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An Act To Provide Notice to the General Public about Proposed Initiative Questions
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to provide the public with its benefits in advance of the next statewide election; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§3-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 581, §3, is further amended to read:
(1) Correct allocation to the statutes and correct integration with existing statutes;
(2) Bill titles and statute section headnotes that objectively reflect the content of the bill, section or sections to which they apply;
(3) Conformity to the statutory numbering system; and
(4) Ensuring that bills enacting statutes do not contain provisions that describe intent or make testimonial statements without creating a legal requirement or duty.
By consent of the applicant the proposed law may be modified to conform with the requirements of this section. The Secretary of State may request assistance from the Revisor of Statutes in reviewing the proposed law.
The applicant shall submit each subsequent draft of the legislation to the Secretary of State for review following the same process. The Secretary of State shall review each subsequent draft from the applicant and provide a revised draft or written response suggesting how the proposed law may be modified to conform with the requirements of this section within 10 business days. Before the ballot question is drafted by the Secretary of State, written consent to the final language of the proposed law must be given by the applicant. The applicant must give written consent to the final language of the proposed law to the Secretary of State before the petition form is designed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 581, §4, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 352, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §901-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 356, §1, is amended to read:
"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."
"Ballot questions during the 20.. election [most recent election cycle] cost taxpayers approximately $........ [Secretary of State shall use fiscal information provided by the Office of Fiscal and Program Review] each to be placed on the ballot. As a citizen of Maine, you have a right to this information."
The summary of the proposed direct initiative must be printed on the petition immediately following the statements required by this subsection.
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §903-A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 575, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 903-A. Circulation
Petitions issued under this chapter may be circulated by any registered voter.
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §905-A is enacted to read:
§ 905-A. Public comment on initiative questions
No later than 10 business days after the Legislature adjourns sine die, the Secretary of State shall give public notice of a proposed ballot question for any initiative that will be submitted to the voters at the next statewide election or special election by posting all proposed ballot questions on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website. The Secretary of State may also publish notice for one day in newspapers having general circulation in the State. After giving public notice of a proposed ballot question in accordance with this section, the Secretary of State shall provide a 30-day public comment period for the purpose of receiving comments on the content and form of proposed questions to be placed on the ballot for any pending initiatives. No later than 10 days after receiving public comments in accordance with this section and after review of those comments, the Secretary of State shall write the ballot question for any pending initiative.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
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