe
3petitionisfiledwiththesecretaryofstate,aswornstatementrequestingthathisorher
4signaturebewithdrawnandaffirmingthenameofthepetitionsigned,thenamethevoterused
5whensigningthepetition,theaddressofthevoterandthecountyofresidence.ItisaclassA
6misdemeanorpunishable,notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsection[560.021] 558.002tothe
7contrary,foratermofimprisonmentnottoexceedoneyearinthecountyjailorafinenotto
8exceedtenthousanddollarsorboth,toknowinglyfileafalsewithdrawalstatementwiththe
9secretaryofstate.
116.130.1.Thesecretaryofstatemaysendcopiesofpetitionpagestoelection
2authoritiestoverifythatthepersonswhosenamesarelistedassignerstothepetitionare
3registeredvoters.Suchverificationmayeitherbeofeachsignatureorbyrandomsamplingas
4providedinsection116.120,asthesecretaryshalldirect.Ifcopiesofthepetitionpagesare
5senttoanelectionauthorityforverification,suchcopiesshallbesentpursuanttothe
6followingschedule:
7 (1)Copiesofallpagesfromnotlessthanonepetitionshallbereceivedintheoffice
8oftheelectionauthoritynotlaterthantwoweeksafterthepetitionisfiledintheofficeof
9secretaryofstate;
10 (2)Copiesofallpagesofatotalofthreepetitionsshallbereceivedintheofficeofthe
11electionauthoritynotlaterthanthreeweeksafterthepetitionisfiledintheofficeofthe
12secretaryofstate;
13 (3)Ifmorethanthreepetitionsarefiled,allcopiesofpetitionpages,includingthose
14petitionsselectedforverificationbyrandomsamplepursuanttosection116.120,shallbe
15receivedintheofficeoftheelectionauthoritynotlaterthanthefourthweekafterthepetition
16isfiledintheofficeofthesecretaryofstate.
17
HCSHBs575&551	7 18Eachelectionauthorityshallcheckthesignaturesagainstvoterregistrationrecordsinthe
19electionauthority'sjurisdiction,buttheelectionauthorityshallcountasvalidonlythe
20signaturesofpersonsregisteredasvotersinthecountynamedinthecirculator'saffidavit.
21Signaturesshallnotbecountedasvalidiftheyhavebeenstruckthroughorcrossedout.
22Signaturesshallberecordedusingablackordarkink.
23 2.Iftheelectionauthorityisrequestedtoverifythepetitionbyrandomsampling,
24suchverificationshallbecompletedandcertifiednotlaterthanthirtydaysfromthedatethat
25theelectionauthorityreceivesthepetitionfromthesecretaryofstate.Iftheelectionauthority
26istoverifyeachsignature,suchverification[must] shallbecompleted,certifiedand
27deliveredtothesecretaryofstateby5:00p.m.onthelastTuesdayinJulypriortothe
28election,orintheeventofcompleteverificationofsignaturesafterafailedrandomsample,
29fullverificationshallbecompleted,certifiedanddeliveredtothesecretaryofstateby5:00
30p.m.onthelastTuesdayinJulyorby5:00p.m.ontheFridayofthefifthweekafterreceipt
31ofthesignaturesbythelocalelectionauthority,whicheverislater.
32 3.Iftheelectionauthorityorthesecretaryofstatedeterminesthatthecongressional
33districtnumberwrittenafterthesignatureofanyvoterisnotthecongressionaldistrictof
34whichthevoterisaresident,theelectionauthorityorthesecretaryofstateshallcorrectthe
35congressionaldistrictnumberonthepetitionpage.Failureofavotertogivethevoter's
36correctcongressionaldistrictnumbershallnotbyitselfbegroundsfornotcountingthevoter's
37signature.
38 4.Theelectionauthorityshallreturnthecopiesofthepetitionpagestothesecretary
39ofstatewithannotationsregardinganyinvalidorquestionablesignatureswhichtheelection
40authorityhasbeenaskedtocheckbythesecretaryofstate.Theelectionauthorityshallverify
41thenumberofpagesreceivedforthatcounty,andalsocertifythetotalnumberofvalid
42signaturesofvotersfromeachcongressionaldistrictwhichtheelectionauthorityhasbeen
43askedtocheckbythesecretaryofstate.
44 5.Thesecretaryofstateisauthorizedtoadoptrulestoensureuniform,complete,and
45accuratecheckingofpetitionsignatureseitherbyactualcountorrandomsampling.Norule
46orportionofarulepromulgatedpursuanttothissectionshallbecomeeffectiveunlessithas
47beenpromulgatedpursuanttotheprovisionsofchapter536.
48 6.Afteraperiodofthreeyearsfromthetimeofsubmissionofthepetitionstothe
49secretaryofstate,thesecretaryofstate,ifthesecretarydeterminesthatretentionofsuch
50petitionsisnolongernecessary,maydestroysuchpetitions.
