Amendment ID: S2898-14-R1

Redraft Amendment 14

Prohibit Payment of Incentive Bonuses for Signature Collection

Mr. Finegold, Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Montigny and Cyr, Ms. Creem, Ms. Comerford and Mr. Payano move that the proposed new draft be amended by adding the following sections:-

“SECTION A1. Section 22A of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Blank forms provided for the collection of signatures for an initiative petition or referendum petition, which will be circulated by a person receiving compensation for the collection of signatures, shall include a disclosure, in a manner to be determined by the state secretary, which clearly informs potential signatories that the form is being distributed by a paid signature gatherer.

SECTION B1. Said chapter 53 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 22A the following section:-

Section 22A1/2. No person shall provide anything of value contingent upon the number of signatures collected for a statewide initiative petition or referendum petition, provide, but not limited to, payments on a fee-per-signature basis; provided, however, that the payment of incentive bonuses for obtaining a certain number of signatures shall be prohibited.

A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $10,000; provided, however, that each signature collected in violation of this section shall be a separate offense."