The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 116.332 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and replace it with a new section that outlines the process for reviewing initiative petitions by the attorney general. Under the new provisions, before any constitutional amendment, statutory initiative, or referendum petition can be circulated for signatures, a sample sheet must be submitted to the secretary of state. This submission must include the name and address of the designated contact person for notices, and if applicable, a copy of the filed statement of committee organization. The secretary of state is required to refer the petition to the attorney general for approval and to the state auditor for a fiscal note. The new section also mandates that the attorney general examine the petition for compliance with the Constitution of Missouri and applicable statutes, in addition to its form. If the petition is found to be non-compliant, the attorney general must return it to the secretary of state with a written description of the conflicts within ten days. Conversely, if the petition is compliant, the attorney general will forward their approval within the same timeframe. The secretary of state is then responsible for making a final decision on the petition's approval or rejection and must notify the submitter within fifteen days.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (4395H.01): 116.332