116.190.1.Any[citizen] Missouriregisteredvoterwhowishestochallengethe
2officialballottitleorthefiscalnotepreparedforaproposedconstitutionalamendment
3submittedbythegeneralassembly,byinitiativepetition,orbyconstitutionalconvention,or
4forastatutoryinitiativeorreferendummeasure,maybringanactioninthecircuitcourtof
HCSHBs575&551	8 5ColeCounty.Theactionmustbebroughtwithintendaysaftertheofficialballottitleis
6certifiedbythesecretaryofstateinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthischapter.
7 2.Thesecretaryofstateshallbenamedasapartydefendantinanyactionchallenging
8theofficialballottitlepreparedbythesecretaryofstate.Whentheactionchallengesthe
9fiscalnoteorthefiscalnotesummarypreparedbytheauditor,thestateauditorshallalsobe
10namedasapartydefendant.Thepresidentprotemofthesenate,thespeakerofthehouseand
11thesponsorofthemeasureandthesecretaryofstateshallbethenamedpartydefendantsin
12anyactionchallengingtheofficialsummarystatement,fiscalnoteorfiscalnotesummary
13preparedpursuanttosection116.155.
14 3.Thepetitionshallstatethereasonorreasonswhythesummarystatementportionof
15theofficialballottitleisinsufficientorunfairandshallrequestadifferentsummarystatement
16portionoftheofficialballottitle.Alternatively,thepetitionshallstatethereasonswhythe
17fiscalnoteorthefiscalnotesummaryportionoftheofficialballottitleisinsufficientorunfair
18andshallrequestadifferentfiscalnoteorfiscalnotesummaryportionoftheofficialballot
19title.
20 4.Theactionshallbeplacedatthetopofthecivildocket.Insofarastheaction
21challengesthesummarystatementportionoftheofficialballottitle,thecourtshallconsider
22thepetition,heararguments,andinitsdecisioncertifythesummarystatementportionofthe
23officialballottitletothesecretaryofstate.Insofarastheactionchallengesthefiscalnoteor
24thefiscalnotesummaryportionoftheofficialballottitle,thecourtshallconsiderthepetition,
25heararguments,andinitsdecision,eithercertifythefiscalnoteorthefiscalnotesummary
26portionoftheofficialballottitletothesecretaryofstateorremandthefiscalnoteorthefiscal
27notesummarytotheauditorforpreparationofanewfiscalnoteorfiscalnotesummary
28pursuanttotheproceduressetforthinsection116.175.Anyparty[tothesuit]mayappeal[to
29thesupremecourt] withintendaysafter[acircuitcourtdecision] theentryofthejudgment
30bythecircuitcourt. Inmakingthelegalnoticetoelectionauthoritiesundersection116.240,
31andforthepurposesofsection116.180,thesecretaryofstateshallcertifythelanguagewhich
32thecourtcertifiestohim.
33 5.Anyactionbroughtunderthissectionthatisnotfullyandfinallyadjudicated
34withinonehundredeightydaysoffiling,andmorethanfifty-sixdayspriortotheelectionin
35whichthemeasureistoappear,includingallappeals,shallbeextinguished,unlessacourt,
36beforetheexpirationoftheforegoingperiods,extendssuchperiodupon[a]anexpress
37findingofgoodcauseforsuchextension, butnoextensionshallcausethefinal
38adjudicationtooccurlessthaneightweeksbeforethedateoftheelection. Suchgood
39causeshallconsistonlyofcourt-relatedschedulingissuesandshallnotincluderequestsfor
40continuancebytheparties.Nocourt,includinganyappellatecourt,shallhavethe
41authoritytoissueanyformofreliefaftertheexpirationoftheforegoingperiods.
HCSHBs575&551	9 116.200.1.Afterthesecretaryofstatecertifiesapetitionassufficientorinsufficient,
2any[citizen] MissouriregisteredvotermayapplytothecircuitcourtofColeCountyto
3compel[him] thesecretaryofstatetoreversehisorherdecision.Theactionmustbe
4broughtwithintendaysafterthecertificationismade.Allsuchsuitsshallbeadvancedonthe
5courtdocketandheardanddecidedbythecourtasquicklyaspossible.
6 2.Ifthecourtdecidesthepetitionissufficient,thesecretaryofstateshallcertifyitas
7sufficientandattachacopyofthejudgment.Ifthecourtdecidesthepetitionisinsufficient,
8thecourtshallenjointhesecretaryofstatefromcertifyingthemeasureandallotherofficers
9fromprintingthemeasureontheballot.
10 3.Anypartymayappealwithintendaysafter[adecisionisrendered,anypartymay
11appealittothesupremecourt] theentryofthejudgmentbythecircuitcourt.
