Bill > H561

This bill establishes a citizens' initiative review commission within the executive branch, composed of seven commissioners appointed by various state officials, including the governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, and legislative leaders, with specific restrictions on who can be appointed to ensure impartiality, such as not having held recent elected office or worked as a lobbyist. The commission's primary role is to convene citizen panels to review initiative or referendum petitions, which are proposed laws or changes to existing laws that citizens can put on the ballot for a vote. These panels, made up of randomly selected electors whose demographics aim to reflect the state's population, will study the measures, hear testimony from proponents and opponents, and then write impartial statements summarizing their findings, along with statements in favor and opposition, and other policy considerations, which will be included in official election materials. The commission can accept public and private funding, but not from political committees, for-profit corporations, or unions, and must disclose large contributions, and all its activities will be funded through a dedicated Citizens' Initiative Review Fund, with the commission determining annually if sufficient funds are available to carry out its duties.