Copy of petition and certain information to be filed with Secretary of State before presentation to voters for signatures and after any amendment; effect of amendment on petition; assignment of unique identifier; determination of fiscal effect; Legislative Counsel authorized to provide technical suggestions; posting on Secretary of State’s Internet website.

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1. Before a petition for initiative or referendum may be presented to the registered voters for their signatures, the person who intends to circulate the petition must:

(a) File a copy of the petition for initiative or referendum, including the description of the effect of the initiative or referendum required pursuant to NRS 295.009, with the Secretary of State.

(b) Submit to the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State:

(1) The name and signature of the person.

(2) If the person has formed a committee for political action for the purposes of advocating the passage of the initiative or referendum, the name of that committee for political action.

(3) The names of not more than three persons who are authorized to withdraw the petition or submit an amended petition.

2. If a petition for initiative or referendum or the description of the effect of the initiative or referendum required pursuant to NRS 295.009 is amended after the petition is placed on file with the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection 1:

(a) The revised petition must be placed on file with the Secretary of State before it is presented to the registered voters for their signatures;

(b) Any signatures that were collected on the original petition before it was amended are not valid; and

(c) The requirements for submission of the petition to each county clerk set forth in NRS 295.056 apply to the revised petition.

3. Upon receipt of a petition for initiative or referendum placed on file pursuant to subsection 1 or 2:

(a) The Secretary of State shall assign to the petition for initiative or referendum a unique identifier that must:

(1) Consist of a serial number or letter, or both; and

(2) Distinguish among each different type of petition received.

(b) The Secretary of State shall consult with the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau to determine whether the petition for initiative or referendum may have any anticipated financial effect on the State or local governments if the initiative or referendum is approved by the voters. If the Fiscal Analysis Division determines that the petition for initiative or referendum may have an anticipated financial effect on the State or local governments if the initiative or referendum is approved by the voters, the Fiscal Analysis Division must prepare a fiscal note regarding the petition that includes an explanation of any such effect.

(c) The Secretary of State shall consult with the Legislative Counsel regarding the petition for initiative or referendum. The Legislative Counsel may provide technical suggestions regarding the petition for initiative or referendum.

4. Not later than 10 business days after the Secretary of State receives a petition for initiative or referendum filed pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, the Secretary of State shall post on the Secretary of State’s Internet website a copy of the petition, including:

(a) The description of the effect of the initiative or referendum required pursuant to NRS 295.009;

(b) The unique identifier assigned to the petition by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection 3;

(c) Any fiscal note regarding the petition prepared by the Fiscal Analysis Division pursuant to subsection 3; and

(d) Any suggestions regarding the petition made by the Legislative Counsel pursuant to subsection 3.

(Added to NRS by 1963, 1384; A 1981, 12; 1985, 1112; 2005, 2838; 2007, 1251, 2543; 2017, 3369; 2019, 3406)


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