CHAPTER 356

H.P. 648 - L.D. 929

An Act To Create Freedom of Citizen Information Regarding

Ballot Questions

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §901-A is enacted to read:

§901-A.__Petition requirements for direct initiatives of

legislation

The following provisions apply to direct initiatives of legislation under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 18.

1.__Opportunity to read direct initiative summary.__ A person circulating a petition must provide the voter the opportunity to read the proposed direct initiative summary required by section 901 prior to that voter signing the petition.__The summary presented to the voter must be as it appears on a publicly accessible website established by the Secretary of State.

2.__Required statements; placement of information.__The Secretary of State shall include the following statements at the top of the petition to be submitted to voters in a type size of no less than 16 points:

"Freedom of Citizen Information: Before a registered voter signs any initiative petition, signature gatherers must offer the voter the opportunity to read the proposed initiative summary prepared by the Secretary of State."