Whenever a petition, signed by at least fifteen per centum (15%) of the qualified electors of any municipality as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the then next preceding general election, held for the election of all of the members of the General Assembly in such municipality, shall be presented to the governing board or body thereof, requesting a referendum on any proposed questions as to whether the hours between which the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail may be made in such municipality on week days, Sundays, either or both, shall be fixed as provided in such petition, which questions shall be specifically and separately set forth in the petition, such governing board or body shall adopt forthwith a resolution directing the clerk of the county in which such municipality is situated to print such question or questions stated in the petition pursuant to Title 19, Elections, hereinafter referred to as the “general election law,” upon the official ballot to be used in such municipality at the next ensuing general election. Thereupon the clerk or secretary of such governing board or body shall forthwith deliver to such county clerk a certified copy of such resolution. If such copy shall be delivered to such county clerk not less than thirty days before such general election, he shall cause such question or questions to be printed in an appropriate place on the ballot to be used in such municipality at the next ensuing general election, pursuant to the general election law, and shall cause to be printed on the ballot immediately below the printed question or questions the following:

“Explanatory Statement–A “Yes’ is a vote to permit sales only within the hours set forth in the question or questions printed above. A “No’ vote is a vote against changing the hours during which sales of alcoholic beverages are now permitted in this municipality,” and thereupon all proceedings with respect to the referendum on such question or questions shall be subject to and governed by the general election law as in other cases of the submission of public questions to the electorate.

If a majority of the legal voters shall vote affirmatively on the question of whether the hours of sale shall be fixed in the manner set forth in such question or questions, the clerk of the governing board or body of such municipality shall forthwith in writing notify the commissioner and municipal board, if any, of the action taken by the legal voters of such municipality and thereafter the retail sale of alcoholic beverages may be made only within the hours fixed by such referendum. Such sale at any other time within such municipality shall be unlawful and constitute a violation of this chapter.

If a majority of legal voters voting upon such question or questions shall vote in the negative on the question of whether the hours of sale shall be fixed in the manner set forth in such question or questions, the clerk of the governing board or body of such municipality shall forthwith in writing notify the commissioner and municipal board, if any, of the action taken by the legal voters of such municipality and thereafter the hours between which the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail may be made may be regulated as theretofore in such municipality.

No petition under this section shall be received by the governing board or body while any other petition covering the same subject matter which has theretofore been presented hereunder has not been voted upon.

Whenever a referendum shall have been had in any municipality pursuant to this section, no further referendum on the same question shall be held therein prior to the general election to be held in such municipality in the fifth year thereafter and so long as such referendum remains effective, all ordinances, resolutions or regulations inconsistent with the result of such referendum shall have no effect within such municipality.

Amended by L.1945, c. 259, p. 786, s. 1; L.1948, c. 20, p. 79, s. 5; L.1949, c. 296, p. 905, s. 5.