Chapter 281 Oregon Laws 2005

AN ACT

HB 2926

Relating to consolidation of soil and water conservation districts; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 568.450.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 568.450 is amended to read:

568.450. (1) Proceedings to consolidate two or more soil and water conservation districts may be initiated by:

(a) Petitions to consolidate filed with the State Department of Agriculture by any 25 or more owners of land within the districts affected; or

(b) Resolutions to consolidate adopted by the board of directors of each district to be affected by the consolidation and filed with the department.

(2) If consolidation is initiated as provided in this section, proceedings on the resolutions or petitions shall be as provided for proceedings to organize a district except as otherwise provided by this section and ORS 568.460, 568.470 and 568.545.

(3) A referendum on the consolidation shall be called by the department:

(a) If, at the hearing called by the department on the proposed consolidation or within 30 days after the hearing, written objections to the consolidation are filed with the department by 10 percent of the landowners in any one of the consolidating districts [or 10 landowners of any such district, whichever is less].

(b) Even if no objections are filed with the department as provided in this subsection, unless within 60 days following the hearing the board of each consolidated district, by a two-thirds vote, approves the consolidation and the boundaries of the consolidated district as approved by the department.

(4) The department shall prescribe the form for petitions to consolidate which shall contain the information necessary to the proceedings and be similar to the form prescribed in ORS 568.300 for petitions to organize a district.

SECTION 2. The amendments to ORS 568.450 by section 1 of this 2005 Act apply to proceedings to consolidate soil and water conservation districts commenced on or after the effective date of this 2005 Act.

Approved by the Governor June 20, 2005

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 21, 2005

Effective date January 1, 2006

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