H.B. 164 Enrolled

1

TOWN INCORPORATION PROCESS
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown
6 Senate Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies provisions relating to the incorporation of a town.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . modifies the process of incorporating a town;
14 . limits the areas in counties of the first class that qualify as contiguous for purposes
15 of a proposed incorporation of a town;
16 . requires at least five sponsors to be designated on a petition to incorporate an area
17 as a town;
18 . prohibits the filing of a petition to incorporate an area as a town if the petition
19 sponsors own more than 40% of the total area proposed to be incorporated;
20 . eliminates definitions of "base petition" and "qualifying petition";
21 . enacts definitions;
22 . modifies a requirement regarding county legislative body approval of a petition for
23 the incorporation of a town if the petition meets certain signature requirements;
24 . clarifies that the value of property for purposes of determining incorporation
25 petition requirements is assessed value;
26 . establishes a process for a public hearing on a proposed incorporation of a town
27 before a petition to incorporate may be filed;
28 . requires a majority of registered voters to sign a petition to incorporate as a town;
29 . allows a county legislative body the option whether to commission a financial

30 feasibility study with respect to a proposed incorporation of a town and provides a process for
31 commissioning a financial feasibility study;
32 . establishes financial feasibility study criteria;
33 . requires the initial officers of a newly incorporated town to be elected rather than
34 appointed by the county legislative body;
35 . modifies election provisions to allow the election of officers of a newly
36 incorporated town to be conducted as a special election;
37 . provides for when newly elected town officers in a new town take office;
38 . provides that a previously filed petition is subject to the law in effect when the
39 petition was filed; and
40 . modifies the date upon which a town is incorporated.
41 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
42 None
43 Other Special Clauses:
44 This bill provides an immediate effective date.
45 This bill provides revisor instructions.
46 This bill coordinates with S.B. 20, Municipal Government Amendments, by technically
47 merging amendments.
48 Utah Code Sections Affected:
49 AMENDS:
50 10-2-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1997, Second Special Session, Chapter 3
51 10-2-125, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 212
52 20A-1-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 215
53 20A-1-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 371
54
55 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
56 Section 1. Section 10-2-109 is amended to read:
57 10-2-109. Incorporation petition -- Requirements and form.

58 (1) At any time within 18 months of the completion of the public hearings required
59 under Subsection 10-2-108 (1), a petition for incorporation of the area proposed to be
60 incorporated as a city may be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the area is
61 located.
62 (2) Each petition under Subsection (1) shall:
63 (a) be signed by the owners of private real property that:
64 (i) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated;
65 (ii) covers at least 1/3 of the total private land area within the area; and
66 (iii) is equal in value to at least 1/3 of the value of all private real property within the
67 area;
68 (b) indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each owner
69 signing the petition;
70 (c) describe the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, as described in the
71 feasibility study request or modified request that meets the requirements of Subsection (3);
72 (d) state the proposed name for the proposed city;
73 (e) designate five signers of the petition as petition sponsors, one of whom shall be
74 designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each;
75 (f) state that the signers of the petition appoint the sponsors, if the incorporation
76 measure passes, to represent the signers in the process of:
77 (i) selecting the number of commission or council members the new city should have;
78 and
79 (ii) drawing district boundaries for the election of commission or council members, if
80 the voters decide to elect commission or council members by district;
81 (g) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate plat or map, prepared by a
82 licensed surveyor, showing the boundaries of the proposed city; and
83 (h) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
84 PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
85 city)

86 To the Honorable County Legislative Body of (insert the name of the county in which
87 the proposed city is located) County, Utah:
88 We, the undersigned owners of real property within the area described in this petition,
89 respectfully petition the county legislative body to submit to the registered voters residing
90 within the area described in this petition, at a special election held for that purpose, the
91 question of whether the area should incorporate as a city. Each of the undersigned affirms that
92 each has personally signed this petition and is an owner of real property within the described
93 area, and that the current residence address of each is correctly written after the signer's name.
94 The area proposed to be incorporated as a city is described as follows: (insert an accurate
95 description of the area proposed to be incorporated).
96 (3) A petition for incorporation of a city under Subsection (1) may not be filed unless
97 the results of the feasibility study or supplemental feasibility study show that the average
98 annual amount of revenue under Subsection 10-2-106 (4)(a)(ix) does not exceed the average
99 annual amount of cost under Subsection 10-2-106 (4)(a)(viii) by more than 5%.
100 (4) A signature on a request under Section 10-2-103 or a modified request under
101 Section 10-2-107 may be used toward fulfilling the signature requirement of Subsection (2)(a):
102 (a) if the request under Section 10-2-103 or modified request under Section 10-2-107
103 notified the signer in conspicuous language that the signature, unless withdrawn, would also be
104 used for purposes of a petition for incorporation under this section; and
105 (b) unless the signer files with the county clerk a written withdrawal of the signature
106 before the petition under this section is filed with the clerk.
107 Section 2. Section 10-2-125 is amended to read:
108 10-2-125. Incorporation of a town.
109 [(1) As used in this section:]
110 [(a) "Base petition" means a petition under this section proposing the incorporation of a
111 town and signed by the owners of private real property that:]
112 [(i) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated;]
113 [(ii) covers at least a majority of the total private land area within the area proposed to

114 be incorporated; and]
115 [(iii) is equal in value to at least 1/3 but not more than 1/2 of the value of all private
116 real property within the area proposed to be incorporated.]
117 [(b) "Qualifying petition" means a petition under this section proposing the
118 incorporation of a town and signed by the owners of private real property that:]
119 [(i) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated;]
120 [(ii) covers at least a majority of the total private land area within the area proposed to
121 be incorporated; and]
122 [(iii) is equal in value to more than 1/2 of the value of all private real property within
123 the area proposed to be incorporated.]
124 (1) As used in this section:
125 (a) "Assessed value," with respect to agricultural land, means the value at which the
126 land would be assessed without regard to a valuation for agricultural use under Section
127 59-2-503 .
128 (b) "Financial feasibility study" means a study to determine:
129 (i) the projected revenues for the proposed town during the first three years after
130 incorporation; and
131 (ii) the projected costs, including overhead, that the proposed town will incur in
132 providing governmental services during the first three years after incorporation.
133 (c) "Municipal service" means a publicly provided service that is not provided on a
134 countywide basis.
135 (d) "Nonurban" means having a residential density of less than one unit per acre.
136 (2) (a) (i) A contiguous area of a county not within a municipality, with a population of
137 at least 100 but less than 1,000, may incorporate as a town as provided in this section.
138 (ii) An area within a county of the first class is not contiguous for purposes of
139 Subsection (2)(a)(i) if:
140 (A) the area includes a strip of land that connects geographically separate areas; and
141 (B) the distance between the geographically separate areas is greater than the average

142 width of the strip of land connecting the geographically separate areas.
143 (b) [(i)] The population figure under Subsection (2)(a) shall be [derived from the most
144 recent official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census. (ii) If the
145 population figure is not available from the United States Bureau of the Census, the population
146 figure shall be derived from the estimate from] determined:
147 (i) as of the date the incorporation petition is filed; and
148 (ii) by the Utah Population Estimates Committee within 20 days after the county clerk's
149 certification under Subsection (5) of a petition filed under Subsection (4).
150 (3) (a) The process to incorporate an area as a town is initiated by filing a [petition]
151 request for a public hearing with the clerk of the county in which the area is located.
152 (b) Each request for a public hearing under Subsection (3)(a) shall:
153 (i) be signed by the owners of at least five separate parcels of private real property,
154 each owned by a different owner, located within the area proposed to be incorporated; and
155 (ii) be accompanied by an accurate map or plat depicting the boundary of the proposed
156 town.
157 (c) Within ten days after a request for a public hearing is filed under Subsection (3)(a),
158 the county clerk shall, with the assistance of other county officers from whom the clerk
159 requests assistance, determine whether the petition complies with the requirements of
160 Subsection (3)(b).
161 (d) If the clerk determines that a request under Subsection (3)(a) fails to comply with
162 the requirements of Subsection (3)(b), the clerk shall reject the request and deliver written
163 notice of the rejection to the signers of the request.
164 (e) (i) If the clerk determines that a request under Subsection (3)(a) complies with the
165 requirements of Subsection (3)(b), the clerk shall:
166 (A) schedule and arrange for a public hearing to be held:
167 (I) (Aa) at a public facility located within the boundary of the proposed town; or
168 (Bb) if there is no public facility within the boundary of the proposed town, at another
169 nearby public facility or at the county seat; and

170 (II) within 20 days after the clerk provides the last notice required under Subsection
171 (3)(e)(i)(B); and
172 (B) subject to Subsection (3)(e)(ii), give notice of the public hearing on the proposed
173 incorporation by:
174 (I) posting notice of the public hearing on the county's Internet website, if the county
175 has an Internet website; and
176 (II) (Aa) publishing notice of the public hearing at least once a week for two
177 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town; or
178 (Bb) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town, posting
179 notice of the public hearing in at least five conspicuous public places within the proposed town.
180 (ii) The posting of notice required under Subsection (3)(e)(i)(B)(I) and, if applicable,
181 Subsection (3)(e)(i)(B)(II)(Bb) and the first publishing of notice required under Subsection
182 (3)(e)(i)(B)(II)(Aa), if applicable, shall occur no later than ten days after the clerk determines
183 that a request complies with the requirements of Subsection (3)(b).
184 (iii) Each public hearing under Subsection (3)(e)(i)(A) shall be conducted by the chair
185 of the county commission or council, or the chair's designee, to:
186 (A) introduce the concept of the proposed incorporation to the public;
187 (B) allow the public to review the map or plat of the boundary of the proposed town;
188 (C) allow the public to ask questions and become informed about the proposed
189 incorporation; and
190 (D) allow the public to express their views about the proposed incorporation, including
191 their views about the boundary of the area proposed to be incorporated.
192 (4) (a) At any time within three months after the public hearing under Subsection
193 (3)(e), a petition to incorporate the area as a town may be filed with the clerk of the county in
194 which the area is located.
195 (b) Each petition under Subsection [(3)] (4)(a) shall:
196 (i) be signed by:
197 (A) the owners of private real property that:

198 [(A)] (I) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated;
199 [(B)] (II) covers a majority of the total private land area within the area; [and]
200 [(C)] (III) is equal in assessed value to [at least 1/3] more than 1/2 of the assessed value
201 of all private real property within the area; and
202 [(ii) state the legal description of the boundaries of the area proposed to be
203 incorporated as a town;]
204 (IV) consists, in number of parcels, of at least 1/3 of the number of all parcels of
205 private real property within the area proposed to be incorporated; and
206 (B) a majority of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated as a
207 town, according to the official voter registration list maintained by the county on the date the
208 petition is filed;
209 [(iii)] (ii) designate [up to] as sponsors at least five [signers] of the property owners
210 who have signed the petition [as sponsors], one of whom shall be designated as the contact
211 sponsor, with the mailing address of each owner signing as a sponsor;
212 [(iv)] (iii) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate map or plat, prepared by
213 a licensed surveyor, showing a legal description of the [boundaries] boundary of the proposed
214 town; and
215 [(v)] (iv) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
216 PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
217 town)
218 To the Honorable County Legislative Body of (insert the name of the county in which
219 the proposed town is located) County, Utah:
220 We, the undersigned owners of real property and registered voters within the area
221 described in this petition, respectfully petition the county legislative body for the area described
222 in this petition to be incorporated as a town. Each of the undersigned affirms that each has
223 personally signed this petition and is an owner of real property or a registered voter residing
224 within the described area, and that the current residence address of each is correctly written
225 after the signer's name. The area proposed to be incorporated as a town is described as follows:

226 (insert an accurate description of the area proposed to be incorporated).
227 (c) A petition under this [section] Subsection (4) may not describe an area that includes
228 some or all of an area proposed for annexation in an annexation petition under Section
229 10-2-403 that:
230 (i) was filed before the filing of the petition; and
231 (ii) is still pending on the date the petition is filed.
232 [(4) Section 10-2-104 applies to a petition for incorporation as a town in any county,
233 except that the notice under Subsection 10-2-104 (1) shall be sent within seven calendar days
234 after the filing of a petition under Subsection (3).]
235 (d) A petition may not be filed under this section if the private real property owned by
236 the petition sponsors, designated under Subsection (4)(b)(ii), cumulatively exceeds 40% of the
237 total private land area within the area proposed to be incorporated as a town.
238 (e) A signer of a petition under this Subsection (4) may withdraw or, after withdrawn,
239 reinstate the signer's signature on the petition:
240 (i) at any time until the county clerk certifies the petition under Subsection (6); and
241 (ii) by filing a signed, written withdrawal or reinstatement with the county clerk.
242 (5) (a) If a petition is filed under Subsection (4)(a) proposing to incorporate as a town
243 an area located within a county of the first class, the county clerk shall deliver written notice of
244 the proposed incorporation:
245 (i) to each owner of private real property owning more than 1% of the assessed value
246 of all private real property within the area proposed to be incorporated as a town; and
247 (ii) within seven calendar days after the date on which the petition is filed.
248 (b) A private real property owner described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) may exclude all or
249 part of the owner's property from the area proposed to be incorporated as a town by filing a
250 notice of exclusion:
251 (i) with the county clerk; and
252 (ii) within ten calendar days after receiving the clerk's notice under Subsection (5)(a).
253 (c) The county legislative body shall exclude from the area proposed to be incorporated

