Initiative, referendum, and recall petitions: compensation for signatures.

Existing law prohibits a person under 18 years of age from circulating a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition or nominating paper. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to offer or give money or other valuable consideration to another in exchange for that person's signature on a state, county, municipal, or district initiative, referendum, or recall petition. This bill would prohibit a person from paying money or providing any other thing of value based on the number of signatures obtained on a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition. The bill would impose a civil penalty for violations of that prohibition, equal to the greater of $25,000 or $50 times the number of signatures gathered in exchange for compensation. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to bring a civil action for a violation, and it would also authorize a person, acting as a qui tam plaintiff, to bring a civil action for a violation and to share in the recovery, as provided. The bill would require specified portions of the proceeds of a civil action or settlement to be distributed to the Attorney General, the qui tam plaintiff, and the Secretary of State.