13-27-316. Court review of attorney general statements. (1) If the proponents of a ballot measure believe that the statement of purpose, the statements of implication of a vote, or the fiscal statement formulated by the attorney general pursuant to 13-27-312 do not satisfy the requirements of 13-27-312, they may, within 10 days of receipt of the notice from the secretary of state provided for in 13-27-202, file an action in the district court in and for the county of Lewis and Clark challenging the adequacy of the statement and requesting the court to alter the statement.
     (2) If the opponents of a ballot measure believe that the statement of purpose, the statements of implication of a vote, or the fiscal statement formulated by the attorney general pursuant to 13-27-312 do not satisfy the requirements of 13-27-312, they may, within 10 days of the date of certification to the governor that the completed petition has been officially filed, file an action in the district court in and for the county of Lewis and Clark challenging the adequacy of the statement and requesting the court to alter the statement.
     (3) (a) Notice shall be served upon the secretary of state and upon the attorney general. The action takes precedence over other cases and matters in the district court. The court shall examine the proposed measure and the challenged statement and shall as soon as possible render a decision and certify to the secretary of state a statement which the court determines will meet the requirements of 13-27-312.
     (b) A statement certified by the court shall be placed on the petition for circulation and on the official ballot.
     (4) A copy of the petition in final form must be filed in the office of the secretary of state by the proponents.
     (5) Any party may appeal the order of the district court to the Montana supreme court by filing a notice of appeal within 5 days of the date of the order of the district court.

     History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 400, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 336, L. 1981.