Assembly Bill No. 164–Assemblymen Hettrick, Cegavske, Nolan, de Braga, Gibbons, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Carpenter, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, Dini, Freeman, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price and Von Tobel

 

February 15, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators O’Connell, Raggio, Washington, Rawson, Porter, Amodei, Care, Coffin, Jacobsen, Mathews, McGinness, O’Donnell, Rhoads, Schneider and Townsend

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Referred to Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

SUMMARY—Revises requirements for obtaining and removing signatures on petitions for initiatives or referenda. (BDR 24‑673)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to initiatives; revising the requirements for obtaining and removing signatures on a petition for initiative or referendum; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 295 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2  the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act.

1-3    Sec. 2.  1.  A person who attempts to obtain the signature of a voter

1-4  on a petition for initiative or referendum that is governed by this chapter

1-5  shall disclose to the voter whether the person is being paid to obtain

1-6  signatures on the petition before the person requests that the voter sign

1-7  the petition.

2-1    2.  A person who obtains the signature of a voter on a petition for

2-2  initiative or referendum that is governed by this chapter shall, before the

2-3  voter signs the petition:

2-4    (a) Accurately describe to the voter the effect the initiative or

2-5  referendum will have upon the law of this state; and

2-6    (b) Provide to the voter:

2-7       (1) A comprehensive summary of the initiative or referendum, in

2-8  writing, that has been approved by the secretary of state pursuant to this

2-9  section;

2-10      (2) Written instructions describing the procedure through which the

2-11  voter may request the removal of his name from the petition, including,

2-12  without limitation, the deadline for requesting the removal of his name;

2-13      (3) A form prescribed by the secretary of state that the voter may

2-14  use to request the removal of his name from the petition; and

2-15      (4) A written summary of the requirements of this paragraph.

2-16    3.  The secretary of state, upon consultation with the attorney

2-17  general, shall approve or disapprove a comprehensive summary of an

2-18  initiative or referendum not later than 10 business days after the

2-19  comprehensive summary and a copy of the initiative or referendum is

2-20  submitted to the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall approve

2-21  the comprehensive summary if it completely and accurately describes the

2-22  effect the initiative or referendum will have upon the law of this state.

2-23    Sec. 3.  A person who signs a petition for initiative or referendum

2-24  that is governed by this chapter may remove his name from the petition

2-25  by transmitting his request in writing to the county or city clerk at any

2-26  time before the petition is submitted to the county or city clerk.

2-27    Sec. 4.  NRS 295.055 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-28    295.055  1.  The secretary of state shall by regulation specify:

2-29    (a) The format for the signatures on a petition for an initiative or

2-30  referendum and make free specimens of the format available upon request.

2-31  Each signature must be dated.

2-32    (b) The manner of fastening together several sheets circulated by one

2-33  person to constitute a single document.

2-34    2.  Each document of the petition must bear the name of a county, and

2-35  only registered voters of that county may sign the document.

2-36    [3.  A person who signs a petition may remove his name from it by

2-37  transmitting his request in writing to the county clerk at any time before the

2-38  petition is filed with the county clerk.]

 

2-39  H