UT
Utah Senate Bill SB0053

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah Senate Bill SB0053 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1+01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
22 1
33 Election Code Amendments
44 2025 GENERAL SESSION
55 STATE OF UTAH
66 Chief Sponsor: Calvin R. Musselman
7-House Sponsor: Stephanie Gricius
87 2
98
109 3
1110 LONG TITLE
1211 4
12+Committee Note:
13+5
14+The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.
15+6 Legislative Vote:10 voting for0 voting against6 absent
16+7
1317 General Description:
14-5
18+8
1519 This bill amends the Election Code and related provisions.
16-6
20+9
1721 Highlighted Provisions:
18-7
22+10
1923 This bill:
20-8
24+11
2125 ▸ standardizes language related to a voter who, after signing a petition, seeks to remove the
22-9
26+12
2327 voter's signature from the petition;
24-10
28+13
2529 ▸ reduces the amount of time that the sponsors of a petition for incorporation that passes
26-11
30+14
2731 have to determine certain features of the new municipal government from 60 to 30 days;
28-12
32+15
2933 ▸ clarifies the deadline for a candidate for mayor or municipal council of a newly
30-13
34+16
3135 incorporating municipality to file a declaration of candidacy;
32-14
36+17
3337 ▸ clarifies that the county clerk determines whether to remove a voter's signature from a
34-15
38+18
3539 petition for incorporation of a municipality;
36-16
40+19
3741 ▸ repeals the in-state residency requirement for a signature-gatherer who circulates a
38-17
42+20
3943 petition on behalf of:
40-18
44+21
4145 ● an organization of registered voters seeking to become a registered political party; or
42-19
46+22
4347 ● a candidate for elective office seeking the nomination of a registered or qualified
44-20
48+23
4549 political party;
46-21
50+24
4751 ▸ repeals provisions related to the in-state residency requirement described above;
48-22
52+25
4953 ▸ for a regular primary or presidential primary election, or for certain regular general or
50-23
54+26
5155 statewide special elections, requires a board of canvassers to immediately transmit to the
52-24
56+27
5357 lieutenant governor certain vote total information;
54-25
58+28
5559 ▸ eliminates the requirement that a board of canvassers make the transmission described
56-26
60+29
5761 above by telephone, fax, or mail;
58-27
59-▸ establishes a process for a voter who signs a petition on behalf of a candidate for elective S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
60-28
61-office seeking the nomination of a registered political party to have the voter's signature
62-29
62+30
63+▸ establishes a process for a voter who signs a petition on behalf of a candidate for elective
64+31
65+office seeking the nomination of a registered political party to have the voter's signature S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
66+32
6367 removed from the petition; and
64-30
68+33
6569 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
66-31
70+34
6771 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
68-32
72+35
6973 None
70-33
74+36
7175 Other Special Clauses:
72-34
76+37
7377 None
74-35
78+38
7579 Utah Code Sections Affected:
76-36
80+39
7781 AMENDS:
78-37
82+40
7983 10-2a-208, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 116, 224 and last amended
80-38
84+41
8185 by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
82-39
86+42
8387 10-2a-213, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 224, 435 and last amended
84-40
88+43
8589 by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 224 and further amended by Revisor
86-41
90+44
8791 Instructions, Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 224
88-42
92+45
8993 10-2a-214, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 224, 435
90-43
94+46
9195 17B-1-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 388
92-44
96+47
9397 17B-1-506, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 388
94-45
98+48
9599 17B-1-1305, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 15, 116
96-46
100+49
97101 20A-4-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 503
98-47
102+50
99103 20A-8-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
100-48
104+51
101105 20A-9-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 465
102-49
106+52
103107 20A-9-405, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 325
104-50
108+53
105109 20A-9-408, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
106-51
110+54
107111 53G-3-301.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Third Special Session, Chapter 3
108-52
112+55
109113
110-53
114+56
111115 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
112-54
116+57
113117 Section 1. Section 10-2a-208 is amended to read:
114-55
118+58
115119 10-2a-208 . Petition for incorporation -- Requirements and form -- Removal of
116-56
120+59
117121 signature.
118-57
122+60
119123 (1) At any time within one year after the day on which the county clerk completes the
120-58
124+61
121125 public hearings required under Section 10-2a-207, individuals within the proposed
122-59
126+62
123127 municipality may proceed with the incorporation process by circulating, and submitting
124-60
128+63
125129 to the county clerk, a petition for incorporation that, to be certified under Subsection
126-61
130+64
127131 10-2a-209(1)(b)(i), is required to be signed by:
128-- 2 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
129-62
132+65
130133 (a) 10% of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated as a
131-63
134+- 2 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
135+66
132136 municipality, as of the day on which the petition for incorporation is filed;
133-64
137+67
134138 (b) if the petition for incorporation proposes the incorporation of a city, and subject to
135-65
139+68
136140 Subsection (5), 10% of all registered voters within 90% of the voting precincts within
137-66
141+69
138142 the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, as of the day on which the petition for
139-67
143+70
140144 incorporation is filed; and
141-68
145+71
142146 (c) the owners of private real property that:
143-69
147+72
144148 (i) is located within the proposed municipality;
145-70
149+73
146150 (ii) covers at least 10% of the total private land area within the proposed
147-71
151+74
148152 municipality; and
149-72
153+75
150154 (iii) on January 1 of the current year, was equal in assessed fair market value to at
151-73
155+76
152156 least 7% of the assessed fair market value of all private real property within the
153-74
157+77
154158 proposed municipality.
155-75
159+78
156160 (2) The petition for incorporation shall:
157-76
161+79
158162 (a) include the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter who
159-77
163+80
160164 signs the petition for incorporation;
161-78
165+81
162166 (b) describe the area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality, as described in the
163-79
167+82
164168 feasibility request or the modified feasibility request that complies with Subsection
165-80
169+83
166170 10-2a-205(5)(a);
167-81
171+84
168172 (c) state the proposed name for the proposed municipality;
169-82
173+85
170174 (d) designate five signers of the petition for incorporation as petition sponsors, one of
171-83
175+86
172176 whom is designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone
173-84
177+87
174178 number of each;
175-85
179+88
176180 (e) if the sponsors propose the incorporation of a city, state that the signers of the
177-86
181+89
178182 petition for incorporation appoint the sponsors, if the incorporation measure passes,
179-87
183+90
180184 to represent the signers in:
181-88
185+91
182186 (i) selecting the number of commission or council members the new city will have;
183-89
187+92
184188 and
185-90
189+93
186190 (ii) drawing district boundaries for the election of council members, if the voters
187-91
191+94
188192 decide to elect council members by district;
189-92
193+95
190194 (f) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate plat or map, prepared by a
191-93
195+96
192196 licensed surveyor, showing the boundaries of the proposed municipality; and
193-94 (g) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
194-95
197+97 (g) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
198+98
195199 PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
196-- 3 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
197-96
200+99
198201 municipality)
199-97
202+- 3 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
203+100
200204 To the Honorable Lieutenant Governor and the [name of county legislative body]:
201-98
205+101
202206 We, the undersigned registered voters within the area described in this petition for
203-99
207+102
204208 incorporation, respectfully petition the lieutenant governor and the county legislative body to
205-100
209+103
206210 submit to the registered voters residing within the area described in this petition for
207-101
211+104
208212 incorporation, at the next regular general election, the question of whether the area should
209-102
213+105
210214 incorporate as a municipality. Each of the undersigned affirms that each has personally signed
211-103
215+106
212216 this petition for incorporation and is a registered voter who resides within the described area,
213-104
217+107
214218 and that the current residence address of each is correctly written after the signer's name. The
215-105
219+108
216220 area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality is described as follows:[insert an accurate
217-106
221+109
218222 description of the area proposed to be incorporated].
219-107
223+110
220224 (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a valid signature on a feasibility request
221-108
225+111
222226 described in Section 10-2a-202 or a modified feasibility request described in Section
223-109
227+112
224228 10-2a-206 may be used toward fulfilling the signature requirement described in
225-110
229+113
226230 Subsection (1) if the feasibility request notified the signer in conspicuous language
227-111
231+114
228232 that the signature, unless [withdrawn] removed, would also be used for a petition for
229-112
233+115
230234 incorporation under this section.
231-113
235+116
232236 (b) A signature described in Subsection (3)(a) may not be used toward fulfilling the
233-114
237+117
234238 signature requirement described in Subsection (1) if the signer files with the county
235-115
239+118
236240 clerk a written [withdrawal] statement requesting removal of the signature before the
237-116
241+119
238242 petition for incorporation is filed with the county clerk under this section.
239-117
243+120
240244 (4)(a) A voter who signs a petition for incorporation may have the voter's signature
241-118
245+121
242246 removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
243-119
247+122
244248 which the petition for incorporation is submitted to the county clerk, submitting to
245-120
249+123
246250 the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
247-121
251+124
248252 (b) A statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall comply with the requirements
249-122
253+125
250254 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
251-123
255+126
252256 [(c) The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
253-124
257+127
254258 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
255-125
259+128
256260 petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.]
257-126
261+129
258262 [(d)] (c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3)
259-127
263+130
260264 to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition for
261-128
265+131
262266 incorporation after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the
263-129
267+132
264268 signature.
265-- 4 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
266-130
269+133
267270 (5)(a) A signature does not qualify under Subsection (1)(b) if the signature is gathered
268-131
271+- 4 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
272+134
269273 from a voting precinct that:
270-132
274+135
271275 (i) except in a proposed municipality that will be a city of the fifth class, is not
272-133
276+136
273277 located entirely within the boundaries of a proposed city; or
274-134
278+137
275279 (ii) includes less than 50 registered voters.
276-135
280+138
277281 (b) A voting precinct that is not located entirely within the boundaries of the proposed
278-136
282+139
279283 city does not qualify as a voting precinct under Subsection (1)(b).
280-137
284+140
281285 Section 2. Section 10-2a-213 is amended to read:
282-138
286+141
283287 10-2a-213 . Determination of number of council members -- Determination of
284-139
288+142
285289 election districts -- Hearings and notice.
286-140
290+143
287291 (1) If the incorporation proposal passes, the sponsors of the petition for incorporation shall,
288-141
292+144
289293 within [60] 30 days after the day on which the county conducts the canvass of the
290-142
294+145
291295 election under Section 10-2a-212:
292-143
296+146
293297 (a) for the incorporation of a city:
294-144
298+147
295299 (i) if the voters at the incorporation election choose the council-mayor form of
296-145
300+148
297301 government, determine the number of council members that will constitute the
298-146
302+149
299303 city council of the city; and
300-147
304+150
301305 (ii) if the voters at the incorporation election vote to elect council members by
302-148
306+151
303307 district, determine the number of council members to be elected by district and
304-149
308+152
305309 draw the boundaries of those districts, which shall be substantially equal in
306-150
310+153
307311 population; and
308-151
312+154
309313 (b) for the incorporation of any municipality:
310-152
314+155
311315 (i) determine the initial terms of the mayor and members of the municipal council so
312-153
316+156
313317 that:
314-154
318+157
315319 (A) the mayor and approximately half the members of the municipal council are
316-155
320+158
317321 elected to serve an initial term, of no less than one year, that allows the mayor's
318-156
322+159
319323 and members' successors to serve a full four-year term that coincides with the
320-157
324+160
321325 schedule established in Subsection 10-3-205(1); and
322-158
326+161
323327 (B) the remaining members of the municipal council are elected to serve an initial
324-159
328+162
325329 term, of no less than one year, that allows the members' successors to serve a
326-160
330+163
327331 full four-year term that coincides with the schedule established in Subsection
328-161
332+164
329333 10-3-205(2); and
330-162
334+165
331335 (ii) submit in writing to the county legislative body the results of the determinations
332-163
336+166
333337 made by the sponsors under Subsections (1)(a) and (b)(i).
334-- 5 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
335-164
338+167
336339 (2) A newly incorporated town shall operate under the five-member council form of
337-165
340+- 5 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
341+168
338342 government as defined in Section 10-3b-102.
339-166
343+169
340344 (3) Before making a determination under Subsection (1)(a) or (b)(i), the sponsors of the
341-167
345+170
342346 petition for incorporation shall, under the direction of the county clerk, hold a public
343-168
347+171
344348 hearing within the future municipality on the applicable issues described in Subsections
345-169
349+172
346350 (1)(a) and (b)(i).
347-170
351+173
348352 (4) Notice of the public hearing described in Subsection (3) shall be provided as follows:
349-171
353+174
350354 (a) the county clerk shall provide notice for the future municipality, as a class B notice
351-172
355+175
352356 under Section 63G-30-102, for at least two weeks before the day of the public
353-173
357+176
354358 hearing; and
355-174
359+177
356360 (b) if the future municipality has a website, the sponsors of the petition for incorporation
357-175
361+178
358362 shall post notice on the future municipality's website for at least two weeks before the
359-176
363+179
360364 day of the public hearing.
361-177
365+180
362366 (5) The county clerk may bill the petition sponsors for the cost of preparing, printing, and
363-178
367+181
364368 publishing the notice described in Subsection (4).
365-179
369+182
366370 Section 3. Section 10-2a-214 is amended to read:
367-180
371+183
368372 10-2a-214 . Notice of number of commission or council members to be elected
369-181
373+184
370374 and of district boundaries -- Declaration of candidacy for municipal office.
371-182
375+185
372376 (1) Within 20 days after the day on which a county legislative body receives the
373-183
377+186
374378 determination described in Subsection 10-2a-213(1)(b)(ii), the county clerk shall provide
375-184
379+187
376380 a notice, in accordance with Subsection (2), containing:
377-185
381+188
378382 (a) the number of municipal council members to be elected for the new municipality;
379-186
383+189
380384 (b) except as provided in Subsection (3), if some or all of the municipal council
381-187
385+190
382386 members are to be elected by district, a description of the boundaries of those
383-188
387+191
384388 districts;
385-189
389+192
386390 (c) information about the deadline for an individual to file a declaration of candidacy to
387-190
391+193
388392 become a candidate for mayor or municipal council; and
389-191
393+194
390394 (d) information about the length of the initial term of each of the municipal officers.
391-192
395+195
392396 (2) The county clerk shall provide the notice described in Subsection (1) for the future
393-193
397+196
394398 municipality, as a class B notice under Section 63G-30-102, for two weeks.
395-194
399+197
396400 (3) Instead of including a description of the district boundaries under Subsection (1)(b), the
397-195
401+198
398402 notice may include a statement that specifies the following sources where a resident of
399-196
403+199
400404 the future municipality may view or obtain a copy of the district boundaries:
401-197
405+200
402406 (a) the county website;
403-- 6 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
404-198
407+201
405408 (b) the physical address of the county clerk's office; and
406-199
409+- 6 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
410+202
407411 (c) a mailing address and telephone number.
408-200
412+203
409413 [(4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-203(3)(a), each individual seeking to become a
410-201
414+204
411415 candidate for mayor or municipal council of a municipality incorporating under this part
412-202
416+205
413417 shall file a declaration of candidacy with the clerk of the county in which the future
414-203
418+206
415419 municipality is located and in accordance with:]
416-204
420+207
417421 [(a) for an incorporation held on the date of a regular general election, the deadlines for
418-205
422+208
419423 filing a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202; or]
420-206
424+209
421425 [(b) for an incorporation held on the date of a municipal general election, the deadlines
422-207
426+210
423427 for filing a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-203.]
424-208
428+211
425429 (4) Each individual seeking to become a candidate for mayor or municipal council of a
426-209
430+212
427431 municipality incorporating under this part shall, in the year in which a final election
428-210
432+213
429433 described in Section 10-2a-215 is held, file a declaration of candidacy with the clerk of
430-211
434+214
431435 the county in which the future municipality is located and in accordance with:
432-212
436+215
433437 (a) for an election of officers of a new municipality held on the date of a regular general
434-213
438+216
435439 election, the deadlines for filing a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202;
436-214
440+217
437441 or
438-215
442+218
439443 (b) for an election of officers of a new municipality held on the date of a municipal
440-216
444+219
441445 general election, the deadlines for filing a declaration of candidacy under Section
442-217
446+220
443447 20A-9-203.
444-218
448+221
445449 Section 4. Section 17B-1-205 is amended to read:
446-219
450+222
447451 17B-1-205 . Petition and request requirements -- Removal or reinstatement of
448-220
452+223
449453 signature.
450-221
454+224
451455 (1) Each petition and request shall:
452-222
456+225
453457 (a) indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each property
454-223
458+226
455459 owner, groundwater right owner, or registered voter signing the petition;
456-224
460+227
457461 (b)(i) if it is a property owner request or petition, indicate the address of the property
458-225
462+228
459463 as to which the owner is signing the request or petition; or
460-226
464+229
461465 (ii) if it is a groundwater right owner request or petition, indicate the location of the
462-227
466+230
463467 diversion of the groundwater as to which the owner is signing the groundwater
464-228
468+231
465469 right owner request or petition;
466-229
470+232
467471 (c) describe the entire area of the proposed special district;
468-230
472+233
469473 (d) be accompanied by a map showing the boundaries of the entire proposed special
470-231
474+234
471475 district;
472-- 7 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
473-232
476+235
474477 (e) specify the service proposed to be provided by the proposed special district;
475-233
478+- 7 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
479+236
476480 (f) if the petition or request proposes the creation of a specialized special district, specify
477-234
481+237
478482 the type of specialized special district proposed to be created;
479-235
483+238
480484 (g) for a proposed basic special district:
481-236
485+239
482486 (i) state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
483-237
487+240
484488 whether some members will be elected and some appointed, as provided in
485-238
489+241
486490 Section 17B-1-1402;
487-239
491+242
488492 (ii) if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
489-240
493+243
490494 member will be elected; and
491-241
495+244
492496 (iii) if applicable, explain how the election or appointment of board members will
493-242
497+245
494498 transition from one method to another based on stated milestones or events, as
495-243
499+246
496500 provided in Section 17B-1-1402;
497-244
501+247
498502 (h) for a proposed improvement district whose remaining area members or county
499-245
503+248
500504 members, as those terms are defined in Section 17B-2a-404, are to be elected, state
501-246
505+249
502506 that those members will be elected;
503-247
507+250
504508 (i) for a proposed service area that is entirely within the unincorporated area of a single
505-248
509+251
506510 county, state whether the initial board of trustees will be:
507-249
511+252
508512 (i) the county legislative body;
509-250
513+253
510514 (ii) appointed as provided in Section 17B-1-304; or
511-251
515+254
512516 (iii) elected as provided in Section 17B-1-306;
513-252
517+255
514518 (j) designate up to five signers of the petition or request as sponsors, one of whom shall
515-253
519+256
516520 be designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number
517-254
521+257
518522 of each;
519-255
523+258
520524 (k) if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
521-256
525+259
522526 the creation of a special district to acquire a groundwater right under Section
523-257
527+260
524528 17B-1-202, explain the anticipated method:
525-258
529+261
526530 (i) of paying for the groundwater right acquisition; and
527-259
531+262
528532 (ii) of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water;
529-260
533+263
530534 (l) if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
531-261
535+264
532536 the creation of a special district to assess a groundwater right under Section
533-262
537+265
534538 17B-1-202, explain the anticipated method:
535-263
539+266
536540 (i) of assessing the groundwater right and securing payment of the assessment; and
537-264
541+267
538542 (ii) of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water; and
539-265
543+268
540544 (m) for a proposed infrastructure financing district:
541-- 8 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
542-266
545+269
543546 (i) state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
544-267
547+- 8 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
548+270
545549 whether some members will be elected and some appointed;
546-268
550+271
547551 (ii) if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
548-269
552+272
549553 member will be elected;
550-270
554+273
551555 (iii) explain how appointed board member positions will transition to elected board
552-271
556+274
553557 member positions based on stated milestones or events, as provided in Section
554-272
558+275
555559 17B-2a-1303;
556-273
560+276
557561 (iv) state whether divisions will be established within the boundary of the
558-274
562+277
559563 infrastructure financing district so that some or all board members represent a
560-275
564+278
561565 division rather than the district at large and, if so, describe the boundary of each
562-276
566+279
563567 division; and
564-277
568+280
565569 (v) if applicable, be accompanied by the governing document prepared according to
566-278
570+281
567571 Section 17B-2a-1303.
568-279
572+282
569573 (2)(a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), a signer of a request or petition may [withdraw]
570-280
574+283
571575 remove or, once [withdrawn] removed, reinstate the signer's signature at any time
572-281
576+284
573577 before the filing of the request or petition by filing a written [withdrawal or
574-282
578+285
575579 reinstatement] statement for removal or reinstatement with:
576-283
580+286
577581 (i) in the case of a request:
578-284
582+287
579583 (A) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
580-285
584+288
581585 applicable area the signer's property is located, if the request is a property
582-286
586+289
583587 owner request;
584-287
588+290
585589 (B) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
586-288
590+291
587591 applicable area the signer's groundwater diversion point is located, if the
588-289
592+292
589593 request is a groundwater right owner request; or
590-290
594+293
591595 (C) the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
592-291
596+294
593597 applicable area the signer resides, if the request is a registered voter request; or
594-292
598+295
595599 (ii) in the case of a petition, the responsible clerk.
596-293
600+296
597601 (b) The time for a signer of a petition for the creation of an infrastructure financing
598-294
602+297
599603 district to [withdraw] remove or reinstate the signer's signature is any time before the
600-295
604+298
601605 petition is certified under Section 17B-1-209.
602-296
606+299
603607 (3)(a) A clerk of the county who receives a timely, valid written [withdrawal or
604-297
608+300
605609 reinstatement] statement for removal or reinstatement from a signer of a registered
606-298
610+301
607611 voter request or registered voter petition shall use the procedures described in
608-299
612+302
609613 Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove or reinstate the
610-- 9 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
611-300
614+303
612615 individual's signature.
613-301
616+- 9 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
617+304
614618 (b) If a municipal clerk or recorder receives a timely, valid written [withdrawal or
615-302
619+305
616620 reinstatement] statement for removal or reinstatement from a signer of a registered
617-303
621+306
618622 voter request or registered voter petition, the clerk of the municipality's county shall
619-304
623+307
620624 assist the municipal clerk or recorder with determining whether to remove or
621-305
625+308
622626 reinstate the individual's signature using the procedures described in Subsection
623-306
627+309
624628 20A-1-1003(3).
625-307
629+310
626630 Section 5. Section 17B-1-506 is amended to read:
627-308
631+311
628632 17B-1-506 . Withdrawal petition requirements -- Removal or reinstatement of
629-309
633+312
630634 signature.
631-310
635+313
632636 (1) Each petition under Section 17B-1-504 shall:
633-311
637+314
634638 (a) indicate the typed or printed name and current address of each owner of acre-feet of
635-312
639+315
636640 water, property owner, registered voter, or authorized representative of the governing
637-313
641+316
638642 body signing the petition;
639-314
643+317
640644 (b) separately group signatures by municipality and, in the case of unincorporated areas,
641-315
645+318
642646 by county;
643-316
647+319
644648 (c) if it is a petition signed by the owners of land, the assessment of which is based on
645-317
649+320
646650 acre-feet of water, indicate the address of the property and the property tax
647-318
651+321
648652 identification parcel number of the property as to which the owner is signing the
649-319
653+322
650654 request;
651-320
655+323
652656 (d) designate up to three signers of the petition as sponsors, or in the case of a petition
653-321
657+324
654658 filed under Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv), designate a governmental representative
655-322
659+325
656660 as a sponsor, and in each case, designate one sponsor as the contact sponsor with the
657-323
661+326
658662 mailing address and telephone number of each;
659-324
663+327
660664 (e) state the reasons for withdrawal; and
661-325
665+328
662666 (f) when the petition is filed with the special district board of trustees, be accompanied
663-326
667+329
664668 by a map generally depicting the boundaries of the area proposed to be withdrawn
665-327
669+330
666670 and a legal description of the area proposed to be withdrawn.
667-328
671+331
668672 (2)(a) The special district may prepare an itemized list of expenses, other than attorney
669-329
673+332
670674 expenses, that will necessarily be incurred by the special district in the withdrawal
671-330
675+333
672676 proceeding. The itemized list of expenses may be submitted to the contact sponsor.
673-331
677+334
674678 If the list of expenses is submitted to the contact sponsor within 21 days after receipt
675-332
679+335
676680 of the petition, the contact sponsor on behalf of the petitioners shall be required to
677-333
681+336
678682 pay the expenses to the special district within 90 days of receipt. Until funds to cover
679-- 10 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
680-334
683+337
681684 the expenses are delivered to the special district, the district will have no obligation to
682-335
685+- 10 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
686+338
683687 proceed with the withdrawal and the time limits on the district stated in this part will
684-336
688+339
685689 be tolled. If the expenses are not paid within the 90 days, or within 90 days from the
686-337
690+340
687691 conclusion of any arbitration under Subsection (2)(b), the petition requesting the
688-338
692+341
689693 withdrawal shall be considered to have been withdrawn.
690-339
694+342
691695 (b) If there is no agreement between the board of trustees of the special district and the
692-340
696+343
693697 contact sponsor on the amount of expenses that will necessarily be incurred by the
694-341
698+344
695699 special district in the withdrawal proceeding, either the board of trustees or the
696-342
700+345
697701 contact sponsor may submit the matter to binding arbitration in accordance with Title
698-343
702+346
699703 78B, Chapter 6, Part 2, Alternative Dispute Resolution Act; provided that, if the
700-344
704+347
701705 parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator and the rules and procedures that will control
702-345
706+348
703707 the arbitration, either party may pursue arbitration under Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah
704-346
708+349
705709 Uniform Arbitration Act.
706-347
710+350
707711 (3)(a) A signer of a petition may [withdraw] remove or, once [withdrawn] removed,
708-348
712+351
709713 reinstate the signer's signature at any time before the public hearing under Section
710-349
714+352
711715 17B-1-508 by submitting a written statement requesting [withdrawal] removal or
712-350
716+353
713717 reinstatement with the board of trustees of the special district in which the area
714-351
718+354
715719 proposed to be withdrawn is located.
716-352
720+355
717721 (b) A statement described in Subsection (3)(a) shall comply with the requirements
718-353
722+356
719723 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
720-354
724+357
721725 (c) As applicable and using the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the
722-355
726+358
723727 county clerk shall assist the board of trustees to determine whether to remove or
724-356
728+359
725729 reinstate a registered voter's signature after the voter submits a timely, valid statement
726-357
730+360
727731 described in Subsection (3)(a).
728-358
732+361
729733 (4) If it reasonably appears that, if the withdrawal which is the subject of a petition filed
730-359
734+362
731735 under Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(i) or (ii) is granted, it will be necessary for a
732-360
736+363
733737 municipality to provide to the withdrawn area the service previously supplied by the
734-361
738+364
735739 special district, the board of trustees of the special district may, within 21 days after
736-362
740+365
737741 receiving the petition, notify the contact sponsor in writing that, before it will be
738-363
742+366
739743 considered by the board of trustees, the petition shall be presented to and approved by
740-364
744+367
741745 the governing body of the municipality as provided in Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv)
742-365
746+368
743747 before it will be considered by the special district board of trustees. If the notice is
744-366
748+369
745749 timely given to the contact sponsor, the petition shall be considered to have been
746-367
750+370
747751 withdrawn until the municipality files a petition with the special district under
748-- 11 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
749-368
752+371
750753 Subsection 17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv).
751-369
754+- 11 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
755+372
752756 (5)(a) After receiving the notice required by Subsection 17B-1-504(2), unless
753-370
757+373
754758 specifically allowed by law, a public entity may not make expenditures from public
755-371
759+374
756760 funds to support or oppose the gathering of signatures on a petition for withdrawal.
757-372
761+375
758762 (b) Nothing in this section prohibits a public entity from providing factual information
759-373
763+376
760764 and analysis regarding a withdrawal petition to the public, so long as the information
761-374
765+377
762766 grants equal access to both the opponents and proponents of the petition for
763-375
767+378
764768 withdrawal.
765-376
769+379
766770 (c) Nothing in this section prohibits a public official from speaking, campaigning,
767-377
771+380
768772 contributing personal money, or otherwise exercising the public official's
769-378
773+381
770774 constitutional rights.
771-379
775+382
772776 (6) Subsections (2), (3), (4), and (5) do not apply to a petition seeking the withdrawal of an
773-380
777+383
774778 area from an infrastructure financing district.
775-381
779+384
776780 Section 6. Section 17B-1-1305 is amended to read:
777-382
781+385
778782 17B-1-1305 . Petition certification -- Removal or reinstatement of signature.
779-383
783+386
780784 (1) Within 30 days after the filing of a petition under Subsection 17B-1-1303(1)(a) or (2),
781-384
785+387
782786 the clerk shall:
783-385
787+388
784788 (a) with the assistance of officers of the county in which the special district is located
785-386
789+389
786790 from whom the clerk requests assistance, determine whether the petition meets the
787-387
791+390
788792 requirements of Section 17B-1-1303 and Subsection 17B-1-1304(1); and
789-388
793+391
790794 (b)(i) if the clerk determines that the petition complies with the requirements, certify
791-389
795+392
792796 the petition and mail or deliver written notification of the certification to the
793-390
797+393
794798 contact sponsor; or
795-391
799+394
796800 (ii) if the clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of the
797-392
801+395
798802 requirements, reject the petition and mail or deliver written notification of the
799-393
803+396
800804 rejection and the reasons for the rejection to the contact sponsor.
801-394
805+397
802806 (2) For a registered voter petition, the county clerk shall determine or shall assist a board of
803-395
807+398
804808 trustees or municipal clerk or recorder with determining whether a signer is a registered
805-396
809+399
806810 voter using the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002.
807-397
811+400
808812 (3)(a) If the clerk rejects a petition under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), the petition may be
809-398
813+401
810814 amended to correct the deficiencies for which it was rejected and then refiled.
811-399
815+402
812816 (b) A valid signature on a petition that was rejected under Subsection (1)(b)(ii) may be
813-400
817+403
814818 used toward fulfilling the applicable signature requirement of the petition as amended
815-401
819+404
816820 under Subsection (3)(a).
817-- 12 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
818-402
821+405
819822 (4) The clerk shall process an amended petition filed under Subsection (3)(a) in the same
820-403
823+- 12 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
824+406
821825 manner as an original petition under Subsection (1).
822-404
826+407
823827 (5)(a) A signer of a petition may [withdraw] remove or, once [withdrawn] removed,
824-405
828+408
825829 reinstate the signer's signature at any time before the public hearing under Section
826-406
830+409
827831 17B-1-1306 by submitting a written statement requesting [withdrawal] removal or
828-407
832+410
829833 reinstatement with the clerk.
830-408
834+411
831835 (b) For a registered voter petition:
832-409
836+412
833837 (i) a statement described in Subsection (5)(a) shall comply with the requirements
834-410
838+413
835839 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2); and
836-411
840+414
837841 (ii) the county clerk shall determine or shall assist a board of trustees or municipal
838-412
842+415
839843 clerk or recorder with determining whether to remove or reinstate the signer's
840-413
844+416
841845 signature using the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3).
842-414
846+417
843847 Section 7. Section 20A-4-304 is amended to read:
844-415
848+418
845849 20A-4-304 . Declaration of results -- Canvassers' report.
846-416
850+419
847851 (1)(a) Except as provided in Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, a
848-417
852+420
849853 board of canvassers shall declare "elected" or "nominated" those persons who:
850-418
854+421
851855 (i) had the highest number of votes; and
852-419
856+422
853857 (ii) sought election or nomination to an office completely within the board's
854-420
858+423
855859 jurisdiction.
856-421
860+424
857861 (b) Except as provided in Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, a
858-422
862+425
859863 board of canvassers shall declare a "tie vote" if:
860-423
864+426
861865 (i) two or more candidates for an office receive an equal and the highest number of
862-424
866+427
863867 votes for that office; or
864-425
868+428
865869 (ii) in a race for an at-large office:
866-426
870+429
867871 (A) two or more candidates receive an equal number of votes; and
868-427
872+430
869873 (B) a recount is necessary to determine which candidates are elected to the at-large
870-428
874+431
871875 office.
872-429
876+432
873877 (c) A board of canvassers shall declare:
874-430
878+433
875879 (i) "approved" those ballot propositions that:
876-431
880+434
877881 (A) had more "yes" votes than "no" votes; and
878-432
882+435
879883 (B) were submitted only to the voters within the board's jurisdiction; or
880-433
884+436
881885 (ii) "rejected" those ballot propositions that:
882-434
886+437
883887 (A) had more "no" votes than "yes" votes or an equal number of "no" votes and
884-435
888+438
885889 "yes" votes; and
886-- 13 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
887-436
890+439
888891 (B) were submitted only to the voters within the board's jurisdiction.
