OPINION LETTER NO. 248-2009 (2009)

Robin Carnahan

Attorney General of Missouri — Opinion
December 3, 2009, December 4, 2009

Page 1

Topics:

Initiative Petition. Initiatives.

Summary conclusion:

Review and approval of the sufficiency as to form of an initiative petition (version 2) submitted by Barbara Schmitz pertaining to a statutory amendment to Chapter 273, RSMo, regarding puppy mills.

The Honorable Robin Carnahan Missouri Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center

600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101

CHRIS KOSTER, Attorney General

Dear Secretary Carnahan:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated November 25, 2009, for our review under § 116.332, RSMo, of the sufficiency as to form of an initiative petition submitted by Barbara Schmitz (version 2) to amend Chapter 273, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

We approve the petition as to form, but § 116.332 gives the Secretary of State final authority to approve or reject the petition. Therefore, our approval of the form of the petition does not preclude you from rejecting the petition.

Because our review of the petition is simply for the purpose of determining sufficiency as to form, the fact that we do not reject the petition is not to be construed as a determination that the petition is sufficient as to substance. Likewise, because our review is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition or of the objectives of its proponents, or the expression of any view respecting the adequacy or inadequacy of the petition generally.