116.332.1.Beforeaconstitutionalamendmentpetition,astatutoryinitiativepetition,
2orareferendumpetitionmaybecirculatedforsignatures,asamplesheet[must] shallbe
3submittedtothesecretaryofstateintheforminwhichitwillbecirculated.Samplesheets
4maybesubmittedtothesecretaryofstateanytimeafterageneralelectionuntilsix
5monthspriortothenextgeneralelection.Whenapersonsubmitsasamplesheetofa
6petitionheorsheshalldesignatetothesecretaryofstatethenameandaddressoftheperson
7towhomanynoticesshallbesentpursuanttosections116.140and116.180and,ifa
8committeeorperson,excepttheindividualsubmittingthesamplesheet,isfundingany
9portionofthedraftingorsubmittingofthesamplesheet,thepersonsubmittingthesample
10sheetshallsubmitacopyofthefiledstatementofcommitteeorganizationrequiredunder
11subsection5ofsection130.021showingthedatethestatementwasfiled.Thesecretaryof
12stateshallreferacopyofthepetitionsheettotheattorneygeneralforhisapprovalandtothe
13stateauditorforpurposesofpreparingafiscalnoteandfiscalnotesummary.Thesecretaryof
14stateandattorneygeneral[must] shalleachreviewthepetitionfor[sufficiencyastoform]
15compliancewithsection116.050andArticleIII,Sections28,49,50,51,and52(a)ofthe
16ConstitutionofMissouriandapproveorrejecttheformofthepetition,statingthereasons
17forrejection,ifany.
18 2.Withintwobusinessdaysofreceiptofanysuchsamplesheet,theofficeofthe
19secretaryofstateshallconspicuouslypostonitswebsitethetextoftheproposedmeasure,a
20disclaimerstatingthatsuchtextmaynotconstitutethefullandcorrecttextasrequiredunder
21section116.050,andthenameofthepersonororganizationsubmittingthesamplesheet.The
22secretaryofstate'sfailuretocomplywithsuchpostingshallbeconsideredaviolationof
23chapter610andsubjecttothepenaltiesprovidedundersubsection3ofsection610.027.The
24postingshallberemovedwithinthreedaysofeitherthewithdrawalofthepetitionunder
25section116.115ortherejectionforanyreasonofthepetition.
HCSHBs575&551	10 26 3.Uponreceiptofapetitionfromtheofficeofthesecretaryofstate,theattorney
27generalshallexaminethepetition[astoform] anddeterminewhetheritcomplieswith
28section116.050andArticleIII,Sections28,49,50,51,and52(a)oftheConstitutionof
29Missouri. Ifthepetitionisrejected[astoform], theattorneygeneralshallforwardhisorher
30commentstothesecretaryofstatewithintendaysafterreceiptofthepetitionbytheattorney
31general.Ifthepetitionisapproved[astoform], theattorneygeneralshallforwardhisorher
32approval[astoform] tothesecretaryofstatewithintendaysafterreceiptofthepetitionby
33theattorneygeneral.
34 4.Thesecretaryofstateshallreviewthecommentsandstatementsoftheattorney
35general[astoform] andmakeafinaldecisionastotheapprovalorrejection[oftheform] of
36thepetition.Thesecretaryofstateshallsendwrittennoticetothepersonwhosubmittedthe
37petitionsheetoftheapprovalwithinfifteendaysaftersubmissionofthepetitionsheet.The
38secretaryofstateshallsendwrittennoticeifthepetitionhasbeenrejected,togetherwith
39reasonsforrejection,withinfifteendaysaftersubmissionofthepetitionsheet.
116.334.1.Ifthepetition[form] isapprovedundersection116.332, thesecretaryof
2stateshallmakeacopyofthesamplepetitionavailableonthesecretaryofstate'swebsite.
3Foraperiodoffifteendaysafterthepetitionisapproved[astoform] undersection116.332,
4thesecretaryofstateshallacceptpubliccommentsregardingtheproposedmeasureand
5providecopiesofsuchcommentsuponrequest.Withintwenty-threedaysofreceiptofsuch
6approval,thesecretaryofstateshallprepareandtransmittotheattorneygeneralasummary
7statementofthemeasurewhichshallbeaconcisestatementnotexceedingonehundred
8words.Thisstatementshall[beintheformofaquestionusing] uselanguageneither
9intentionallyargumentativenorlikelytocreateprejudiceeitherfororagainsttheproposed
10measure.Theattorneygeneralshallwithintendaysapprovethelegalcontentandformofthe
11proposedstatement.
12 2.Signaturesobtainedpriortothedatetheofficialballottitleiscertifiedbythe
13secretaryofstateshallnotbecounted.
14 3.Signaturesforstatutoryinitiativepetitionsshallbefilednotlaterthansixmonths
15priortothegeneralelectionduringwhichthepetition'sballotmeasureissubmittedforavote,
16andshallalsobecollectednotearlierthanthedayafterthedayuponwhichtheprevious
17generalelectionwasheld.
[116.153.Withinthirtydaysofissuingcertificationthatthepetition
2 containsasufficientnumberofvalidsignaturespursuanttosection116.150,
3 thejointcommitteeonlegislativeresearchshallholdapublichearingin
4 JeffersonCitytotakepubliccommentsconcerningtheproposedmeasure.
5 Suchhearingshallbeapublicmeetingunderchapter610.Withinfive
6 businessdaysaftertheendofthepublichearing,thejointcommitteeon
7 legislativeresearchshallprovideasummaryofthehearingtothesecretaryof
HCSHBs575&551	11 8 stateorhisorherdesigneeandthesecretaryofstateshallpostacopyofthe
9 summaryonthewebsiteoftheofficeofthesecretaryofstate.]
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HCSHBs575&551	12