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H.B. 262 Enrolled

             1     

DIVIDED SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSETS AND

             2     
LIABILITIES

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Kenneth W. Sumsion

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies provisions pertaining to the allocation of the assets and liabilities of
             11      certain divided school districts.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    specifies how the assets and liabilities of a divided school district shall be allocated
             15      between the new district and the remaining district when a school district is created
             16      pursuant to a proposal made by a city or interlocal agreement participants; and
             17          .    eliminates provisions requiring disagreements about the allocation of assets and
             18      liabilities to be resolved by binding arbitration.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          53A-2-117, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 92 and 236
             26          53A-2-118.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 230
             27     
             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 53A-2-117 is amended to read:


             30           53A-2-117. Definitions.
             31          As used in Sections 53A-2-117 through 53A-2-121 :
             32          (1) "Allocation date" means:
             33          (a) June 30 of the second calendar year after the [creation] local school board general
             34      election date described in Subsection 53A-2-118.1 (3)(a)(i); or
             35          (b) another date that the transition teams under Section 53A-1-118.1 mutually agree to.
             36          (2) "Canvass date" means the date of the canvass of an election under Subsection
             37      53A-2-118 (5) at which voters approve the creation of a new school district under Section
             38      53A-2-118.1 .
             39          (3) "Creation election date" means the date of the election under Subsection
             40      53A-2-118 (5) at which voters approve the creation of a new school district under Section
             41      53A-2-118.1 .
             42          (4) "Divided school district, "existing district," or "existing school district" means a
             43      school district from which a new district is created.
             44          (5) "New district" or "new school district" means a school district created under
             45      Section 53A-2-118 or 53A-2-118.1 .
             46          (6) "Remaining district" or "remaining school district" means an existing district after
             47      the creation of a new district.
             48          Section 2. Section 53A-2-118.1 is amended to read:
             49           53A-2-118.1. Proposal initiated by a city or interlocal agreement participants to
             50      create a school district -- Boundaries -- Election of local school board members --
             51      Allocation of assets and liabilities -- Startup costs -- Transfer of title.
             52          (1) (a) After conducting a feasibility study, a city with a population of at least 50,000,
             53      as determined by the lieutenant governor using the process described in Subsection 67-1a-2 (3),
             54      may by majority vote of the legislative body, submit for voter approval a measure to create a
             55      new school district with boundaries contiguous with that city's boundaries, in accordance with
             56      Section 53A-2-118 .
             57          (b) (i) The determination of all matters relating to the scope, adequacy, and other


             58      aspects of a feasibility study under Subsection (1)(a) is within the exclusive discretion of the
             59      city's legislative body.
             60          (ii) An inadequacy of a feasibility study under Subsection (1)(a) may not be the basis of
             61      a legal action or other challenge to:
             62          (A) an election for voter approval of the creation of a new school district; or
             63          (B) the creation of the new school district.
             64          (2) (a) By majority vote of the legislative body, a city of any class, a town, or a county,
             65      may, together with one or more other cities, towns, or the county enter into an interlocal
             66      agreement, in accordance with Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, for the purpose
             67      of submitting for voter approval a measure to create a new school district.
             68          (b) (i) In accordance with Section 53A-2-118 , interlocal agreement participants under
             69      Subsection (2)(a) may submit a proposal for voter approval if:
             70          (A) the interlocal agreement participants conduct a feasibility study prior to submitting
             71      the proposal to the county;
             72          (B) the combined population within the proposed new school district boundaries is at
             73      least 50,000;
             74          (C) the new school district boundaries:
             75          (I) are contiguous;
             76          (II) do not completely surround or otherwise completely geographically isolate a
             77      portion of an existing school district that is not part of the proposed new school district from
             78      the remaining part of that existing school district, except as provided in Subsection (2)(d)(iii);
             79          (III) include the entire boundaries of each participant city or town, except as provided
             80      in Subsection (2)(d)(ii); and
             81          (IV) subject to Subsection (2)(b)(ii), do not cross county lines; and
             82          (D) the combined population within the proposed new school district of interlocal
             83      agreement participants that have entered into an interlocal agreement proposing to create a new
             84      school district is at least 80% of the total population of the proposed new school district.
             85          (ii) The determination of all matters relating to the scope, adequacy, and other aspects


             86      of a feasibility study under Subsection (2)(b)(i)(A), including whether to conduct a new
             87      feasibility study or revise a previous feasibility study due to a change in the proposed new
             88      school district boundaries, is within the exclusive discretion of the legislative bodies of the
             89      interlocal agreement participants that enter into an interlocal agreement to submit for voter
             90      approval a measure to create a new school district.
             91          (iii) An inadequacy of a feasibility study under Subsection (2)(b)(i)(A) may not be the
             92      basis of a legal action or other challenge to:
             93          (A) an election for voter approval of the creation of a new school district; or
             94          (B) the creation of the new school district.
             95          (iv) For purposes of determining whether the boundaries of a proposed new school
             96      district cross county lines under Subsection (2)(b)(i)(C)(IV):
             97          (A) a municipality located in more than one county and entirely within the boundaries
             98      of a single school district is considered to be entirely within the same county as other
             99      participants in an interlocal agreement under Subsection (2)(a) if more of the municipality's
             100      land area and population is located in that same county than outside the county; and
             101          (B) a municipality located in more than one county that participates in an interlocal
             102      agreement under Subsection (2)(a) with respect to some but not all of the area within the
             103      municipality's boundaries on the basis of the exception stated in Subsection (2)(d)(ii)(B) may
             104      not be considered to cross county lines.
             105          (c) (i) A county may only participate in an interlocal agreement under this Subsection
             106      (2) for the unincorporated areas of the county.
             107          (ii) Boundaries of a new school district created under this section may include:
             108          (A) a portion of one or more existing school districts; and
             109          (B) a portion of the unincorporated area of a county, including a portion of a township.
             110          (d) (i) As used in this Subsection (2)(d):
             111          (A) "Isolated area" means an area that:
             112          (I) is entirely within the boundaries of a municipality that, except for that area, is
             113      entirely within a school district different than the school district in which the area is located;


             114      and
             115          (II) would, because of the creation of a new school district from the existing district in
             116      which the area is located, become completely geographically isolated.
             117          (B) "Municipality's school district" means the school district that includes all of the
             118      municipality in which the isolated area is located except the isolated area.
             119          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b)(i)(C)(III), a municipality may be a participant in
             120      an interlocal agreement under Subsection (2)(a) with respect to some but not all of the area
             121      within the municipality's boundaries if:
             122          (A) the portion of the municipality proposed to be included in the new school district
             123      would, if not included, become an isolated area upon the creation of the new school district; or
             124          (B) (I) the portion of the municipality proposed to be included in the new school
             125      district is within the boundaries of the same school district that includes the other interlocal
             126      agreement participants; and
             127          (II) the portion of the municipality proposed to be excluded from the new school
             128      district is within the boundaries of a school district other than the school district that includes
             129      the other interlocal agreement participants.
             130          (iii) (A) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b)(i)(C)(II), a proposal to create a new school
             131      district may be submitted for voter approval pursuant to an interlocal agreement under
             132      Subsection (2)(a), even though the new school district boundaries would create an isolated
             133      area, if:
             134          (I) the potential isolated area is contiguous to one or more of the interlocal agreement
             135      participants;
             136          (II) the interlocal participants submit a written request to the municipality in which the
             137      potential isolated area is located, requesting the municipality to enter into an interlocal
             138      agreement under Subsection (2)(a) that proposes to submit for voter approval a measure to
             139      create a new school district that includes the potential isolated area; and
             140          (III) 90 days after a request under Subsection (2)(d)(iii)(A)(II) is submitted, the
             141      municipality has not entered into an interlocal agreement as requested in the request.


             142          (B) Each municipality receiving a request under Subsection (2)(d)(iii)(A)(II) shall hold
             143      one or more public hearings to allow input from the public and affected school districts
             144      regarding whether or not the municipality should enter into an interlocal agreement with
             145      respect to the potential isolated area.
             146          (C) (I) This Subsection (2)(d)(iii)(C) applies if:
             147          (Aa) a new school district is created under this section after a measure is submitted to
             148      voters based on the authority of Subsection (2)(d)(iii)(A); and
             149          (Bb) the creation of the new school district results in an isolated area.
             150          (II) The isolated area shall, on July 1 of the second calendar year following the local
             151      school board general election date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), become part of the
             152      municipality's school district.
             153          (III) Unless the isolated area is the only remaining part of the existing district, the
             154      process described in Subsection (4) shall be modified to:
             155          (Aa) include a third transition team, appointed by the local school [district] board of
             156      the municipality's school district, to represent that school district; and
             157          (Bb) require allocation of the existing district's [property] assets and liabilities among
             158      the new district, the remaining district, and the municipality's school district[;].
             159          [(Cc) require each of the three transition teams to appoint one member to the
             160      three-member arbitration panel, if an arbitration panel is established; and]
             161          [(Dd) require the municipality's school district to bear 1/3 of the costs of arbitration.]
             162          (IV) The existing district shall continue to provide educational services to the isolated
             163      area until July 1 of the second calendar year following the local school board general election
             164      date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i).
             165          (3) (a) If a proposal under this section is approved by voters:
             166          (i) an election shall be held at the next regular general election to elect:
             167          (A) members to the local school board of the existing school district whose terms are
             168      expiring;
             169          (B) all members to the local school board of the new school district; and


             170          (C) all members to the local school board of the remaining district;
             171          (ii) the assets and liabilities of the existing school district [property] shall be divided
             172      between the [existing] remaining school district and the new school district as provided in
             173      Subsection [(4)] (5) and Section 53A-2-121 ;
             174          (iii) transferred employees shall be treated in accordance with Sections 53A-2-116 and
             175      53A-2-122 ;
             176          (iv) (A) an individual residing within the boundaries of a new school district at the
             177      time the new school district is created may, for six school years after the creation of the new
             178      school district, elect to enroll in a secondary school located outside the boundaries of the new
             179      school district if:
             180          (I) the individual resides within the boundaries of that secondary school as of the day
             181      before the new school district is created; and
             182          (II) the individual would have been eligible to enroll in that secondary school had the
             183      new school district not been created; and
             184          (B) the school district in which the secondary school is located shall provide
             185      educational services, including, if provided before the creation of the new school district,
             186      busing, to each individual making an election under Subsection (3)(a)(iv)(A) for each school
             187      year for which the individual makes the election; and
             188          (v) within one year after the new district begins providing educational services, the
             189      superintendent of each remaining district affected and the superintendent of the new district
             190      shall meet, together with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to determine if further
             191      boundary changes should be proposed in accordance with Section 53A-2-104 .
             192          (b) (i) The terms of the initial members of the local school [district] board of the new
             193      district and remaining district shall be staggered and adjusted by the county legislative body so
             194      that approximately half of the local school board is elected every two years.
             195          (ii) The term of a member of the existing local school board, including a member
             196      elected under Subsection (3)(a)(i)(A), terminates on July 1 of the second year after the local
             197      school board general election date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), regardless of when the


             198      term would otherwise have terminated.
             199          (iii) Notwithstanding the existence of a local school board for the new district and a
             200      local school board for the remaining district under Subsection (3)(a)(i), the local school board
             201      of the existing district shall continue, until the time specified in Subsection
             202      53A-2-118 (5)(b)(ii)(A), to function and exercise authority as a local school board to the extent
             203      necessary to continue to provide educational services to the entire existing district.
             204          (iv) A person may simultaneously serve as or be elected to be a member of the local
             205      school board of an existing district and a member of the local school board of:
             206          (A) a new district; or
             207          (B) a remaining district.
             208          (4) (a) Within 45 days after the canvass date for the election at which voters approve
             209      the creation of a new district:
             210          (i) a transition team to represent the remaining district shall be appointed by the
             211      members of the existing [district] local school board who reside within the area of the
             212      remaining district, in consultation with:
             213          (A) the legislative bodies of all municipalities in the area of the remaining district; and
             214          (B) the legislative body of the county in which the remaining district is located, if the
             215      remaining district includes one or more unincorporated areas of the county; and
             216          (ii) another transition team to represent the new district shall be appointed by:
             217          (A) for a new district located entirely within the boundaries of a single city, the
             218      legislative body of that city; or
             219          (B) for each other new district, the legislative bodies of all interlocal agreement
             220      participants.
             221          (b) The local school [district] board of the existing school district shall, within 60 days
             222      after the canvass date for the election at which voters approve the creation of a new district:
             223          (i) prepare an inventory of the existing district's:
             224          (A) [property] assets, both tangible and intangible, real and personal; and
             225          (B) liabilities; and


             226          (ii) deliver a copy of the inventory to each of the transition teams.
             227          (c) [(i) (A)] The transition teams appointed under Subsection (4)(a) shall[, subject to
             228      Subsection (4)(c)(iii)]:
             229          [(I)] (i) determine the allocation of the existing district's [property] assets and, except
             230      for indebtedness under Section 53A-2-121 , liabilities between the remaining district and the
             231      new district in accordance with Subsection [(4)(c)(ii)] (5);
             232          [(II)] (ii) prepare a written report detailing how the existing district's [property] assets
             233      and, except for indebtedness under Section 53A-2-121 , liabilities are to be allocated[,
             234      including:]; and
             235          [(Aa) a designation of the property that should be transferred to the new district;]
             236          [(Bb) a designation of any property that should be shared between the remaining
             237      district and the new district; and]
             238          [(Cc) a designation of any property that will need to be allocated by arbitration under
             239      Subsection (4)(d); and]
             240          [(III)] (iii) deliver a copy of the written report to:
             241          [(Aa)] (A) the local school [district] board of the existing district;
             242          [(Bb)] (B) the local school [district] board of the remaining district; and
             243          [(Cc)] (C) the local school [district] board of the new district.
             244          [(B)] (d) The transition teams shall determine the allocation under Subsection
             245      (4)(c)(i)[(A)(I)] and deliver the report required under Subsection (4)(c)[(i)(A)(II)](ii) before
             246      August 1 of the year following the election at which voters approve the creation of a new
             247      district, unless that deadline is extended by the mutual agreement of:
             248          [(I)] (i) the local school [district] board of the existing district; and
             249          [(II) (Aa)] (ii) (A) the legislative body of the city in which the new district is located,
             250      for a new district located entirely within a single city; or
             251          [(Bb)] (B) the legislative bodies of all interlocal agreement participants, for each other
             252      new district.
             253          [(ii) Subject to Subsection (4)(c)(iii), all property, assets, and liabilities that the


             254      existing district owns on the allocation date, both tangible and intangible, real and personal,
             255      shall be allocated between the remaining district and the new district in a way that is fair and
             256      equitable to both the remaining district and the new district, taking into account:]
             257          [(A) the relative student populations between the remaining district and new district;]
             258          [(B) the relative assessed value of taxable property between the remaining district and
             259      the new district;]
             260          [(C) the historical amount of property used to deliver educational services to students
             261      in the remaining district and the new district;]
             262          [(D) any money made available for the use of the new district under Subsection (5);
             263      and]
             264          [(E) any other factors that the transition teams consider relevant in dividing the
             265      property in a fair and equitable manner.]
             266          [(iii) (A) The transition teams shall allocate each school building and associated
             267      property used primarily to provide educational services to local residents and not serving
             268      district-wide purposes to the school district that would best serve the existing student
             269      population of that school building and associated property.]
             270          [(B) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c)(iii)(A), nothing in this Subsection (4)(c)
             271      may be construed to limit the ability of the transition teams to:]
             272          [(I) provide that an existing district's property be shared by a remaining district and
             273      new district;]
             274          [(II) determine, by mutual agreement, that the value of the school buildings and
             275      associated property described in Subsection (4)(c)(iii)(A) may be excluded from consideration
             276      in the property allocation process under this Subsection (4)(c); or]
             277          [(III) provide for any other arrangement with respect to existing district property that is
             278      beneficial to and in the best interests of the remaining district and new district.]
             279          [(d) (i) Each disagreement between the transition teams about the proper allocation of
             280      property between the districts shall be resolved by binding arbitration to a three-member
             281      arbitration panel.]


