Montana Title 13. Elections § 13-27-112. Signature gathering--registration--reports--penalty

(1)(a) A person who employs a paid signature gatherer shall register with the secretary of state prior to collecting signatures. Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), the registration in this subsection (1) must be accompanied by a filing fee of not more than $100 or an amount set by the secretary of state. The fee must be deposited in an account to the credit of the secretary of state in accordance with 2-15-405(4).

(b) A person who employs a paid signature gatherer may seek a waiver from the fee required in subsection (1)(a) by demonstrating a financial inability to pay without substantial hardship.

(c) The secretary of state may adopt rules to provide for the administration of this subsection (1), including rules to implement a standard registration form and the waiver provisions in subsection (1)(b).

(2)(a) Except as provided in this section, a person who employs a paid signature gatherer shall file with the commissioner reports containing those matters required by Title 13, chapter 37, part 2, for a political committee organized to support or oppose a ballot issue or for an independent committee that receives contributions and makes expenditures in connection with a ballot issue, as applicable. If a person who employs a paid signature gatherer is required by Title 13, chapter 37, part 2, to file a report pursuant to those provisions, the person need not file a duplicate report pursuant to this section, but shall report the matter required by subsection (2) as part of that report.

(b) The reports required by this subsection (2) must include the amount paid to a paid signature gatherer.

(c) Reports filed pursuant to this subsection (2) must be filed at the same time, in the same manner, including the certification required by 13-37-231, and upon the same forms as required for reports filed pursuant to Title 13, chapter 37, part 2, except as the rules of the commissioner may otherwise provide.

(d) A person who violates subsection (2)(a) is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished as provided by law.

(a) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of political practices provided for in 13-37-102.

(b) “Paid signature gatherer” means a signature gatherer who is compensated in money for the collection of signatures.

(e) “Signature gatherer” means an individual who collects signatures on a petition for the purpose of an initiative, a referendum, or the calling of a constitutional convention.