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• Introduced by Sen. Joe McDermott, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 14, 2010, requires paid signature gatherers and firms that use paid signature gatherers to register with the public disclosure commission. Requires the secretary of state to provide required training for gatherers and firms; and requires the signature and other information of the gatherer to be included on an initiative petition.
  • Referred to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on January 14, 2010.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 4, 2010, to change the penalty for submission of petitions with an unsigned declaration or petitions submitted by a business that has failed to register with the PDC from invalidation of the signatures to a requirement that the Secretary of State conduct a full signature check on those petitions. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 4, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 4, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Joe McDermott, (D-Seattle) (D) on February 15, 2010, to remove the requirement that a circulator directly obtains the signature of the individual who signs a petition. Clarifies that a person who only submits petitions to the Secretary of State is not a circulator. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 15, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Curtis King (R) on February 15, 2010, to make it a crime to interfere with the operations of persons, organizations, or businesses engaged in signature gathering. Makes it a crime to provide false information about persons, organizations, or business engaged in signature gathering. The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on February 15, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Dan Swecker, (R-Rochester) (R) on February 15, 2010, to treat non-profits organizations as businesses under the bill. The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on February 15, 2010.
• Passed 29 to 19 in the Senate on February 15, 2010, to provide that all businesses in Washington that are engaged in collecting signatures for state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petitions and that are using paid signature gatherers must register with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). In addition, the paid signature gatherers must also register with the PDC. Volunteer signature gatherers are not required to register.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on February 16, 2010.
  • Referred to the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee on February 16, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on March 11, 2010.