18600.
(a) Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:(a) (1) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, referendum referendum, or recall petition, intentionally willfully and knowingly misrepresents or intentionally willfully and knowingly makes any false statement concerning the contents, purport purport, or effect of the petition, or the petition’s Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, petition to any person who signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for the person’s his or her signature.
(b) (2) Willfully and knowingly circulates, publishes, or exhibits any false statement or misrepresentation concerning the contents, purport purport, or effect of any state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition, or the petition’s Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, petition for the purpose of obtaining any signature to, or persuading or influencing any person to sign, that petition.
(c) (3) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, intentionally willfully and knowingly makes any false statement in response to any inquiry by any voter as to whether the person he or she is a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer.
(b) (1) Any person convicted of violating subdivision (a) shall, upon the first conviction, be punished by one or more of the following:
(A) A fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(B) Imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year.
(C) A prohibition against receiving money or other valuable consideration for assisting another person to register to vote or for circulating any initiative, referendum, or recall petition for a period not to exceed 24 months.
(2) Any person convicted of violating subdivision (a), upon a second or subsequent conviction on charges separately brought and tried, shall be punished by one or more of the following:
(A) A fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(B) Imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year.
(C) A prohibition against receiving money or other valuable consideration for assisting another person to register to vote or for circulating any initiative, referendum, or recall petition for a period not to exceed 48 months.