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Sixth Substitute H.B. 502

Senator Karen Mayne proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
INCORPORATION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to the incorporation of a city or town.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    amends definitions;
             13          .    amends language related to a request for a feasibility study;
             14          .    amends language related to the exclusion of property from proposed incorporation
             15      boundaries;
             16          .    amends language related to the certification of a request for a feasibility study;
             17          .    amends provisions that require a city incorporation feasibility study;
             18          .    amends language related to a city incorporation petition;
             19          .    amends language related to an incorporation of a city election;
             20          .    amends provisions related to a town incorporation feasibility study;
             21          .    amends language related to a town incorporation petition;
             22          .    requires a county legislative body to hold a public hearing on a feasibility study;
             23          .    enacts provisions related to an incorporation of a town election;
             24          .    enacts provisions related to a town form of government and election of town
             25      officers;


             26          .    enacts provisions requiring notice of a town incorporation to the lieutenant
             27      governor;
             28          .    enacts provisions related to the effective date of a town incorporation;
             29          .    amends language related to the duties of a planning commission of a township;
             30          .    amends the definition of "ballot proposition"; and
             31          .    makes technical corrections.
             32      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             33          None
             34      Other Special Clauses:
             35          None
             36      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             37      AMENDS:
             38          10-2-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 360
             39          10-2-102, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 389
             40          10-2-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 129
             41          10-2-105, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 13
             42          10-2-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             43          10-2-108, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 90
             44          10-2-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 378
             45          10-2-111, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 388
             46          10-2-116, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 388
             47          10-2-125, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 90, 122 and last amended
             48      by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 90
             49          17-27a-302, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 254
             50          20A-1-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 17, 40, 310, and 335
             51          20A-1-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 371
             52          20A-1-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 16 and 382
             53      ENACTS:
             54          10-2-126, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55          10-2-127, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             56          10-2-128, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             57          10-2-129, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             58      REPEALS AND REENACTS:
             59          10-2-124, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 389
             60     
             61      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             62          Section 1. Section 10-2-101 is amended to read:
             63           10-2-101. Definitions.
             64          (1) As used in this part:
             65          [(a) "Commission" means a boundary commission established under Section 10-2-409
             66      for the county in which the property that is proposed to be incorporated is located.]
             67          [(b)] (a) "Feasibility consultant" means a person or firm:
             68          (i) with expertise in the processes and economics of local government[.]; and
             69          (ii) who is independent of and not affiliated with a county or sponsor of a petition to
             70      incorporate.
             71          [(c)] (b) "Private," with respect to real property, means [not owned by the United States
             72      or any agency of the federal government, the state, a county, a municipality, a school district, a
             73      local district under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, a
             74      special service district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, or any other
             75      political subdivision or governmental entity of the state ] taxable property.
             76          (2) For purposes of this part:
             77          (a) the owner of real property shall be the record title owner according to the records of
             78      the county recorder on the date of the filing of the request or petition; and
             79          (b) the value of private real property shall be determined according to the last
             80      assessment roll for county taxes before the filing of the request or petition.
             81          (3) For purposes of each provision of this part that requires the owners of private real
             82      property covering a percentage or fraction of the total private land area within an area to sign a
             83      request or petition:
             84          (a) a parcel of real property may not be included in the calculation of the required
             85      percentage or fraction unless the request or petition is signed by:
             86          (i) except as provided in Subsection (3)(a)(ii), owners representing a majority
             87      ownership interest in that parcel; or


             88          (ii) if the parcel is owned by joint tenants or tenants by the entirety, 50% of the number
             89      of owners of that parcel;
             90          (b) the signature of a person signing a request or petition in a representative capacity on
             91      behalf of an owner is invalid unless:
             92          (i) the person's representative capacity and the name of the owner the person represents
             93      are indicated on the request or petition with the person's signature; and
             94          (ii) the person provides documentation accompanying the request or petition that
             95      substantiates the person's representative capacity; and
             96          (c) subject to Subsection (3)(b), a duly appointed personal representative may sign a
             97      request or petition on behalf of a deceased owner.
             98          Section 2. Section 10-2-102 is amended to read:
             99           10-2-102. Incorporation of a contiguous area -- Governing provisions of city or
             100      town incorporation.
             101          (1) A contiguous area of a county not within a municipality may incorporate as a
             102      municipality as provided in this part.
             103          (2) (a) Incorporation as a city is governed by Sections 10-2-103 through 10-2-124 .
             104          (b) Incorporation as a town is governed by [Section] Sections 10-2-125 through
             105      10-2-129 .
             106          Section 3. Section 10-2-104 is amended to read:
             107           10-2-104. Notice to owner of property -- Exclusion of property from proposed
             108      boundaries.
             109          (1) As used in this section:
             110          (a) "Assessed value" with respect to property means the value at which the property
             111      would be assessed without regard to a valuation for agricultural use under Section 59-2-503 .
             112          (b) "Owner" means a person having an interest in real property, including an affiliate,
             113      subsidiary, or parent company.
             114          (c) "Urban" means an area with a residential density of greater than one unit per acre.
             115          [(1)] (2) Within seven calendar days of the date on which a request under Section
             116      10-2-103 is filed, the county clerk shall [notify] send written notice of the proposed
             117      incorporation to each record owner of real property owning more than:
             118          (a) 1% of the assessed value of all property in the proposed incorporation


