Republican lawmakers are considering another measure aimed at the initiative process through which Arizonans can propose their own laws. The proposal up for debate Wednesday, March 29, would subject initiative organizers to $1,000-an-incident fines for violations of law committed by anyone they hire, or any workers of firms they hire, to collect signatures. Legislation signed last week by Gov. Doug Ducey banned paying petition circulators by the signature. Circulators can still be paid by the hour or some other basis. Not a single measure has qualified for the ballot in at least three decades without some use of paid circulators.
Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Club, which has been involved in several prior initiatives, said new financial penalties would provide yet another deterrent to going to the streets with ballot measures. The result, she said, is some organizations will simply choose not to get involved with initiatives.
SB 1236, which will be heard by the House Appropriations Committee, also would require that any print advertising for initiatives include a statement that, if enacted, an initiative cannot be repealed or altered by lawmakers but instead must be referred back to the voters.
Full Article: Arizona senators to debate another bill limiting initiative process | Local news | tucson.com.