Lawmakers today looked at two measures that could make changes to the initiative process in Colorado. The first measure addresses who is allowed to collect signatures for a ballot initiative. The second measure requires disclosure of groups promoting or opposing a ballot issue. Both measures passed unanimously out of the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee.
House Bill 1366 sponsored by Rep. Dennis Apaun, D-Colorado Springs, prohibits someone who is on probation or parole for unlawful sexual behavior or felony fraud from collecting signatures for ballot initiatives. The prohibition would apply to both paid and unpaid petitioners.
Apaun said he wants to make sure that participation by Colorado citizens in the political process will not have any negative consequences by having personal information falling into the wrong hands.
“They (Colorado citizens) deserve to feel confident that the information that they disclose will not be used for any unlawful behavior,” said Apaun. “ Their personal information should not be in the hands of sexual offenders or thieves.”
Rep. Edward Casso, D-Commerce City, thinks the measure is a step in the right direction, but questions why the prohibition doesn’t extend to those who are on a sex offender registry after they are released from parole or probation.
“We should probably look at people who are on the sexual offender registries and not just on probation or parole if we are going to do this,” said Casso.
Casso was joined by the GOP’s Mark Waller of Colorado Springs, who also thinks that the distinction between the supervision of parole or probation and having committed the crime in the first place is a small one when it comes to protecting personal information gathered from citizens.
“Perhaps these people should never be allowed to circulate petitions,” said Waller.
Michael Shea, Deputy Legal Council for the governor’s office stated when a person is on parole or probation they already have reduced first amendment rights and therefore the same limitations can apply for the initiative process—the distinction being a constitutional one.
The panel also considered House Bill 1370 sponsored by Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver, that would require proponents and opponents of ballot measures be listed on the Secretary of State’s website with a statement in the Blue Book–a pamphlet produced by the government containing the ballot measures and arguments for and against–which directs readers to the Secretary’s of Sate’s website for full disclosure of the proponents and opponents.
Advocating for the disclosures bill was the Colorado Press Association, arguing the increased transparency and the value of the information disclosed would benefit media consumers and voters.
Court wrapped up the debate over her measure with a sentiment that paralleled the Press Association’s support.
“The more information sharing we can do…the better,” said Court.
HB 1366 will need to meet the House Finance Committee’s approval before it can go to the House floor for consideration. HB1370 is now headed to the House Appropriations Committee.