Bill > HB299

This bill introduces a new requirement for statewide initiative petition circulators to obtain a license from the Secretary of State before they can collect signatures. Under the proposed law, individuals wishing to circulate a statewide initiative petition must apply for a circulator license by submitting an application with their name, date of birth, and current residence address, which must be notarized. The Secretary of State will then issue a license with a unique number that is valid for 24 months. The licensing process includes provisions for denying or revoking licenses if an applicant is deemed unqualified, and the Secretary of State will maintain a confidential registry of licensed circulators. The bill amends several sections of the Ohio Revised Code to incorporate these new requirements, including mandating that circulators include their license number on petition forms and specifying that initiative petitions without a valid circulator license will not be properly verified. The legislation aims to add an additional layer of accountability and oversight to the process of gathering signatures for statewide initiative petitions by ensuring that circulators meet certain standards and are officially registered with the state.

Government Affairs

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb299