Arizona’s Republican lawmakers in the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a House bill Tuesday that would allow stricter guidelines to get citizens’ initiatives on the ballot.

If approved by the full Senate and signed by the Gov. Doug Ducey, it would allow such measures to be thrown out for mere paperwork or language errors, even if the proposed law complies with other requirements.

Another proposed rule in a series designed to blunt the initiative process - a bill up for debate Wednesday would subject initiative organizers to $1,000-an-incident fines for violations of law committed by anyone they hire, or workers of firms they hire, to collect signatures.

The idea originated in the House with Rep. Vince Leach, who was asked if the Legislature is trying to kill the process altogether.

"No, we have not killed the initiative process," Leach said. "The process is alive and well. As the governor said, we have tweaked it."

Legislation signed last week by Ducey banned paying circulators by the signature.

Democrats contend it’s the latest in a series of hurdles aimed at making such measures too difficult to get on the ballot. Senator Steve Farley called it “very disturbing”

“Arizona was founded by a bunch of independent people who wanted to be able to have the authority to call their government on their B.S. when they decided it was necessary," Farley said. "That's what created the initiative and referendum process in the first place."

Republican lawmakers have been pushing changes to the initiative process after voters approved a minimum wage increase in November.