889-437
892+- 13 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
893+440
890894 (d) A board of canvassers shall:
891-438
895+441
892896 (i) certify the vote totals for persons and for and against ballot propositions that were
893-439
897+442
894898 submitted to voters within and beyond the board's jurisdiction and transmit those
895-440
899+443
896900 vote totals to the lieutenant governor; and
897-441
901+444
898902 (ii) if applicable, certify the results of each special district election to the special
899-442
903+445
900904 district clerk.
901-443
905+446
902906 (2) The election officer shall submit a report to the board of canvassers that includes the
903-444
907+447
904908 following information:
905-445
909+448
906910 (a) the total number of votes cast in the board's jurisdiction;
907-446
911+449
908912 (b) the names of each candidate whose name appeared on the ballot;
909-447
913+450
910914 (c) the title of each ballot proposition that appeared on the ballot;
911-448
915+451
912916 (d) each office that appeared on the ballot;
913-449
917+452
914918 (e) from each voting precinct:
915-450
919+453
916920 (i) the number of votes for each candidate;
917-451
921+454
918922 (ii) for each race conducted by instant runoff voting under Part 6, Municipal
919-452
923+455
920924 Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, the number of valid votes cast for each
921-453
925+456
922926 candidate for each potential ballot-counting phase and the name of the candidate
923-454
927+457
924928 excluded in each ballot-counting phase; and
925-455
929+458
926930 (iii) the number of votes for and against each ballot proposition;
927-456
931+459
928932 (f) the total number of votes given in the board's jurisdiction to each candidate, and for
929-457
933+460
930934 and against each ballot proposition;
931-458
935+461
932936 (g) standardized statistics, on a form provided by the lieutenant governor, disclosing:
933-459
937+462
934938 (i) the number of ballots counted;
935-460
939+463
936940 (ii) provisional ballots; and
937-461
941+464
938942 (iii) the number of ballots rejected;
939-462
943+465
940944 (h) a final ballot reconciliation report;
941-463
945+466
942946 (i) other information required by law to be provided to the board of canvassers; and
943-464
947+467
944948 (j) a statement certifying that the information contained in the report is accurate.
945-465
949+468
946950 (3) The election officer and the board of canvassers shall:
947-466
951+469
948952 (a) review the report to ensure that the report is correct; and
949-467
953+470
950954 (b) sign the report.
951-468
955+471
952956 (4) The election officer shall:
953-469
957+472
954958 (a) record or file the certified report in a book kept for that purpose;
955-- 14 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
956-470
959+473
957960 (b) prepare and transmit a certificate of nomination or election under the officer's seal to
958-471
961+- 14 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
962+474
959963 each nominated or elected candidate;
960-472
964+475
961965 (c) publish a copy of the certified report in accordance with Subsection (5); and
962-473
966+476
963967 (d) file a copy of the certified report with the lieutenant governor.
964-474
968+477
965969 (5) Except as provided in Subsection (6), the election officer shall, no later than seven days
966-475
970+478
967971 after the day on which the board of canvassers declares the election results, publicize the
968-476
972+479
969973 certified report described in Subsection (2) for the jurisdiction, as a class A notice under
970-477
974+480
971975 Section 63G-30-102, for at least seven days.
972-478
976+481
973977 (6) Instead of including a copy of the entire certified report, a notice required under
974-479
978+482
975979 Subsection (5) may contain a statement that:
976-480
980+483
977981 (a) includes the following: "The Board of Canvassers for [indicate name of jurisdiction]
978-481
982+484
979983 has prepared a report of the election results for the [indicate type and date of
980-482
984+485
981985 election]."; and
982-483
986+486
983987 (b) specifies the following sources where an individual may view or obtain a copy of the
984-484
988+487
985989 entire certified report:
986-485
990+488
987991 (i) if the jurisdiction has a website, the jurisdiction's website;
988-486
992+489
989993 (ii) the physical address for the jurisdiction; and
990-487
994+490
991995 (iii) a mailing address and telephone number.
992-488
996+491
993997 (7) When there has been a regular general or a statewide special election for statewide
994-489
998+492
995999 officers, for officers that appear on the ballot in more than one county, or for a statewide
996-490
1000+493
9971001 or two or more county ballot proposition, each board of canvassers shall[:] , immediately
998-491
1002+494
9991003 upon adjournment of the board, transmit to the lieutenant governor a report detailing the
1000-492
1004+495
10011005 number of votes for each candidate and the number of votes for and against each ballot
1002-493
1006+496
10031007 proposition.
1004-494
1008+497
10051009 [(a) prepare a separate report detailing the number of votes for each candidate and the
1006-495
1010+498
10071011 number of votes for and against each ballot proposition; and]
1008-496
1012+499
10091013 [(b) transmit the separate report by registered mail to the lieutenant governor.]
1010-497
1014+500
10111015 (8) In each county election, municipal election, school election, special district election, and
1012-498
1016+501
10131017 local special election, the election officer shall transmit the reports to the lieutenant
1014-499
1018+502
10151019 governor within 14 days after the date of the election.
1016-500
1020+503
10171021 (9) In a regular primary election and in a presidential primary election, [the board shall
1018-501
1022+504
10191023 transmit to the lieutenant governor] the board of canvassers shall, immediately upon
1020-502
1024+505
10211025 adjournment of the board, transmit to the lieutenant governor:
1022-503
1026+506
10231027 (a) the county totals for multi-county races[, to be telephoned or faxed to the lieutenant
1024-- 15 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1025-504
1028+507
10261029 governor not later than the second Tuesday after the election]; and
1027-505
1030+- 15 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1031+508
10281032 (b) a complete tabulation showing voting totals for all primary races, precinct by precinct[
1029-506
1033+509
10301034 , to be mailed to the lieutenant governor on or before the third Friday following the
1031-507
1035+510
10321036 primary election].
1033-508
1037+511
10341038 Section 8. Section 20A-8-103 is amended to read:
1035-509
1039+512
10361040 20A-8-103 . Petition procedures -- Criminal penalty -- Removal of signature.
1037-510
1041+513
10381042 (1) As used in this section, the proposed name or emblem of a registered political party is
1039-511
1043+514
10401044 "distinguishable" if a reasonable person of average intelligence will be able to perceive a
1041-512
1045+515
10421046 difference between the proposed name or emblem and any name or emblem currently
1043-513
1047+516
10441048 being used by another registered political party.
1045-514
1049+517
10461050 (2) To become a registered political party, an organization of registered voters that is not a
1047-515
1051+518
10481052 continuing political party shall:
1049-516
1053+519
10501054 (a) circulate a petition seeking registered political party status beginning no earlier than
1051-517
1055+520
10521056 the date of the statewide canvass held after the last regular general election and
1053-518
1057+521
10541058 ending before 5 p.m. no later than November 30 of the year before the year in which
1055-519
1059+522
10561060 the next regular general election will be held;
1057-520
1061+523
10581062 (b) file a petition with the lieutenant governor that is signed, with a holographic
1059-521
1063+524
10601064 signature, by at least 2,000 registered voters before 5 p.m. no later than November 30
1061-522
1065+525
10621066 of the year in which a regular general election will be held; and
1063-523
1067+526
10641068 (c) file, with the petition described in Subsection (2)(b), a document certifying:
1065-524
1069+527
10661070 (i) the identity of one or more registered political parties whose members may vote
1067-525
1071+528
10681072 for the organization's candidates;
1069-526
1073+529
10701074 (ii) whether unaffiliated voters may vote for the organization's candidates; and
1071-527
1075+530
10721076 (iii) whether, for the next election, the organization intends to nominate the
1073-528
1077+531
10741078 organization's candidates in accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-406.
1075-529
1079+532
10761080 (3) The petition shall:
1077-530
1081+533
10781082 (a) be on sheets of paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
1079-531
1083+534
10801084 (b) be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space above that line
1081-532
1085+535
10821086 blank for the purpose of binding;
1083-533
1087+536
10841088 (c) contain the name of the political party and the words "Political Party Registration
1085-534
1089+537
10861090 Petition" printed directly below the horizontal line;
1087-535
1091+538
10881092 (d) contain the word "Warning" printed directly under the words described in Subsection
1089-536
1093+539
10901094 (3)(c);
1091-537 (e) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed in not less than
1092-- 16 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1093-538
1095+540 (e) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed in not less than
1096+541
10941097 eight-point, single leaded type:
1095-539
1098+- 16 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1099+542
10961100 "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a political party registration
1097-540
1101+543
10981102 petition signature sheet with any name other than the individual's own name or more than once
1099-541
1103+544
11001104 for the same party or if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend
1101-542
1105+545
11021106 to become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant
1103-543
1107+546
11041108 governor.";
1105-544 (f) contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection (3)(e):
1106-545
1109+547 (f) contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection (3)(e):
1110+548
11071111 "POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION PETITION To the Honorable ____,
1108-546
1112+549
11091113 Lieutenant Governor:
1110-547
1114+550
11111115 We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, seek registered political party status for ____
1112-548
1116+551
11131117 (name);
1114-549
1118+552
11151119 Each signer says:
1116-550
1120+553
11171121 I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
1118-551
1122+554
11191123 I am registered to vote in Utah or will register to vote in Utah before the petition is
1120-552
1124+555
11211125 submitted to the lieutenant governor;
1122-553
1126+556
11231127 I am or desire to become a member of the political party; and
1124-554
1128+557
11251129 My street address is written correctly after my name.";
1126-555
1130+558
11271131 (g) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
1128-556
1132+559
11291133 (i) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide, be
1130-557
1134+560
11311135 headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a light vertical line
1132-558
1136+561
11331137 down the middle;
1134-559
1138+562
11351139 (ii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's Printed
1136-560
1140+563
11371141 Name (must be legible to be counted)";
1138-561
1142+564
11391143 (iii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Holographic Signature of
1140-562
1144+565
11411145 Registered Voter";
1142-563
1146+566
11431147 (iv) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age (Optional)";
1144-564
1148+567
11451149 (v) the final column shall be 4-3/8 inches wide, headed "Street Address, City, Zip
1146-565
1150+568
11471151 Code"; and
1148-566
1152+569
11491153 (vi) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
1150-567
1154+570
11511155 information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with voter
1152-568
1156+571
11531157 registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
1154-569
1158+572
11551159 certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures
1156-570
1160+573
11571161 are certified or if the information you provide does not match your voter
1158-571
1162+574
11591163 registration records.";
1160-- 17 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1161-572
1162-(h) have a final page bound to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that
1163-573
1164+575 (h) have a final page bound to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that
1165+- 17 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1166+576
11641167 contains the following printed statement:
1165-574
1168+577
11661169 "Verification
1167-575
1170+578
11681171 State of Utah, County of ____
1169-576
1172+579
11701173 I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
1171-577
1174+580
11721175 I [am a Utah resident and ]am at least 18 years old;
1173-578
1176+581
11741177 All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
1175-579
1178+582
11761179 individuals who professed to be the individuals whose names appear on the signature sheets,
1177-580
1180+583
11781181 and each individual signed the individual's name on the signature sheets in my presence;
1179-581
1182+584
11801183 I believe that each individual has printed and signed the individual's name and written
1181-582
1184+585
11821185 the individual's street address correctly, and that each individual is registered to vote in Utah or
1183-583
1186+586
11841187 will register to vote in Utah before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant governor.
1185-584
1188+587
11861189 ______________________________________________________________________
1187-585
1190+588
11881191 (Signature) (Residence Address) (Date)"; and
1189-586
1192+589
11901193 (i) be bound to a cover sheet that:
1191-587
1194+590
11921195 (i) identifies the political party's name, which may not exceed four words, and the
1193-588
1196+591
11941197 emblem of the party;
1195-589
1198+592
11961199 (ii) states the process that the organization will follow to organize and adopt a
1197-590
1200+593
11981201 constitution and bylaws; and
1199-591
1202+594
12001203 (iii) is signed by a filing officer, who agrees to receive communications on behalf of
1201-592
1204+595
12021205 the organization.
1203-593
1206+596
12041207 (4) The filing officer described in Subsection (3)(i)(iii) shall ensure that the individual in
1205-594
1208+597
12061209 whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
1207-595
1210+598
12081211 (a) is at least 18 years old; and
1209-596
1212+599
12101213 [(b) meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105; and]
1211-597
1214+600
12121215 [(c)] (b) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or
1213-598
1216+601
12141217 more signature sheets that are bound together.
1215-599
1218+602
12161219 (5) An individual may not sign the verification if the individual signed a signature sheet
1217-600
1220+603
12181221 bound to the verification.
1219-601
1222+604
12201223 (6) The lieutenant governor shall:
1221-602
1224+605
12221225 (a) use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to determine whether a signer is
1223-603
1226+606
12241227 a registered voter;
1225-604
1228+607
12261229 (b) review the proposed name and emblem to determine if they are "distinguishable"
1227-605
1230+608
12281231 from the names and emblems of other registered political parties; and
1229-- 18 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1230-606
1232+609
12311233 (c) certify the lieutenant governor's findings to the filing officer described in Subsection
1232-607
1234+- 18 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1235+610
12331236 (3)(i)(iii) within 30 days of the filing of the petition.
1234-608
1237+611
12351238 (7)(a) If the lieutenant governor determines that the petition meets the requirements of
1236-609
1239+612
12371240 this section, and that the proposed name and emblem are distinguishable, the
1238-610
1241+613
12391242 lieutenant governor shall authorize the filing officer described in Subsection (3)(i)(iii)
1240-611
1243+614
12411244 to organize the prospective political party.
1242-612
1245+615
12431246 (b) If the lieutenant governor finds that the name, emblem, or both are not
1244-613
1247+616
12451248 distinguishable from the names and emblems of other registered political parties, the
1246-614
1249+617
12471250 lieutenant governor shall notify the filing officer that the filing officer has seven days
1248-615
1251+618
12491252 to submit a new name or emblem to the lieutenant governor.
1250-616
1253+619
12511254 (8) A registered political party may not change its name or emblem during the regular
1252-617
1255+620
12531256 general election cycle.
1254-618
1257+621
12551258 (9)(a) It is unlawful for an individual to:
1256-619
1259+622
12571260 (i) knowingly sign a political party registration petition:
1258-620
1261+623
12591262 (A) with any name other than the individual's own name;
1260-621
1263+624
12611264 (B) more than once for the same political party; or
1262-622
1265+625
12631266 (C) if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
1264-623
1267+626
12651268 become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the
1266-624
1269+627
12671270 lieutenant governor; or
1268-625
1271+628
12691272 (ii) sign the verification of a political party registration petition signature sheet if the
1270-626
1273+629
12711274 individual:
1272-627
1275+630
12731276 [(A) does not meet the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105;]
1274-628
1277+631
12751278 [(B)] (A) has not witnessed the signing by those individuals whose names appear
1276-629
1279+632
12771280 on the political party registration petition signature sheet; or
1278-630
1281+633
12791282 [(C)] (B) knows that an individual whose signature appears on the political party
1280-631
1283+634
12811284 registration petition signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and
1282-632
1285+635
12831286 does not intend to become registered to vote in this state.
1284-633
1287+636
12851288 (b) An individual who violates this Subsection (9) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
1286-634
1289+637
12871290 (10)(a) A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
1288-635
1291+638
12891292 removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
1290-636
1293+639
12911294 which the petition is filed with the lieutenant governor, submitting to the lieutenant
1292-637
1295+640
12931296 governor a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
1294-638
1297+641
12951298 (b) A statement described in Subsection (10)(a) shall comply with the requirements
1296-639
1299+642
12971300 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
1298-- 19 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1299-640
1301+643
13001302 (c) The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
1301-641
1303+- 19 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1304+644
13021305 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
1303-642
1306+645
13041307 petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
1305-643
1308+646
13061309 Section 9. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
1307-644
1310+647
13081311 20A-9-203 . Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general elections --
1309-645
1312+648
13101313 Nomination petition -- Removal of signature.
1311-646
1314+649
13121315 (1) An individual may become a candidate for any municipal office if:
1313-647
1316+650
13141317 (a) the individual is a registered voter; and
1315-648
1318+651
13161319 (b)(i) the individual has resided within the municipality in which the individual seeks
1317-649
1320+652
13181321 to hold elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date
1319-650
1322+653
13201323 of the election; or
1321-651
1324+654
13221325 (ii) the territory in which the individual resides was annexed into the municipality,
1323-652
1326+655
13241327 the individual has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality the 12
1325-653
1328+656
13261329 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election.
1327-654
1330+657
13281331 (2)(a) For purposes of determining whether an individual meets the residency
1329-655
1332+658
13301333 requirement of Subsection (1)(b)(i) in a municipality that was incorporated less than
1331-656
1334+659
13321335 12 months before the election, the municipality is considered to have been
1333-657
1336+660
13341337 incorporated 12 months before the date of the election.
1335-658
1338+661
13361339 (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), each candidate for a municipal
1337-659
1340+662
13381341 council position shall, if elected from a district, be a resident of the council district
1339-660
1342+663
13401343 from which the candidate is elected.
1341-661
1344+664
13421345 (c) In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IV, Section 6, a mentally incompetent
1343-662
1346+665
13441347 individual, an individual convicted of a felony, or an individual convicted of treason
1345-663
1348+666
13461349 or a crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the
1347-664
1350+667
13481351 right to hold elective office is restored under Section 20A-2-101.3 or 20A-2-101.5.
1349-665
1352+668
13501353 (3)(a) An individual seeking to become a candidate for a municipal office shall,
1351-666
1354+669
13521355 regardless of the nomination method by which the individual is seeking to become a
1353-667
1356+670
13541357 candidate:
1355-668
1358+671
13561359 (i) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), Section 10-2a-214, or Chapter 4, Part 6,
1357-669
1360+672
13581361 Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, and subject to Subsection
1359-670
1362+673
13601363 20A-9-404(3)(e), file a declaration of candidacy, in person with the city recorder
1361-671
1364+674
13621365 or town clerk, during the office hours described in Section 10-3-301 and not later
1363-672
1366+675
13641367 than the close of those office hours, between June 1 and June 7 of any
1365-673
1368+676
13661369 odd-numbered year; and
1367-- 20 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1368-674
1370+677
13691371 (ii) pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
1370-675
1372+- 20 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1373+678
13711374 (b) Subject to Subsection (5)(b), an individual may designate an agent to file a
1372-676
1375+679
13731376 declaration of candidacy with the city recorder or town clerk if:
1374-677
1377+680
13751378 (i) the individual is located outside of the state during the entire filing period;
1376-678
1379+681
13771380 (ii) the designated agent appears in person before the city recorder or town clerk;
1378-679
1381+682
13791382 (iii) the individual communicates with the city recorder or town clerk using an
1380-680
1383+683
13811384 electronic device that allows the individual and city recorder or town clerk to see
1382-681
1385+684
13831386 and hear each other; and
1384-682
1387+685
13851388 (iv) the individual provides the city recorder or town clerk with an email address to
1386-683
1389+686
13871390 which the city recorder or town clerk may send the individual the copies described
1388-684
1391+687
13891392 in Subsection (4).
1390-685
1393+688
13911394 (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by:
1392-686
1395+689
13931396 (i) except as provided in Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot
1394-687
1397+690
13951398 Project, filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk during the
1396-688
1399+691
13971400 office hours described in Section 10-3-301 and not later than the close of those
1398-689
1401+692
13991402 office hours, between June 1 and June 7 of any odd-numbered year that includes
1400-690
1403+693
14011404 signatures in support of the nomination petition of the lesser of at least:
1402-691
1405+694
14031406 (A) 25 registered voters who reside in the municipality; or
1404-692
1407+695
14051408 (B) 20% of the registered voters who reside in the municipality; and
1406-693
1409+696
14071410 (ii) paying the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
1408-694
1411+697
14091412 (4)(a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
1410-695
1413+698
14111414 petition, the filing officer shall:
1412-696
1415+699
14131416 (i) read to the prospective candidate or individual filing the petition the constitutional
1414-697
1417+700
14151418 and statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking;
1416-698
1419+701
14171420 (ii) require the candidate or individual filing the petition to state whether the
1418-699
1421+702
14191422 candidate meets the requirements described in Subsection (4)(a)(i); and
1420-700
1423+703
14211424 (iii) inform the candidate or the individual filing the petition that an individual who
1422-701
1425+704
14231426 holds a municipal elected office may not, at the same time, hold a county elected
1424-702
1427+705
14251428 office.
1426-703
1429+706
14271430 (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
1428-704
1431+707
14291432 office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination
1430-705
1433+708
14311434 petition.
1432-706
1435+709
14331436 (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
1434-707
1437+710
14351438 filing officer shall:
1436-- 21 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1437-708
1439+711
14381440 (i) inform the candidate that the candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it is
1439-709
1441+- 21 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1442+712
14401443 written on the declaration of candidacy;
1441-710
1444+713
14421445 (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the current campaign financial disclosure
1443-711
1446+714
14441447 laws for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the candidate that failure to
1445-712
1448+715
14461449 comply will result in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the candidate's
1447-713
1450+716
14481451 name from the ballot;
1449-714
1452+717
14501453 (iii) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the Statewide
1451-715
1454+718
14521455 Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the
1453-716
1456+719
14541457 submission deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801(4)(a);
1455-717
1458+720
14561459 (iv) inform the candidate that the candidate must provide the filing officer with an
1457-718
1460+721
14581461 email address that the candidate actively monitors:
1459-719
1462+722
14601463 (A) to receive a communication from a filing officer or an election officer; and
1461-720
1464+723
14621465 (B) if the candidate wishes to display a candidate profile on the Statewide
1463-721
1466+724
14641467 Electronic Voter Information Website, to submit to the website the
1465-722
1466-biographical and other information described in Subsection 20A-7-801(4)(a)(ii);
1467-723
1468+725
1469+biographical and other information described in Subsection 20A-7-801
1470+726
1471+(4)(a)(ii);
1472+727
14681473 (v) inform the candidate that the email address described in Subsection (4)(c)(iv) is
1469-724
1474+728
14701475 not a record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
1471-725
1476+729
14721477 Management Act;
1473-726
1478+730
14741479 (vi) obtain from the candidate the email address described in Subsection (4)(c)(iv);
1475-727
1480+731
14761481 (vii) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
1477-728
1482+732
14781483 described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
1479-729
1484+733
14801485 (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
1481-730
1486+734
14821487 (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
1483-731
1488+735
14841489 (viii) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
1485-732
1490+736
14861491 (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing officer
1487-733
1492+737
14881493 shall:
1489-734
1494+738
14901495 (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
1491-735
1496+739
14921497 (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
1493-736
1498+740
14941499 candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
1495-737
1500+741
14961501 candidate is a member.
1497-738
1502+742
14981503 (5)(a) The declaration of candidacy shall be in substantially the following form:
1499-739
1504+743
15001505 "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn and under penalty of perjury, say that I reside at
1501-740
1506+744
15021507 ____ Street, City of ____, County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number
1503-741
1508+745
15041509 (if any) ____; that I am a registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____
1505-- 22 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1506-742
1510+- 22 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1511+746
15071512 (stating the term). I will meet the legal qualifications required of candidates for this office. If
1508-743
1513+747
15091514 filing via a designated agent, I attest that I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire
1510-744
1515+748
15111516 candidate filing period. I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law
1512-745
1517+749
15131518 and I understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this
1514-746
1519+750
15151520 office and removal of my name from the ballot. I request that my name be printed upon the
1516-747
1521+751
15171522 applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
1518-748
1523+752
15191524 Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
1520-749
1525+753
15211526 __________(month\day\year).
1522-750
1527+754
15231528 (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)."
1524-751
1529+755
15251530 (b) An agent designated under Subsection (3)(b) to file a declaration of candidacy may
1526-752
1531+756
15271532 not sign the form described in Subsection (5)(a).
1528-753
1533+757
15291534 (c)(i) A nomination petition shall be in substantially the following form:
1530-754
1535+758
15311536 "NOMINATION PETITION
1532-755
1537+759
15331538 The undersigned residents of (name of municipality), being registered voters, nominate
1534-756
1539+760
15351540 (name of nominee) for the office of (name of office) for the (length of term of office)."
1536-757
1541+761
15371542 (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
1538-758
1543+762
15391544 individuals signing the petition and each individual's address and phone number.
1540-759
1545+763
15411546 (6) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
1542-760
1547+764
15431548 nomination is for the two-year or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination
1544-761
1549+765
15451550 to be for the four-year term.
1546-762
1551+766
15471552 (7)(a)[(i)] The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are
1548-763
1553+767
15491554 registered voters.
1550-764
1555+768
15511556 (b) With the assistance of the county clerk, and using the procedures described in
1552-765
1557+769
15531558 Section 20A-1-1002, the municipal clerk shall determine whether the required
1554-766
1559+770
15551560 number of signatures of registered voters appears on a nomination petition.
1556-767
1561+771
15571562 (8) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the clerk
1558-768
1563+772
15591564 shall:
1560-769
1565+773
15611566 (a) publicize a list of the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot by
1562-770
1567+774
15631568 publishing the list for the municipality, as a class A notice under Section 63G-30-102,
1564-771
1569+775
15651570 for seven days; and
1566-772
1571+776
15671572 (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
1568-773
1573+777
15691574 the ballot.
1570-774
1575+778
15711576 (9) Except as provided in Subsection (10)(c), an individual may not amend a declaration of
1572-775
1577+779
15731578 candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section after the candidate filing period
1574-- 23 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1575-776
1579+- 23 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1580+780
15761581 ends.
1577-777
1582+781
15781583 (10)(a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition that an individual files under
1579-778
1584+782
15801585 this section is valid unless a person files a written objection with the clerk before 5
1581-779
1586+783
15821587 p.m. within 10 days after the last day for filing.
1583-780
1588+784
15841589 (b) If a person files an objection, the clerk shall:
1585-781
1590+785
15861591 (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
1587-782
1592+786
15881593 immediately; and
1589-783
1594+787
15901595 (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after the objection is filed.
1591-784
1596+788
15921597 (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may, before 5 p.m. within three days
1593-785
1598+789
15941599 after the day on which the clerk sustains the objection, correct the problem for which
1595-786
1600+790
15961601 the objection is sustained by amending the candidate's declaration of candidacy or
1597-787
1602+791
15981603 nomination petition, or by filing a new declaration of candidacy.
1599-788
1604+792
16001605 (d)(i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
1601-789
1606+793
16021607 (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
1603-790
1608+794
16041609 prompt application is made to the district court.
1605-791
1610+795
16061611 (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the
1607-792
1612+796
16081613 exercise of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
1609-793
1614+797
16101615 (11) A candidate who qualifies for the ballot under this section may withdraw as a
1611-794
1616+798
16121617 candidate by filing a written affidavit with the municipal clerk.
1613-795
1618+799
16141619 (12)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition under this section may have the voter's
1615-796
1620+800
16161621 signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
1617-797
1622+801
16181623 on which the petition is filed with the city recorder or municipal clerk, submitting to
1619-798
1624+802
16201625 the municipal clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
1621-799
1626+803
16221627 (b) A statement described in Subsection (12)(a) shall comply with the requirements
1623-800
1628+804
16241629 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
1625-801
1630+805
16261631 (c) With the assistance of the county clerk and using the procedures described in
1627-802
1632+806
16281633 Subsection 20A-1-1003(3), the municipal clerk shall determine whether to remove an
1629-803
1634+807
16301635 individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid statement
1631-804
1636+808
16321637 requesting removal of the signature.
1633-805
1638+809
16341639 Section 10. Section 20A-9-405 is amended to read:
1635-806
1640+810
16361641 20A-9-405 . Nomination petitions for regular primary elections.
1637-807
1642+811
16381643 (1) This section applies to the form and circulation of nomination petitions for regular
1639-808
1644+812
16401645 primary elections described in Subsection 20A-9-403(3)(a).
1641-809
1646+813
16421647 (2) A candidate for elective office, and the agents of the candidate, may not circulate
1643-- 24 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1644-810
1648+- 24 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1649+814
16451650 nomination petitions until the candidate has submitted a declaration of candidacy in
1646-811
1651+815
16471652 accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202(1).
1648-812
1653+816
16491654 (3) For the manual candidate qualification process, the nomination petitions shall be in
1650-813
1655+817
16511656 substantially the following form:
1652-814
1657+818
16531658 (a) the petition shall be printed on paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
1654-815
1659+819
16551660 (b) the petition shall be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space
1656-816
1661+820
16571662 above that line blank for purposes of binding;
1658-817
1663+821
16591664 (c) the petition shall be headed by a caption stating the purpose of the petition and the
1660-818
1665+822
16611666 name of the proposed candidate;
1662-819
1667+823
16631668 (d) the petition shall feature the word "Warning" followed by the following statement in
1664-820
1669+824
16651670 no less than eight-point, single leaded type: "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone
1666-821
1671+825
16671672 to knowingly sign a nomination petition with any name other than the person's own
1668-822
1673+826
16691674 name, or more than once for the same candidate, or if the person is not registered to
1670-823
1675+827
16711676 vote in this state.";
1672-824
1677+828
16731678 (e) the petition shall feature 10 lines spaced one-half inch apart and consecutively
1674-825
1679+829
16751680 numbered one through 10;
1676-826
1681+830
16771682 (f) the signature portion of the petition shall be divided into columns headed by the
1678-827
1683+831
16791684 following titles:
1680-828
1685+832
16811686 (i) Registered Voter's Printed Name;
1682-829
1687+833
16831688 (ii) Signature of Registered Voter;
1684-830
1689+834
16851690 (iii) Party Affiliation of Registered Voter;
1686-831
1691+835
16871692 (iv) Birth Date or Age (Optional);
1688-832
1693+836
16891694 (v) Street Address, City, Zip Code; and
1690-833
1695+837
16911696 (vi) Date of Signature; and
1692-834
1697+838
16931698 (g) a photograph of the candidate may appear on the nomination petition.
1694-835
1699+839
16951700 (4) For the electronic candidate qualification process, the lieutenant governor shall design
1696-836
1701+840
16971702 an electronic form, using progressive screens, that includes:
1698-837 (a) the following warning:
1699-838
1703+841 (a) the following warning:
1704+842
17001705 "Warning: It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination
1701-839
1706+843
17021707 petition with any name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same
1703-840
1708+844
17041709 candidate, or if the person is not registered to vote in this state."; and
1705-841
1710+845
17061711 (b) the following information for each individual who signs the petition:
1707-842
1712+846
17081713 (i) name;
1709-843
1714+847
17101715 (ii) party affiliation;
1711-- 25 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1712-844
1716+- 25 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1717+848
17131718 (iii) date of birth or age, (optional);
1714-845
1719+849
17151720 (iv) street address, city, zip code;
1716-846
1721+850
17171722 (v) date of signature;
1718-847
1723+851
17191724 (vi) other information required under Section 20A-21-201; and
1720-848
1725+852
17211726 (vii) other information required by the lieutenant governor.
1722-849 (5) For the manual candidate qualification process, if one or more nomination petitions are
1723-850
1727+853 (5) For the manual candidate qualification process, if one or more nomination petitions are
1728+854
17241729 bound together, a page shall be bound to the nomination petition(s) that features the following
1725-851
1730+855
17261731 printed verification statement to be signed and dated by the petition circulator:
1727-852
1732+856
17281733 "Verification
1729-853
1734+857
17301735 State of Utah, County of ____
1731-854
1736+858
17321737 I, ____, of ____, hereby state that:
1733-855
1738+859
17341739 I [am a Utah resident and ]am at least 18 years old;
1735-856
1740+860
17361741 All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were, to the best of
1737-857
1742+861
17381743 my knowledge, signed by the persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on
1739-858
1744+862
17401745 the signature sheets, and each of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my
1741-859
1746+863
17421747 presence;
1743-860
1748+864
17441749 I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
1745-861
1750+865
17461751 street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah."
1747-862
1752+866
17481753 (6) The lieutenant governor shall prepare and make public model nomination petition forms
1749-863
1754+867
17501755 and associated instructions.
1751-864
1756+868
17521757 (7) A nomination petition circulator[ must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the
1753-865
1758+869
17541759 state, but may affiliate with any political party.] :
1755-866
1760+870
17561761 (a) must be at least 18 years old; and
1757-867
1762+871
17581763 (b) may affiliate with any political party.
1759-868
1764+872
17601765 (8) It is unlawful for any person to:
1761-869
1766+873
17621767 (a) knowingly sign the nomination petition described in this section or Section
1763-870
1768+874
17641769 20A-9-408:
1765-871
1770+875
17661771 (i) with any name other than the person's own name;
1767-872
1772+876
17681773 (ii) more than once for the same candidate; or
1769-873
1774+877
17701775 (iii) if the person is not registered to vote in this state;
1771-874
1776+878
17721777 (b) sign the verification of a signature for a nomination petition if the person:
1773-875
1778+879
17741779 [(i) does not meet the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105;]
1775-876
1780+880
17761781 [(ii)] (i) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
1777-877
1782+881
17781783 nomination petition; or
1779-- 26 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1780-878
1784+- 26 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1785+882
17811786 [(iii)] (ii) knows that a person whose signature appears on the nomination petition is
1782-879
1787+883
17831788 not registered to vote in this state;
1784-880
1789+884
17851790 (c) pay compensation to any person to sign a nomination petition; or
1786-881
1791+885
17871792 (d) pay compensation to any person to circulate a nomination petition, if the
1788-882
1793+886
17891794 compensation is based directly on the number of signatures submitted to a filing
1790-883
1795+887
17911796 officer rather than on the number of signatures verified or on some other basis.
1792-884
1797+888
17931798 (9) Any person violating Subsection (8) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
1794-885
1799+889
17951800 (10)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition may have the voter's signature removed
1796-886
1801+890
17971802 from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on which the
1798-887
1803+891
17991804 candidate files the petition with the appropriate filing officer, submitting to the filing
1800-888
1805+892
18011806 officer a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
1802-889
1807+893
18031808 (b) A statement described in Subsection (10)(a) shall comply with the requirements
1804-890
1809+894
18051810 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
1806-891
1811+895
18071812 (c) The filing officer shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
1808-892
1813+896
18091814 determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a nomination petition
1810-893
1815+897
18111816 after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
1812-894
1817+898
18131818 [(10) Withdrawal of petition signatures is prohibited.]
1814-895
1819+899
18151820 Section 11. Section 20A-9-408 is amended to read:
1816-896
1821+900
18171822 20A-9-408 . Signature-gathering process to seek the nomination of a qualified
1818-897
1823+901
18191824 political party -- Removal of signature.
1820-898
1825+902
18211826 (1) This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party who
1822-899
1827+903
18231828 is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office through
1824-900
1829+904
18251830 the signature-gathering process described in this section.
1826-901
1831+905
18271832 (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(a), the form of the declaration of candidacy
1828-902
1833+906
18291834 for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking the
1830-903
1835+907
18311836 nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
1832-904
1837+908
18331838 described in Section 20A-9-408.5.
1834-905
1839+909
18351840 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
1836-906
1841+910
18371842 20A-9-202(4), a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking
1838-907
1843+911
18391844 the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at
1840-908
1845+912
18411846 the next general election shall:
1842-909
1847+913
18431848 (a) during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5,
1844-910
1849+914
18451850 and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a
1846-911
1851+915
18471852 form approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for
1848-- 27 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1849-912
1853+- 27 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1854+916
18501855 candidacy that includes:
1851-913
1856+917
18521857 (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
1853-914
1858+918
18541859 political party under this section;
1855-915
1860+919
18561861 (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
1857-916
1862+920
18581863 nomination;
1859-917
1864+921
18601865 (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
1861-918
1866+922
18621867 (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
1863-919
1868+923
18641869 (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
1865-920
1870+924
18661871 (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
1867-921
1872+925
18681873 person, with the filing officer during the declaration of candidacy filing period
1869-922
1874+926
18701875 described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
1871-923
1876+927
18721877 (c) pay the filing fee.
1873-924
1878+928
18741879 (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(2)(a), a member of a qualified political party
1875-925
1880+929
18761881 who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
1877-926
1882+930
18781883 office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at
1879-927
1884+931
18801885 the next general election shall:
1881-928
1886+932
18821887 (a) during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5,
1883-929
1888+933
18841889 and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a
1885-930
1890+934
18861891 form approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for
1887-931
1892+935
18881893 candidacy that includes:
1889-932
1894+936
18901895 (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
1891-933
1896+937
18921897 political party under this section;
1893-934
1898+938
18941899 (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
1895-935
1900+939
18961901 nomination;
1897-936
1902+940
18981903 (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
1899-937
1904+941
19001905 (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
1901-938
1906+942
19021907 (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
1903-939
1908+943
19041909 (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
1905-940
1910+944
19061911 person, with the filing officer during the declaration of candidacy filing period
1907-941
1912+945
19081913 described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
1909-942
1914+946
19101915 (c) pay the filing fee.
1911-943
1916+947
19121917 (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii), a lieutenant governor candidate who
1913-944
1918+948
19141919 files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
1915-945
1920+949
19161921 political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the declaration
1917-- 28 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
1918-946
1922+- 28 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
1923+950
19191924 of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, file a declaration of
1920-947
1925+951
19211926 candidacy and submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names the lieutenant
1922-948
1927+952
19231928 governor candidate as a joint-ticket running mate.
1924-949
1929+953
19251930 (6) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the certification described in Subsection
1926-950
1931+954
19271932 20A-9-701(1) also includes the name of each candidate nominated by a qualified
1928-951
1933+955
19291934 political party under this section.
1930-952
1935+956
19311936 (7) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701(2), the ballot shall, for each candidate who is
1932-953
1937+957
19331938 nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified
1934-954
1939+958
19351940 political party that nominated the candidate.
1936-955
1941+959
19371942 (8) A member of a qualified political party may seek the nomination of the qualified
1938-956
1943+960
19391944 political party for an elective office by:
1940-957
1945+961
19411946 (a) complying with the requirements described in this section; and
1942-958
1947+962
19431948 (b) collecting signatures, on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
1944-959
1949+963
19451950 with Subsection 20A-9-405(3), during the period beginning on the day on which the
1946-960
1951+964
19471952 member files a notice of intent to gather signatures and ending at 5 p.m. 14 days
1948-961
1953+965
19491954 before the day on which the qualified political party's convention for the office is
1950-962
1955+966
19511956 held, in the following amounts:
1952-963
1957+967
19531958 (i) for a statewide race, 28,000 signatures of registered voters in the state who are
1954-964
1959+968
19551960 permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
1956-965
1961+969
19571962 candidates in a primary election;
1958-966
1963+970
19591964 (ii) for a congressional district race, 7,000 signatures of registered voters who are
1960-967
1965+971
19611966 residents of the congressional district and are permitted by the qualified political
1962-968
1967+972
19631968 party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
1964-969
1969+973
19651970 (iii) for a state Senate district race, 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are
1966-970
1971+974
19671972 residents of the state Senate district and are permitted by the qualified political
1968-971
1973+975
19691974 party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
1970-972
1975+976
19711976 (iv) for a state House district race, 1,000 signatures of registered voters who are
1972-973
1977+977
19731978 residents of the state House district and are permitted by the qualified political
1974-974
1979+978
19751980 party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
1976-975
1981+979
19771982 (v) for a State Board of Education race, the lesser of:
1978-976
1983+980
19791984 (A) 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the State Board of
1980-977
1985+981
19811986 Education district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
1982-978
1987+982
19831988 the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election; or
1984-979
1989+983
19851990 (B) 3% of the registered voters of the qualified political party who are residents of
1986-- 29 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
1987-980
1991+- 29 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
1992+984
19881993 the applicable State Board of Education district; and
1989-981
1994+985
19901995 (vi) for a county office race, signatures of 3% of the registered voters who are
1991-982
1996+986
19921997 residents of the area permitted to vote for the county office and are permitted by
1993-983
1998+987
19941999 the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in
1995-984
2000+988
19962001 a primary election.
1997-985
2002+989
19982003 (9)(a) This Subsection (9) applies only to the manual candidate qualification process.
1999-986
2004+990
20002005 (b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
2001-987
2006+991
20022007 qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, using
2003-988
2008+992
20042009 the manual candidate qualification process, the member shall:
2005-989
2010+993
20062011 (i) collect the signatures on a form approved by the lieutenant governor, using the
2007-990
2012+994
20082013 same circulation and verification requirements described in Sections 20A-7-105
2009-991
2014+995
20102015 and 20A-7-204; and
2011-992
2016+996
20122017 (ii) submit the signatures to the election officer before 5 p.m. no later than 14 days
2013-993
2018+997
20142019 before the day on which the qualified political party holds the party's convention
2015-994
2020+998
20162021 to select candidates, for the elective office, for the qualified political party's
2017-995
2022+999
20182023 nomination.
2019-996
2024+1000
20202025 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), the
2021-997
2026+1001
20222027 election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 days after the day on which the
2023-998
2028+1002
20242029 election officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which the
2025-999
2030+1003
20262031 qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective
2027-1000
2032+1004
20282033 office to which the signature packets relate:
2029-1001
2034+1005
20302035 (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
2031-1002
2036+1006
20322037 packet to determine whether each individual is [a resident of Utah and is ]at least
2033-1003
2038+1007
20342039 18 years old;
2035-1004
2040+1008
20362041 (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (9)(c)(i) who [is not a
2037-1005
2042+1009
20382043 Utah resident or who ]is not at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the
2039-1006
2044+1010
20402045 county attorney;
2041-1007
2046+1011
20422047 (iii) with the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, determine whether each
2043-1008
2048+1012
20442049 signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition, using the same
2045-1009
2050+1013
20462051 method, described in Section 20A-1-1002, used to verify a signature on a petition;
2047-1010
2052+1014
20482053 and
2049-1011
2054+1015
20502055 (iv) certify whether each name is that of a registered voter who is qualified to sign the
2051-1012
2056+1016
20522057 signature packet.
2053-1013
2058+1017
20542059 (d)(i) A registered voter who physically signs a form under Subsections (8) and (9)(b)
2055-- 30 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
2056-1014
2060+- 30 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
2061+1018
20572062 may have the voter's signature removed from the form by, no later than three
2058-1015
2063+1019
20592064 business days after the day on which the member submits the signature form to the
2060-1016
2065+1020
20612066 election officer, submitting to the election officer a statement requesting that the
2062-1017
2067+1021
20632068 voter's signature be removed.
2064-1018
2069+1022
20652070 (ii) A statement described in Subsection (9)(d)(i) shall comply with the requirements
2066-1019
2071+1023
20672072 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
2068-1020
2073+1024
20692074 (iii) With the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, the election officer shall
2070-1021
2075+1025
20712076 use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether
2072-1022
2077+1026
20732078 to remove an individual's signature after receiving a timely, valid statement
2074-1023
2079+1027
20752080 requesting removal of the signature.
