‘Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the integrity of the process for collecting signatures of direct initiative and people’s veto referenda is paramount to the implementation of this form of direct democracy; and

Whereas,  the collection of signatures for new direct initiatives and potential people's veto referenda may occur before the 90-day period has expired; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §903-A, first ¶,  as enacted by PL 1989, c. 92, §1, is amended to read:

Petitions issued under this chapter may be circulated by any Maine resident who is a registered voter acting as a circulator of a petition. A circulator of a petition solicits signatures for the petition by presenting the petition to the voter, asking the voter to sign the petition and personally witnessing the voter affixing the voter's signature to the petition. The circulator of the petition must comply with the provisions of section 902.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §903-C, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2009, c. 611, §4, is amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’