HOUSE BILL No. 4217

 

February 8, 2005, Introduced by Rep. Rocca and referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.

 

     A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

 

"Michigan election law,"

 

by amending sections 482 and 488 (MCL 168.482 and 168.488), section

 

482 as amended and section 488 as added by 1998 PA 142.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 482. (1) Each petition under this section shall be 8-1/2

 

inches by 14 inches in size.

 

     (2) If the measure to be submitted proposes a constitutional

 

amendment, initiation of legislation, or referendum of legislation,

 

the heading of each part of the petition shall be prepared in the

 

following form and printed with 1 of the following in capital

 


letters in 14-point boldfaced type:

 

INITIATIVE PETITION

 

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

OR

 

INITIATION OF LEGISLATION

 

OR

 

REFERENDUM OF LEGISLATION

 

PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

 

     (3) The full text of the amendment so proposed shall follow

 

and be printed in 8-point type. If the measure proposes a

 

constitutional amendment, the ballot language shall be printed on

 

the front of the petition. If the proposal would alter or abrogate

 

an existing provision of the constitution, the petition shall so

 

state and the provisions to be altered or abrogated shall be

 

inserted, preceded by the words:

 

     "Provisions of existing constitution altered or abrogated by

 

the proposal if adopted.".

 

     (4) The following statement shall appear beneath the petition

 

heading:

 

   "We, the undersigned qualified and registered electors,

 

     residents in the

 

     city

 

     township (strike 1) of ..........

 

   in the county of .........., state of Michigan, respectively

 

petition for (amendment to constitution) (initiation of

 

legislation) (referendum of legislation) (other appropriate

 

description).".

 


     (5) The following warning shall be printed in 12-point type

 

immediately above the place for signatures, on each part of the

 

petition:

 

WARNING

 

     A person who knowingly signs this petition more than once,

 

signs a name other than his or her own, signs when not a qualified

 

and registered elector, or sets opposite his or her signature on a

 

petition, a date other than the actual date the signature was

 

affixed, is violating the provisions of the Michigan election law.

 

     (6) If an individual is receiving compensation for circulating

 

the petition, the petition shall indicate that fact and the name of

 

the individual or organization providing the compensation on the

 

front of the petition in 10-point boldfaced type.

 

     (7)  (6)  The remainder of the petition form shall be as

 

provided following the warning to electors signing the petition in

 

section 544c(1). In addition, the petition shall comply with the

 

requirements of section 544c(2).

 

     Sec. 488. (1) Section 544c applies to a nominating petition

 

for an office in a political subdivision under a statute that

 

refers to this section, and to the circulation and signing of the

 

petition.

 

     (2) Section 482(1), (4), (5), and (6) (7) apply to a petition

 

to place a question on the ballot before the electorate of a

 

political subdivision under a statute that refers to this section,

 

and to the circulation and signing of the petition.

 

     (3) A person who violates a provision of this act applicable

 

to a petition  pursuant to  under subsection (1) or (2) is subject

 


to the penalties prescribed for that violation in this act.