IN RE INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 409, STATE QUESTION NO. 785
IN RE INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 409, STATE QUESTION NO. 785
Opinion of the Court
11 On February 28, 2016, Respondents Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma and Bryan Kerr (Proponents) filed Initiative Petition No. 409 with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. The petition seeks to amend the Oklahoma Constitution by repealing Article 28 and adopting Article 28A. In short, the proposed Article 28A would allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. Grocery stores would be limited to only one Retail Grocery Wine
12 "'The first power reserved by the people is the initiative....' With that, comes 'the power to propose laws and amendments to the Constitution and to enact or reject the same at the polls independent of the Legislature, and also reserve power at their own option to approve or reject at the polls any act of the Legislature?" In re Initiative Petition No. 403, 2016 OK 1, ¶ 3, 367 P.3d 472, 474 (citing Okla. Const. Art. 5, § 1). "While this fundamental and precious right is zealously protected by this Court, it is not absolute, Any citizen can protest the sufficiency and legality of an initiative petition." - In re Initiative Petition, No. 384, 2007 OK 48, ¶ 2, 164 P.3d 125 (internal citation omitted). When a protest is filed in this Court, we are "vested with original jurisdiction to evaluate and determine the sufficiency of the proposed initiative petition pursuant to 34 O.S. Supp.2015 § 8." In re Initiative Petition No. 403, 2016 OK 1, ¶ 3, 367 P.3d at 474.
%8 The procedures for presenting an initiative petition are outlined in 84 0.8. Supp.2015 §§ 1-27. Section 8 of Title 34 provides in part: "A simple statement of the gist of the proposition shall be printed on the top margin of each signature sheet."
T4 From 1985 until 2015,
(5 In the petition we consider today, the gist provides: }
This measure amends the entirety of Article XXVIII of the Oklahoma Constitution, as an amendment by Article repealing Article XXVIII and adopting Article XXVIIIA. It provides equal opportunity guarantees for Oklahoma businesses, It permits licensees that currently hold licenses to sell low-point beer to sell all beer and malt beverages regardless of percent alcohol by volume. It allows certain business entities, including grocery stores, to qualify for a license to sell wine for off-premises consumption. It allows small brewers as defined by law to sell their products at a brewery or festival or trade show and allows them to sell alcoholic beverage by the drink at a restan-rant co-located on the premises of the brewery. It provides that all employees who handle or sell alcoholic beverages must obtain an employee license from the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission. It permits Retail Package Store licensees to sell any and all items that are sold in convenience and grocery stores. It permits Retail Package Stores to offer services associated with the promotion of or education in their products. It permits Retail Package Store licensees and Retail Wine Grocery Store licensees to sell their products on any day of the year exeept for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It eliminates the prohibition of advertising of alcoholic beverages. It provides funding for the Department of Mental Health for treatment and prevention of mental health disease. The Amendments take effect on July 1, 2017.12
T6 The petition makes significant changes to the liquor laws of this state;, however, certain changes are recognizably absent from the gist. Pursuant to the petition, no Retail Package Store license or Retail Grocery Wine Store lHcense can be issued to any grocery store, warehouse club, or supercen-ter located within 2,500 feet of an existing Retail Package Store or Retail Grocery Wine Store, making many grocery stores ineligible for a Retail Grocery Wine Store Heense.
T7 The gist fails to alert potential signatories of the changes being made to the law
INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 409, STATE QUESTION NO. 785, IS DECLARED INVALID AND ORDERED STRICKEN FROM THE BALLOT.
. 34 3.
. 'In re Initiative Petition No. 363, 1996 OK 122, ¶ 18, 927 P.2d 558, 567 (citing Cmty. Gas and Serv. Co. v. Walbaum, 1965 OK 118, 404 P.2d 1014).
. In re Initiative Petition No. 384, 2007 OK 48, ¶ 7, 164 P.3d at 129 (quoting In re Initiative Petition No. 342, 1990 OK 76, 797 P.2d 331).
. . Id., ¶ 8, 164 P.3d at 129.
. Id., 8-9, 164 P.3d at 129 (quoting In re Initiative Petition No. 363, 1996 OK 122, 927 P.2d 558).
. Id., ¶ 9, 164 P.3d at 129 (quoting In re Initiative Petition No. 363, 1996 OK 122, 927 P.2d 558).
... In 1985, the Legislature created the gist requirement," See 34 O.S. Supp.1985 § 3.
. 34 O.S.2011§ 2.
. In re Initiative Petition No. 397, 2014 OK 23, ¶ 64, 326 P.3d 496, 518.
, 34 O.S. Supp.2015 § 8(A), Compare 34 O.S. Supp.2015 § 2 ("Insert here an exact copy of the text of the measure.") with 34 O.S.2011 § 2 (Insert here an exact copy of the title and text of the measure.").
Although the ballot title review process, and any challenge to the ballot title, must now statutorily come after the circulation period pursuant to §-8, the statute remains silent with regard to when a challenge to the gist of the petition must be made. We find that a pre-circulation challenge to the gist of the petition is appropriate as the gist remains a necessary part of the pamphlet circulated to potential signatories, We need not decide today whether a post-cireulation challenge to the gist of the petition would also be appropriate as those are not the circumstances before us in this case.
. No changes were made to Section 3-the gist requirement-in the 2015 amendments to Title 34.
. See Petitioners' Appendix to Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction.
. Initiative Petition No. 409, § 10.
. Initiative Petition No. 409, § 10,
. Initiative Petition No. 409, § 10; § 12. Opponents' argument that all beer, including 3.2% beer, will now be taxed as alcohol, effectively raising taxes on beer sold at grocery stores and convenience stores, is speculation at this point. We decline to engage in speculation in our consideration of the validity of the gist, See In re Initiative Petition No. 358, 1994 OK 27, ¶ 12, 870 P.2d 782, 787.
, Because we conclude that the gist is legally insufficient, we need not address Opponents' constitutional arguments.
Concurring Opinion
with whom Kauger, J., joins, concurring:
The problem with this gist is exactly the same prqblem that I pointed out in my dissent in In re Initiative Petition No. 403, 2016 OK 1, 367 P.3d 472, wherein I stated, "The gist is dead on arrival,. Along with the unconstitutionality of Initiative Petition No. 403, the gist or proposed ballot title deceives potential signatories and potential voters. I would send Initiative Petition No. 403 back to the Respondents as the gist does not satisfy the statutory requirements set out by the Legislature." The exact same problem exists in this case and therefore I concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In Re INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 409, State Question No. 785. Oklahoma Grocers Association and Ron Edgmon, Petitioners, v. Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma and Bryan Kerr, Respondents
- Cited By
- 87 cases
- Status
- Published