             282          [(ii) Each transition team shall, no later than September 1 of the year after the creation
             283      election date, appoint one qualified, independent arbitrator to an arbitration panel under this
             284      Subsection (4)(d), and those two arbitrators shall, within 15 days after their appointment,
             285      appoint a third qualified, independent arbitrator.]
             286          [(iii) In the process of resolving a dispute between the transition teams, the arbitration
             287      panel may engage the services of one or more professionals to provide technical advice to the
             288      panel.]
             289          [(iv) The costs of arbitration shall initially be borne entirely by the existing district, but
             290      the new district shall reimburse the existing district half of those costs within one year after the
             291      new district begins providing educational services.]
             292          [(e) Each decision of the transition teams and of the arbitration panel resolving a
             293      disagreement between the transition teams is final and binding on the boards of the existing
             294      district, remaining district, and new district.]
             295          [(f)] (e) (i) All costs and expenses of the transition team that represents a remaining
             296      district shall be borne by the remaining district.
             297          (ii) All costs and expenses of the transition team that represents a new district shall
             298      initially be borne by:
             299          (A) the city whose legislative body appoints the transition team, if the transition team
             300      is appointed by the legislative body of a single city; or
             301          (B) the interlocal agreement participants, if the transition team is appointed by the
             302      legislative bodies of interlocal agreement participants.
             303          (iii) The new district may, to a maximum of $500,000, reimburse the city or interlocal
             304      agreement participants for:
             305          (A) transition team costs and expenses; and
             306          (B) startup costs and expenses incurred by the city or interlocal agreement participants
             307      on behalf of the new district.
             308          (5) (a) As used in this Subsection (5):
             309          (i) "Associated property" means furniture, equipment, or supplies located in or


             310      specifically associated with a physical asset.
             311          (ii) (A) "Discretionary asset or liability" means, except as provided in Subsection
             312      (5)(a)(ii)(B), an asset or liability that is not tied to a specific project, school, student, or
             313      employee by law or school district accounting practice.
             314          (B) "Discretionary asset or liability" does not include a physical asset, associated
             315      property, a vehicle, or bonded indebtedness.
             316          (iii) (A) "Nondiscretionary asset or liability" means, except as provided in Subsection
             317      (5)(a)(iii)(B), an asset or liability that is tied to a specific project, school, student, or employee
             318      by law or school district accounting practice.
             319          (B) "Nondiscretionary asset or liability" does not include a physical asset, associated
             320      property, a vehicle, or bonded indebtedness.
             321          (iv) "Physical asset" means a building, land, or water right together with revenue
             322      derived from the lease or use of the building, land, or water right.
             323          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(c), the transition teams appointed under
             324      Subsection (4)(a) shall allocate all assets and liabilities the existing district owns on the
             325      allocation date, both tangible and intangible, real and personal, to the new district and
             326      remaining district as follows:
             327          (i) a physical asset and associated property shall be allocated to the school district in
             328      which the physical asset is located;
             329          (ii) a discretionary asset or liability shall be allocated between the new district and
             330      remaining district in proportion to the student populations of the school districts;
             331          (iii) a nondiscretionary asset shall be allocated to the school district where the project,
             332      school, student, or employee to which the nondiscretionary asset is tied will be located;
             333          (iv) vehicles used for pupil transportation shall be allocated:
             334          (A) according to the transportation needs of schools, as measured by the number and
             335      assortment of vehicles used to serve transportation routes serving schools within the new
             336      district and remaining district; and
             337          (B) in a manner that gives each school district a fleet of vehicles for pupil


