By Mr. Fagan of Taunton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 643) of James H. Fagan relative to the collection of signatures for initiative and referendum petitions.  Election Laws.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

James H. Fagan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to the collection of signatures for initiative and referendum petitions.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 22A the following section:—
Section 22A½. Any person who collects, or attempts to collect, signatures for an initiative or referendum petition shall, at all times he is actively engaged in such activity wear a sticker, button, or other similar such marking on a conspicuous place on the outer layer of his clothing readily visible to persons being solicited. All words on such sticker, button, or other similar marking shall be in at least 14-point type size. Such sticker, button, or other similar marking shall contain at least the following information: (a) the first and last names of the person soliciting signatures; (b) the full name of the person, corporation, organization, committee, or other entity on behalf of whom the person is soliciting signatures; (c) the full names of all persons, corporations, organizations, committees, or other entities hired or retained by the entity named in (b) above for the purpose of obtaining signatures; and (d) a statement disclosing how much, if any, compensation the person is receiving for soliciting signatures, provided, however, that if said person is compensated on a per-signature basis, the statement shall read “I am being paid $ (insert amount) for each signature I collect,” and provided further, that if said person is compensated on an hourly basis, that statement shall read “I am being paid $(insert amount) per hour to collect these signatures.” Any person who collects, or attempts to collect, signatures for an incentive or referendum petition, and who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, and in addition, the person, corporation, organization, committee, or other entity on behalf of whom the person is soliciting signatures shall also be punished by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars for each individual violation. The secretary of state may promulgate rules and regulations interpreting the provisions of this section.