JEFFERSON CITY — Today, two measures sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, were approved by the Missouri Senate and are on their way to the House for consideration. Both measures are designed to increase levels of transparency with regard to important state services.

Senate Bill 2 would require the Secretary of State to post on the SOS website the full text of initiative and referendum petitions within two days of receiving a petition. Also, the Secretary of State is currently required to send written notice to petitioners within 30 days after submission indicating approval or rejection; SB 2 changes that period to 15 days. In addition, SB 2 states that petition circulators are required to affirm that they meet certain criteria, including that they have not been convicted of or pled guilty to an offense involving forgery. Among other crimes, if a person fraudulently obtains signatures for a petition or knowingly accepts or offers money in exchange for a signature, he or she would be guilty of petition signature fraud, which is a Class D felony. Within 30 days of issuing certification that a petition contains the required number of valid signatures, the Joint Committee on Legislative Research would hold a public hearing on the issue.

“This legislation is designed to allow Missourians to receive important information about initiative petitions in the quickest manner possible, so they can make a well-informed decision when they make their way to the polls,” Sen. Rupp said. “The bill also ensures that, when citizens go to exercise their constitutional right to vote, the initiatives they are voting on appear on the ballot lawfully. Missourians need to be fully aware of the initiatives that are circulated throughout the Show-Me State.”

Senator Rupp’s other measure, SB 261, would require the State Tax Commission to assign a hearing officer within 60 days after an appeal is filed by a taxpayer. This legislation would help make certain that Missourians who request a new hearing officer have sufficient time to make their request and allow a new professional to be assigned to a case.

“As with any service, sometimes clients do not have good chemistry with the professional assigned to their case and would prefer to collaborate with an official who could better understand clients’ needs,” Sen. Rupp said. “My legislation would ensure that a new hearing officer is assigned to taxpayers in a prompt manner.”

If SB 2 and SB 261 are approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, both measures would take effect on Aug. 28. For more information about these bills, visit the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov.