Oklahoma State Questions 2018

Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 10:50 AM by K. Latham

The following Oklahoma State Questions have qualified for the November 6 General Election ballot. .
https://www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/State_Question_info.html

More information about State Questions can be found on the Secretary of State's search page.
https://www.sos.ok.gov/gov/questions.aspx

SQ 793

This measure adds a new Section 3 to Article 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Under the new Section, no law shall infringe on optometrists' or opticians' ability to practice within a retail mercantile establishment, discriminate against optometrists or opticians based on the location of their practice, or require external entrances for optometric offices within retail mercantile establishments. No law shall infringe on retail mercantile establishments' ability to sell prescription optical goods and services. The Section allows the Legislature to restrict optometrists from performing surgeries within retail mercantile establishments, limit the number of locations at which an optometrist may practice, maintain optometric licensing requirements, require optometric offices to be in a separate room of a retail mercantile establishment, and impose health and safety standards. It does not prohibit optometrists and opticians from agreeing with retail mercantile establishments to limit their practice. Laws conflicting with this Section are void. The Section defines "laws," "optometrist," "optician," "optical goods and services," and "retail mercantile establishment."

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES. AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO.

Secretary of State Documents PDF

SQ 794

This measure amends the provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution that guarantees certain rights for crime victims. These rights would now be protected in a manner equal to the defendant's rights. The measure would also make changes to victim's rights, including:

(1) expanding the court proceedings at which a victim has the right to be heard;

(2) adding a right to reasonable protection;

(3) adding a right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay;

(4) adding a right to talk with the prosecutor; and

(5) allowing victims to refuse interview requests from the defendant's attorney without a subpoena.

The Oklahoma Constitution currently grants victims' rights to crime victims and their family members. This measure would instead grant these rights to crime victims and those directly harmed by the crime. Victims would no longer have a constitutional right to know the defendant's location following arrest, during prosecution, and while sentenced to confinement or probation, but would have the right to be notified of the defendant's release or escape from custody.

Under this measure, victims would have these rights in both adult and juvenile proceedings. Victims would be able to assert these rights in court, and the court would be required to act promptly.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES. AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO.

Secretary of State Documents PDF

SQ 798

This measure will add a provision to the Oklahoma Constitution to change the manner in which the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected. Currently, voters cast one vote for their preferred candidate for Governor and a separate vote for their preferred candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Under this measure, if approved, candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor from the same party will run together on a single ticket and voters will cast one vote for their preferred ticket.

The measure requires the Legislature to establish procedures for the joint nomination and election of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. If passed, this new election format will be used beginning in the 2026 general election cycle.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES. AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO.

Secretary of State Documents PDF

SQ 800

This measure would create a new fund called "The Oklahoma Vision Fund" in the Oklahoma Constitution. Money could be appropriated to the Fund. Beginning July 1, 2020, five percent (5%) of gross production taxes on both oil and gas would be deposited into the Fund. After that fiscal year, the percentage would increase by two-tenths percentage points each year. Other monies could be deposited into the Fund if provided by law. The State Treasurer would deposit four percent (4%) of the principal amount of the Fund into the State General Revenue Fund each year. The Fund would be subject to an investment standard known as the prudent investor rule. The Fund could be invested in stocks and similar securities. Not more than five percent (5%) of the monies in the Fund could be used for payment of debt obligations issued by the State of Oklahoma, state government entities or local government entities.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES. AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO.

Secretary of State Documents PDF

SQ 801

This measure amends Section 10 of Article 10 of the Oklahoma Constitution. It expands the uses permitted for certain ad valorem taxes levied by a school district. Currently, tax revenue is placed in a building fund. The fund is changed to allow use for operations. The operations would be those deemed necessary by a school district.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES. AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO.

Secretary of State Documents PDF

More Information

 

I'm researching these right now and should have a new Blog Oklahoma Podcast episode out about them later this month. - K.