             338      transportation that is equivalent in terms of age, condition, and variety of carrying capacities;
             339      and
             340          (v) other vehicles shall be allocated:
             341          (A) in proportion to the student populations of the school districts; and
             342          (B) in a manner that gives each district a fleet of vehicles that is similar in terms of age,
             343      condition, and carrying capacities.
             344          (c) By mutual agreement, the transition teams may allocate an asset or liability in a
             345      manner different than the allocation method specified in Subsection (5)(b).
             346          [(5)] (6) (a) As used in this Subsection [(5)] (6):
             347          (i) "New district startup costs" means:
             348          (A) costs and expenses incurred by a new district in order to prepare to begin providing
             349      educational services on July 1 of the second calendar year following the local school board
             350      general election date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i); and
             351          (B) the costs and expenses of the transition team that represents the new district.
             352          (ii) "Remaining district startup costs" means:
             353          (A) costs and expenses incurred by a remaining district in order to:
             354          (I) make necessary adjustments to deal with the impacts resulting from the creation of
             355      the new district; and
             356          (II) prepare to provide educational services within the remaining district once the new
             357      district begins providing educational services within the new district; and
             358          (B) the costs and expenses of the transition team that represents the remaining district.
             359          (b) (i) By January 1 of the year following the local school board general election date
             360      described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), the existing district shall make half of the undistributed
             361      reserve from its General Fund, to a maximum of $9,000,000, available for the use of the
             362      remaining district and the new district, as provided in this Subsection [(5)] (6).
             363          (ii) The existing district may make additional funds available for the use of the
             364      remaining district and the new district beyond the amount specified in Subsection [(5)] (6)(b)(i)
             365      through an interlocal agreement.


             366          (c) The existing district shall make the money under Subsection [(5)] (6)(b) available
             367      to the remaining district and the new district proportionately based on student population.
             368          (d) The money made available under Subsection [(5)] (6)(b) may be accessed and spent
             369      by:
             370          (i) for the remaining district, the local school [district] board of the remaining district;
             371      and
             372          (ii) for the new district, the local school [district] board of the new district.
             373          (e) (i) The remaining district may use its portion of the money made available under
             374      Subsection [(5)] (6)(b) to pay for remaining district startup costs.
             375          (ii) The new district may use its portion of the money made available under Subsection
             376      [(5)] (6)(b) to pay for new district startup costs.
             377          [(6)] (7) (a) The existing district shall transfer title or, if applicable, partial title of
             378      property to the new school district in accordance with the allocation of property by[: (i)] the
             379      transition teams, as stated in the report under Subsection (4)(c)[(i)(A)(II); and](ii).
             380          [(ii) the arbitration panel, if applicable.]
             381          (b) The existing district shall complete each transfer of title or, if applicable, partial
             382      title to real property and vehicles by July 1 of the second calendar year following the local
             383      school board general election date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), except as that date is
             384      changed by the mutual agreement of:
             385          (i) the local school [district] board of the existing district;
             386          (ii) the local school [district] board of the remaining district; and
             387          (iii) the local school [district] board of the new district.
             388          (c) The existing district shall complete the transfer of all property not included in
             389      Subsection [(6)] (7)(b) by November 1 of the second calendar year after the local school board
             390      general election date described in Subsection (3)(a)(i).
             391          [(7)] (8) Except as provided in Subsections [(5)] (6) and [(6)] (7), after the creation
             392      election date an existing school district may not transfer or agree to transfer title to district
             393      property without the prior consent of:


             394          (a) the legislative body of the city in which the new district is located, for a new district
             395      located entirely within a single city; or
             396          (b) the legislative bodies of all interlocal agreement participants, for each other new
             397      district.
             398          [(8) This section applies to and governs all actions and proceedings relating to and
             399      following the creation of a new district, whether the election under Subsection 53A-2-118 (5)
             400      on the proposal to create a new school district occurs before or after May 5, 2008, including:]
             401          [(a) the election of school district board members; and]
             402          [(b) transition team duties and responsibilities, whether the transition team is appointed
             403      before or after May 5, 2008.]
             404          (9) This section does not apply to the creation of a new district initiated through a
             405      citizens' initiative petition or at the request of a local school board under Section 53A-2-118 .


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