State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Missouri > T09 > C116 > 116_160Summary statement to be provided by the secretary of state ifsummary not provided by general assembly--content.
116.160. 1. If the general assembly adopts a joint resolution proposinga constitutional amendment or a bill without a fiscal note summary, which isto be referred to a vote of the people, after receipt of such resolution orbill the secretary of state shall promptly forward the resolution or bill tothe state auditor. If the general assembly adopts a joint resolutionproposing a constitutional amendment or a bill without an official summarystatement, which is to be referred to a vote of the people, within twenty daysafter receipt of the resolution or bill, the secretary of state shall prepareand transmit to the attorney general a summary statement of the measure as theproposed summary statement. The secretary of state may seek the advice of thelegislator who introduced the constitutional amendment or bill and the speakerof the house or the president pro tem of the legislative chamber thatoriginated the measure. The summary statement may be distinct from thelegislative title of the proposed constitutional amendment or bill. Theattorney general shall within ten days approve the legal content and form ofthe proposed statement.
2. The official summary statement shall contain no more than fiftywords, excluding articles. The title shall be a true and impartial statementof the purposes of the proposed measure in language neither intentionallyargumentative nor likely to create prejudice either for or against theproposed measure.
(L. 1980 S.B. 658, A.L. 1983 S.B. 234, A.L. 1985 H.B. 543, A.L. 1997 S.B. 132, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676)Effective 6-16-99
(2004) Secretary of state's duty to place matters on a ballot are not finally triggered until receipt of the original document. Nixon v. Blunt, 135 S.W.3d 416 (Mo.banc).