254 as a town the property identified in the notice of exclusion under Subsection (5)(b) if:
255 (i) the property:
256 (A) is nonurban; and
257 (B) does not and will not require a municipal service; and
258 (ii) exclusion will not leave an unincorporated island within the proposed town.
259 (d) If the county legislative body excludes property from the area proposed to be
260 incorporated as a town, the county legislative body shall send written notice of the exclusion to
261 the contact sponsor within five days after the exclusion.
262 (6) Within 20 days after the filing of a petition under Subsection (4), the county clerk
263 shall:
264 (a) with the assistance of other county officers from whom the clerk requests
265 assistance, determine whether the petition complies with the requirements of Subsection (4);
266 and
267 (b) (i) if the clerk determines that the petition complies with those requirements:
268 (A) certify the petition and deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body;
269 and
270 (B) mail or deliver written notification of the certification to:
271 (I) the contact sponsor;
272 (II) if applicable, the chair of the planning commission of each township in which any
273 part of the area proposed for incorporation is located; and
274 (III) the Utah Population Estimates Committee; or
275 (ii) if the clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of those
276 requirements, reject the petition and notify the contact sponsor in writing of the rejection and
277 the reasons for the rejection.
278 (7) (a) (i) A petition that is rejected under Subsection (6)(b)(ii) may be amended to
279 correct a deficiency for which it was rejected and then refiled with the county clerk.
280 (ii) A valid signature on a petition filed under Subsection (4)(a) may be used toward
281 fulfilling the signature requirement of Subsection (4)(b) for the same petition that is amended

282 under Subsection (7)(a)(i) and then refiled with the county clerk.
283 (b) If a petition is amended and refiled under Subsection (7)(a)(i) after having been
284 rejected by the county clerk under Subsection (6)(b)(ii):
285 (i) the amended petition shall be considered as a newly filed petition; and
286 (ii) the amended petition's processing priority is determined by the date on which it is
287 refiled.
288 [(5)] (8) (a) (i) The legislative body of [each] a county with which a [base] petition is
289 filed under [this section shall] Subsection (4) may, at its option and upon the petition being
290 certified under Subsection (5), commission and pay for a financial feasibility study [as
291 provided in Section 10-2-103 ].
292 (ii) If the county legislative body chooses to commission a financial feasibility study,
293 the county legislative body shall:
294 (A) within 20 days after the incorporation petition is certified, select and engage a
295 feasibility consultant; and
296 (B) require the feasibility consultant to complete the financial feasibility study and
297 submit written results of the study to the county legislative body no later than 30 days after the
298 feasibility consultant is engaged to conduct the financial feasibility study.
299 [(ii) If ] (b) The county legislative body shall approve a petition proposing the
300 incorporation of a town and hold an election for town officers, as provided in Subsection (9),
301 if:
302 (i) the county clerk has certified the petition under Subsection (6); and
303 (ii) (A) (I) the county legislative body has commissioned a financial feasibility study
304 under Subsection (8)(a); and
305 (II) the results of the financial feasibility study [under Subsection (5)(a)(i) meet the
306 requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3) , the county legislative body shall grant the petition.]
307 show that the average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) does not
308 exceed the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than
309 10%; or

310 (B) the county legislative body chooses not to commission a financial feasibility study.
311 [(iii) If] (c) (i) If the county legislative body commissions a financial feasibility study
312 under Subsection (8)(a) and the results of the financial feasibility study [under Subsection
313 (5)(a)(i) do not meet the requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3)] show that the average annual
314 amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) exceeds the average annual amount of
315 costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than 10%, the county legislative body may:
316 (A) deny the petition, subject to Subsection (8)(c)(ii), if the results of the financial
317 feasibility study show that the average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection
318 (1)(b)(i) exceeds the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by 25%
319 or more;
320 [(B) grant the petition; or]
321 (B) approve the petition and hold an election for town officers, as provided in
322 Subsection (8); or
323 (C) (I) with the consent of the petition sponsors[, grant the petition, after]:
324 [(I) imposing] (Aa) impose conditions to mitigate the fiscal inequities identified in the
325 financial feasibility study; or
326 [(II) altering] (Bb) alter the boundaries of the area proposed to be incorporated as a
327 town to approximate the boundaries necessary to [meet the requirements of Subsection
328 10-2-109 (3).] prevent the average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i)
329 from exceeding the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii); and
330 (II) approve the incorporation petition and hold an election for town officers, as
331 provided in Subsection (9).
332 (ii) A county legislative body intending to deny a petition under Subsection (8)(c)(i)(A)
333 shall deny the petition within 20 days after the feasibility consultant submits the written results
334 of the financial feasibility study.
335 [(iv)] (d) Each town that incorporates pursuant to a petition [granted] approved after
336 the county legislative body imposes conditions under Subsection [(5)(a)(iii)(C)(I)]
337 (8)(c)(i)(C)(I) shall comply with those conditions.

338 [(b) The legislative body of each county of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class
339 with which a qualifying petition is filed shall grant the petition.]
340 [(6) (a) Upon the granting of a petition filed under this section, the]
341 (9) (a) The legislative body of the county in which the proposed new town is located
342 shall [appoint a mayor and members of the town council from a list of qualified individuals
343 approved by the petition sponsors] hold the election for town officers provided for in
344 Subsection (8) within:
345 (i) 45 days after the petition is certified, for an election under Subsection
346 (8)(b)(i)(B)(II) or (8)(b)(ii);
347 (ii) 45 days after the feasibility consultant submits the written results of the financial
348 feasibility study, for an election under Subsection (8)(b)(i)(B)(I); or
349 (iii) 60 days after the feasibility consultant submits the written results of the financial
350 feasibility study, for an election under Subsection (8)(c).
351 (b) The officers elected at an election under Subsection (9)(a) shall take office:
352 (i) at noon on the first Monday in January next following the election, if the election is
353 held on a regular general or municipal general election date; or
354 (ii) at noon on the first day of the month next following the effective date of the
355 incorporation under Subsection (12), if the election of officers is held on any other date.
356 [(b) The officers appointed under Subsection (6)(a) shall hold office until the next
357 regular municipal election and until their successors are elected and qualified.]
358 [(7)] (10) Each newly incorporated town shall operate under the [six-member]
359 five-member council form of government as described in Section 10-3-101 .
360 [(8)] (11) (a) [Each mayor appointed under Subsection (6) shall, within] Within seven
361 days [of appointment, file] after the canvass of the election of town officers under Subsection
362 (9), the mayor-elect of the new town shall file at least three copies of the articles of
363 incorporation of the new town with the lieutenant governor.
364 (b) The articles of incorporation shall meet the requirements of Subsection
365 10-2-119 (2).

366 [(9) A town is incorporated upon the lieutenant governor's issuance of a certificate of
367 entity creation under Section 67-1a-6.5 .]
368 [(10) The legislative body of the new town shall comply with the notice requirements
369 of Section 10-1-116 .]
370 (12) A new town is incorporated:
371 (a) on December 31 of the year in which the lieutenant governor issues a certificate of
372 entity creation for the town under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town officers under
373 Subsection (9) is held on a regular general or municipal general election date; or
374 (b) on the last day of the month during which the lieutenant governor issues a
375 certificate of entity creation for the town under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town
376 officers under Subsection (9) is held on any other date.
377 (13) For each petition filed before the effective date of this section:
378 (a) the petition is subject to and governed by the law in effect at the time the petition
379 was filed; and
380 (b) the law in effect at the time the petition was filed governs in all administrative and
381 judicial proceedings relating to the petition.
382 Section 3. Section 20A-1-203 is amended to read:
383 20A-1-203. Calling and purpose of special elections.
384 (1) Statewide and local special elections may be held for any purpose authorized by
385 law.
386 (2) (a) Statewide special elections shall be conducted using the procedure for regular
387 general elections.
388 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, local special elections shall be conducted
389 using the procedures for regular municipal elections.
390 (3) The governor may call a statewide special election by issuing an executive order
391 that designates:
392 (a) the date for the statewide special election; and
393 (b) the purpose for the statewide special election.

394 (4) The Legislature may call a statewide special election by passing a joint or
395 concurrent resolution that designates:
396 (a) the date for the statewide special election; and
397 (b) the purpose for the statewide special election.
398 (5) (a) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may call a local special
399 election only for:
400 (i) a vote on a bond or debt issue;
401 (ii) a vote on a voted leeway program authorized by Section 53A-17a-133 or
402 53A-17a-134 ;
403 (iii) an initiative authorized by Chapter 7, Part 5, Local Initiatives - Procedure;
404 (iv) a referendum authorized by Chapter 7, Part 6, Local Referenda - Procedures;
405 (v) if required or authorized by federal law, a vote to determine whether or not Utah's
406 legal boundaries should be changed;
407 (vi) a vote authorized or required by Title 59, Chapter 12, Sales and Use Tax Act; [or]
408 (vii) a vote to elect members to school district boards for a new school district and a
409 remaining school district, as defined in Section 53A-2-117 , following the creation of a new
410 school district under Section 53A-2-118.1 [.]; or
411 (viii) an election of town officers of a newly incorporated town under Subsection
412 10-2-125 (9).
413 (b) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may call a local special election
414 by adopting an ordinance or resolution that designates:
415 (i) the date for the local special election; and
416 (ii) the purpose for the local special election.
417 Section 4. Section 20A-1-204 is amended to read:
418 20A-1-204. Date of special election -- Legal effect.
419 (1) (a) The governor, Legislature, or the legislative body of a local political subdivision
420 calling a statewide special election or local special election under Section 20A-1-203 shall
421 schedule the special election to be held on:

422 (i) the fourth Tuesday in June; [or]
423 (ii) the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November[.]; or
424 (iii) for an election of town officers of a newly incorporated town under Subsection
425 10-2-125 (9), on any date that complies with the requirements of that subsection.
426 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), the governor, Legislature, or the legislative
427 body of a local political subdivision calling a statewide special election or local special election
428 under Section 20A-1-203 may not schedule a special election to be held on any other date.
429 (c) (i) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (1)(b), the legislative body of a
430 local political subdivision may call a local special election on a date other than those specified
431 in this section if the legislative body:
432 (A) determines and declares that there is a disaster, as defined in Section 63-5-2 ,
433 requiring that a special election be held on a date other than the ones authorized in statute;
434 (B) identifies specifically the nature of the disaster, as defined in Section 63-5-2 , and
435 the reasons for holding the special election on that other date; and
436 (C) votes unanimously to hold the special election on that other date.
437 (ii) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may not call a local special
438 election for the date established in Title 20A, Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential
439 Primary, for Utah's Western States Presidential Primary.
440 (d) Nothing in this section prohibits:
441 (i) the governor or Legislature from submitting a matter to the voters at the regular
442 general election if authorized by law; or
443 (ii) a local government from submitting a matter to the voters at the regular municipal
444 election if authorized by law.
445 (2) (a) Two or more entities shall comply with Subsection (2)(b) if those entities hold a
446 special election within a county on the same day as:
447 (i) another special election;
448 (ii) a regular general election; or
449 (iii) a municipal general election.

450 (b) Entities described in Subsection (2)(a) shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate:
451 (i) polling places;
452 (ii) ballots;
453 (iii) election officials; and
454 (iv) other administrative and procedural matters connected with the election.
455 Section 5. Effective date.
456 If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
457 upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
458 Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
459 the date of veto override.
460 Section 6. Revisor instructions.
461 It is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General
462 Counsel, in preparing the Utah Code database for publication, replace the phrase "the effective
463 date of this section" in Subsection 10-2-125 (13) of this bill with the actual effective date of this
464 bill.
465 Section 7. Coordinating H.B. 164 with S.B. 20 -- Technically merging
466 amendments.
467 If this H.B. 164 and S.B. 20, Municipal Government Amendments, both pass, it is the
468 intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in
469 preparing the Utah Code database for publication, modify Subsection 10-2-125 (10), as
470 amended in this bill, to read:
471 "[(7)] (10) Each newly incorporated town shall operate under the [six-member]
472 five-member council form of government as [described] defined in Section [10-3-101]
473 10-3b-102 ."