Oregon Statutes - Chapter 250 - Initiative and Referendum - Section 250.048 - Registration and training for paid petition circulators; requirements; effect of failure to register; rules.

(1) A person may not pay money or other valuable consideration to another person for obtaining signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum or recall petition, and a person may not receive money or other valuable consideration for obtaining signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum or recall petition, unless the person obtaining the signatures:

(a) Registers with the Secretary of State in the manner prescribed by this section and by rule of the secretary; and

(b) Completes the training program prescribed by rule of the secretary.

(2) A person may apply to the secretary for a registration required under subsection (1) of this section. The application shall include:

(a) The full name and any assumed name of the applicant;

(b) The residential street address of the applicant;

(c) An example of the signature of the applicant;

(d) A list of the initiative, referendum and recall petitions on which the applicant will gather signatures;

(e) If the applicant has been convicted for a criminal offense involving fraud, forgery or identification theft, information relating to the circumstances of the conviction as required by the secretary;

(f) A statement signed by the applicant acknowledging that the applicant has read and understands Oregon law applicable to the gathering of signatures on state initiative, referendum and recall petitions, as the law is summarized in the training program established by the Secretary of State;

(g) Evidence indicating that the applicant has completed the training required by the secretary by rule;

(h) A photograph of the applicant; and

(i) A statement signed by a chief petitioner of each petition upon which the applicant will gather signatures acknowledging that the chief petitioner is liable for violations of law or rule committed by the person obtaining signatures as provided in ORS 260.561.

(3) If an applicant complies with subsection (2) of this section, not later than two business days after the applicant applies, the secretary shall register the applicant and assign the applicant a registration number.

(4) A person who has been convicted for a criminal offense involving fraud, forgery or identification theft in any state during the five-year period prior to the date of the application may not apply for registration under this section.

(5) If a person receives money or other valuable consideration for obtaining signatures of electors on a state initiative, referendum or recall petition and the person was not registered as required under this section at the time the signatures were obtained, the secretary may not count the signatures under ORS 250.105 or ORS chapter 249 for purposes of determining whether the petition contains the required number of signatures of electors.

(6) A person registered under this section shall carry evidence of registration with the person while the person is obtaining signatures on a state initiative, referendum or recall petition. The evidence of registration shall contain the photograph and registration number of the person. The secretary by rule shall designate the form of the evidence of registration.

(7) A photograph of an applicant submitted under subsection (2) of this section shall:

(a) Be a conventional photograph with a plain background;

(b) Show the face or the face, neck and shoulders of the applicant; and

(c) Be prepared and processed for printing as prescribed by the secretary.

(8) The secretary shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules:

(a) Establishing procedures for registering persons who may be paid money or other valuable consideration for obtaining signatures of electors on state initiative, referendum or recall petitions; and

(b) Establishing a training program for persons who may be paid money or other valuable consideration for obtaining signatures of electors on state initiative, referendum or recall petitions. [2007 c.848 §2]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008