2076-1024
2081+1028
20772082 (10)(a) This Subsection (10) applies only to the electronic candidate qualification
2078-1025
2083+1029
20792084 process.
2080-1026
2085+1030
20812086 (b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
2082-1027
2087+1031
20832088 qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, the
2084-1028
2089+1032
20852090 member shall, before 5 p.m. no later than 14 days before the day on which the
2086-1029
2091+1033
20872092 qualified political party holds the party's convention to select candidates, for the
2088-1030
2093+1034
20892094 elective office, for the qualified political party's nomination, collect signatures
2090-1031
2095+1035
20912096 electronically:
2092-1032
2097+1036
20932098 (i) in accordance with Section 20A-21-201; and
2094-1033
2099+1037
20952100 (ii) using progressive screens, in a format approved by the lieutenant governor, that
2096-1034
2101+1038
20972102 complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(4).
2098-1035
2103+1039
20992104 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), the
2100-1036
2105+1040
21012106 election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 days after the day on which the
2102-1037
2107+1041
21032108 election officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which the
2104-1038
2109+1042
21052110 qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective
2106-1039
2111+1043
21072112 office to which the signature packets relate:
2108-1040
2113+1044
21092114 (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
2110-1041
2115+1045
21112116 to determine whether each individual [is a resident of Utah and ]is at least 18
2112-1042
2117+1046
21132118 years old; and
2114-1043
2119+1047
21152120 (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (10)(c)(i) who is not [
2116-1044
2121+1048
21172122 a Utah resident or who is not ]at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the
2118-1045
2123+1049
21192124 county attorney.
2120-1046
2125+1050
21212126 (11)(a) An individual may not gather signatures under this section until after the
2122-1047
2127+1051
21232128 individual files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
2124-- 31 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
2125-1048
2129+- 31 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
2130+1052
21262131 section.
2127-1049
2132+1053
21282133 (b) An individual who files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy,
2129-1050
2134+1054
21302135 described in Subsection (3)(a) or (4)(a), is, beginning on the day on which the
2131-1051
2136+1055
21322137 individual files the notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy:
2133-1052
2138+1056
21342139 (i) required to comply with the reporting requirements that a candidate for office is
2135-1053
2140+1057
21362141 required to comply with; and
2137-1054
2142+1058
21382143 (ii) subject to the same enforcement provisions, and civil and criminal penalties, that
2139-1055
2144+1059
21402145 apply to a candidate for office in relation to the reporting requirements described
2141-1056
2146+1060
21422147 in Subsection (11)(b)(i).
2143-1057
2148+1061
21442149 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), or
2145-1058
2150+1062
21462151 Subsections (8) and (10)(b), the election officer shall, no later than one day before the
2147-1059
2152+1063
21482153 day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee
2149-1060
2154+1064
21502155 for the elective office to which the signature packets relate, notify the qualified
2151-1061
2156+1065
21522157 political party and the lieutenant governor of the name of each member of the
2153-1062
2158+1066
21542159 qualified political party who qualifies as a nominee of the qualified political party,
2155-1063
2160+1067
21562161 under this section, for the elective office to which the convention relates.
2157-1064
2162+1068
21582163 (d) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
2159-1065
2164+1069
21602165 section, the lieutenant governor shall post the notice of intent to gather signatures for
2161-1066
2166+1070
21622167 candidacy on the lieutenant governor's website in the same location that the
2163-1067
2168+1071
21642169 lieutenant governor posts a declaration of candidacy.
2165-1068
2170+1072
21662171 Section 12. Section 53G-3-301.1 is amended to read:
2167-1069
2172+1073
21682173 53G-3-301.1 . Creation of a new school district -- Citizens' petition -- Procedures
2169-1070
2174+1074
21702175 to be followed -- Removal or reinstatement of signature.
2171-1071
2176+1075
21722177 (1) Citizens may file a petition to create a new school district in accordance with this
2173-1072
2178+1076
21742179 section and Section 53G-3-301.
2175-1073
2180+1077
21762181 (2)(a) The county clerk shall ensure that a petition described in Subsection (1) is signed
2177-1074
2182+1078
21782183 by registered voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new
2179-1075
2184+1079
21802185 school district in an amount equal to at least 10% of all votes cast within the
2181-1076
2186+1080
21822187 geographic boundaries of the proposed new school district for all candidates for
2183-1077
2188+1081
21842189 president of the United States at the last regular general election at which a president
2185-1078
2190+1082
21862191 of the United States was elected.
2187-1079
2192+1083
21882193 (b) The sponsors of a petition described in Subsection (1) shall file the petition with the
2189-1080
2194+1084
21902195 clerk of each county in which any part of the proposed new school district is located.
2191-1081
2196+1085
21922197 (c) The petition sponsors shall ensure that the petition described in Subsection (1):
2193-- 32 - Enrolled Copy S.B. 53
2194-1082
2198+- 32 - 01-02 14:45 S.B. 53
2199+1086
21952200 (i) indicates the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter
2196-1083
2201+1087
21972202 who signs the petition;
2198-1084
2203+1088
21992204 (ii) describes the proposed new school district boundaries; and
2200-1085
2205+1089
22012206 (iii) designates up to five signers of the petition as sponsors, designating one as the
2202-1086
2207+1090
22032208 contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each.
2204-1087
2205-(3)(a)(i) A signer of a petition described in Subsection (1) may [withdraw] remove or,
2206-1088
2207-once removed[withdrawn], reinstate the signer's signature by filing a written
2208-1089
2209+1091
2210+(3)(a)(i) A signer of a petition described in Subsection (1) may [withdraw] remove
2211+1092
2212+or, once removed[withdrawn], reinstate the signer's signature by filing a written
2213+1093
22092214 statement requesting [for withdrawal] removal or reinstatement with the county
2210-1090
2215+1094
22112216 clerk no later than three business days after the day on which the petition is filed
2212-1091
2217+1095
22132218 with the county clerk.
2214-1092
2219+1096
22152220 (ii) A statement described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) shall comply with the requirements
2216-1093
2221+1097
22172222 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
2218-1094
2219-(iii) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3)
2220-1095
2221-to determine whether to remove or reinstate an individual's signature from a
2222-1096
2223+1098
2224+(iii) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003
2225+1099
2226+(3) to determine whether to remove or reinstate an individual's signature from a
2227+1100
22232228 petition after receiving a timely, valid statement.
2224-1097
2229+1101
22252230 (b) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to
2226-1098
2231+1102
22272232 determine whether the petition has been signed by the required number of registered
2228-1099
2233+1103
22292234 voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new school
2230-1100
2235+1104
22312236 district.
2232-1101
2237+1105
22332238 (4) Within 14 days after the day on which a petition described in Subsection (1) is filed, the
2234-1102
2239+1106
22352240 clerk of each county with which the request or petition is filed shall:
2236-1103
2241+1107
22372242 (a) determine whether the petition complies with Subsections (2) and (3), as applicable,
2238-1104
2243+1108
22392244 and Section 53G-3-301; and
2240-1105
2245+1109
22412246 (b)(i) if the county clerk determines that the request or petition complies with the
2242-1106
2247+1110
22432248 applicable requirements:
2244-1107
2249+1111
22452250 (A) certify the petition and deliver the certified petition to the county legislative
2246-1108
2251+1112
22472252 body; and
2248-1109
2253+1113
22492254 (B) mail or deliver written notification of the certification to the contact sponsor;
2250-1110
2255+1114
22512256 or
2252-1111
2257+1115
22532258 (ii) if the county clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of the
2254-1112
2259+1116
22552260 applicable requirements, reject the petition and notify the contact sponsor in
2256-1113
2261+1117
22572262 writing of the rejection and reasons for the rejection.
2258-1114
2263+1118
22592264 (5)(a) If the county clerk fails to certify or reject a petition within the time specified in
2260-1115
2265+1119
22612266 Subsection (4), the petition is considered to be certified.
2262-- 33 - S.B. 53 Enrolled Copy
2263-1116
2267+- 33 - S.B. 53 01-02 14:45
2268+1120
22642269 (b) If the county clerk rejects a petition, the individual who submitted the petition may
2265-1117
2270+1121
22662271 amend the petition to correct the deficiencies for which the county clerk rejected the
2267-1118
2272+1122
22682273 petition and refile the petition.
2269-1119
2274+1123
22702275 (6) Within 10 days after the day on which a county legislative body receives a certified
2271-1120
2276+1124
22722277 petition as described in Subsection (4) or (5), the county legislative body shall request
2273-1121
2278+1125
22742279 that the Legislative Audit Subcommittee consider prioritizing a feasibility study, as that
2275-1122
2280+1126
22762281 term is defined in Section 53G-3-102.
2277-1123
2282+1127
22782283 (7)(a) The county legislative body shall:
2279-1124
2284+1128
22802285 (i) provide for a 45-day public comment period to begin on the day the county
2281-1125
2286+1129
22822287 legislative body receives the study under Subsection (6); and
2283-1126
2288+1130
22842289 (ii) hold at least two public hearings, as defined in Section 10-9a-103, on the study
2285-1127
2290+1131
22862291 and recommendations.
2287-1128
2292+1132
22882293 (b) Within five business days after the day on which the public comment period ends,
2289-1129
2294+1133
22902295 the legislative body of each county with which a petition is filed shall vote on the
2291-1130
2296+1134
22922297 creation of the proposed new school district.
2293-1131
2298+1135
22942299 (c) A county legislative body approves a petition proposing a new school district if a
2295-1132
2300+1136
22962301 majority of the members of the legislative body vote in favor of the petition.
2297-1133
2302+1137
22982303 (8)(a) Within five business days after the day on which a county legislative body
2299-1134
2304+1138
23002305 approves a petition proposing a new school district under Subsection (7), the county
2301-1135
2306+1139
23022307 legislative body shall provide notice of the approval and a copy of the petition to
2303-1136
2308+1140
23042309 which the approval relates to the county clerk of each county described in Subsection
2305-1137
2310+1141
23062311 (2)(b).
2307-1138
2312+1142
23082313 (b) If each county described in Subsection (2)(b) approves a petition proposing a new
2309-1139
2314+1143
23102315 school district, the county clerks of the counties shall submit the proposal for the
2311-1140
2316+1144
23122317 creation of a new school district to all legal voters in the existing school district for
2313-1141
2318+1145
23142319 approval or rejection at the next regular general election that is at least 65 days after
2315-1142
2320+1146
23162321 the day on which all of the counties described in Subsection (2)(b) have complied
2317-1143
2322+1147
23182323 with Subsection (8)(a).
2319-1144
2324+1148
23202325 (c) The new school district proposed in the petition and the reorganized new school
2321-1145
2326+1149
23222327 district are created if a majority of the voters in the existing school district vote in
2323-1146
2328+1150
23242329 favor of creating the new school district.
2325-1147
2330+1151
23262331 Section 13. Effective Date.
2327-1148
2332+1152
23282333 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
23292334 - 34 -