             119      boundaries[.]; or
             120          (b) 10% of the total private land area within the proposed incorporation boundaries.
             121          [(2) (a)] (3) [A property owner within the boundaries of a proposed municipality,
             122      owning] If an owner owns, controls, or manages more than 1% of the assessed value of all
             123      property in the proposed incorporation boundaries, or owns, controls, or manages 10% or more
             124      of the total private land area in the proposed incorporation boundaries, the owner may exclude
             125      all or part of the property [owner's property] owned, controlled, or managed by the owner from
             126      the proposed boundaries by filing a Notice of Exclusion with the county legislative body within
             127      [10] 15 calendar days of receiving the clerk's notice under Subsection [(1)] (2).
             128          [(b)] (4) The county legislative body shall exclude the property identified by an owner
             129      in the Notice of Exclusion from the proposed incorporation boundaries [only if the property:]
             130      unless the county legislative body finds by clear and convincing evidence in the record that:
             131          (a) the exclusion will leave an unincorporated island within the proposed municipality;
             132      and
             133          (b) the property to be excluded:
             134          (i) is urban; and
             135          [(i) is currently nonurban;]
             136          (ii) [does not or will not require municipal provision of] currently receives from the
             137      county a majority of municipal-type services including:
             138          (A) culinary or irrigation water;
             139          (B) sewage collection or treatment;
             140          (C) storm drainage or flood control;
             141          (D) recreational facilities or parks;
             142          (E) electric generation or transportation;
             143          (F) construction or maintenance of local streets and roads;
             144          (G) curb and gutter or sidewalk maintenance;
             145          (H) garbage and refuse collection; and
             146          (I) street lighting[; and].
             147          [(iii) exclusion will not leave an unincorporated island within the proposed
             148      municipality.]
             149          [(3)] (5) This section applies only to counties of the first or second class.


             150          [(4)] (6) If the county legislative body excludes property from the proposed boundaries
             151      under Subsection [(2)(b)] (4), the county legislative body shall, within five days of the
             152      exclusion, send written notice of [its action] the exclusion to the contact sponsor.
             153          Section 4. Section 10-2-105 is amended to read:
             154           10-2-105. Processing a request for incorporation -- Certification or rejection by
             155      county clerk -- Processing priority -- Limitations -- Township planning commission
             156      recommendation.
             157          (1) Within 45 days of the filing of a request under Section 10-2-103 , the county clerk
             158      shall:
             159          (a) with the assistance of other county officers from whom the clerk requests
             160      assistance, determine whether the request complies with Section 10-2-103 ; and
             161          (b) (i) if the clerk determines that the request complies with Section 10-2-103 :
             162          (A) certify the request and deliver the certified request to the county legislative body;
             163      and
             164          (B) mail or deliver written notification of the certification to:
             165          (I) the contact sponsor; and
             166          (II) the chair of the planning commission of each township in which any part of the
             167      area proposed for incorporation is located; or
             168          (ii) if the clerk determines that the request fails to comply with [any of those] Section
             169      10-2-103 requirements, reject the request and notify the contact sponsor in writing of the
             170      rejection and the reasons for the rejection.
             171          (2) The county clerk shall certify or reject requests under Subsection (1) in the order in
             172      which they are filed.
             173          (3) (a) (i) If the county clerk rejects a request under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), the request
             174      may be amended to correct the deficiencies for which it was rejected and then refiled with the
             175      county clerk.
             176          (ii) A signature on a request under Section 10-2-103 may be used toward fulfilling the
             177      signature requirement of Subsection 10-2-103 (2)(a) for the request as modified under
             178      Subsection (3)(a)(i).
             179          (b) If a request is amended and refiled under Subsection (3)(a) after having been
             180      rejected by the county clerk under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), it shall be considered as a newly filed


             181      request, and its processing priority is determined by the date on which it is refiled.
             182          [(4) (a) A township planning commission may recommend to the legislative body of
             183      the county in which the township is located that, for purposes of Subsection
             184      10-2-106 (4)(a)(xiii), the county legislative body support or oppose a proposed incorporation
             185      under this part of an area located within the township.]
             186          [(b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b)(ii), the township planning commission
             187      shall communicate each recommendation under Subsection (4)(a) in writing to the county
             188      legislative body within 60 days of the county clerk's certification under Subsection (1)(b)(i).]
             189          [(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(b)(i), if the county clerk's certification under
             190      Subsection (1)(b)(i) is before July 17, 1997, the township planning commission shall
             191      communicate its recommendation under Subsection (4)(a) in writing to the county legislative
             192      body within 60 days of the county clerk's certification under Subsection (1)(b)(i) or August 31,
             193      1997, whichever is later, but no later than:]
             194          [(A) 75 days after the county legislative body has engaged the feasibility consultant
             195      under Subsection 10-2-106 (1); or]
             196          [(B) the completion of the feasibility study.]
             197          [(iii) At the time the recommendation under Subsection (4)(b)(i) is delivered to the
             198      county legislative body, the township planning commission shall mail or deliver a copy of the
             199      recommendation to the contact sponsor.]
             200          Section 5. Section 10-2-106 is amended to read:
             201           10-2-106. Feasibility study -- Feasibility study consultant.
             202          (1) Within 60 days of receipt of a certified request under Subsection 10-2-105 (1)(b)(i),
             203      the county legislative body shall engage the feasibility consultant chosen under Subsection (2)
             204      to conduct a feasibility study.
             205          [(2) The feasibility consultant shall be chosen by a majority vote of a selection
             206      committee consisting of:]
             207          [(a) a person designated by the county legislative body;]
             208          [(b) a person designated by the sponsors of the request for a feasibility study; and]
             209          [(c) a person designated by the governor.]
             210          (2) The feasibility consultant shall be chosen:
             211          (a) (i) by the contact sponsor of the incorporation petition with the consent of the


             212      county; or
             213          (ii) by the county if the designated sponsors state, in writing, that the contact sponsor
             214      defers selection of the feasibility consultant to the county; and
             215          (b) in accordance with applicable county procurement procedures.
             216          (3) The county legislative body shall require the feasibility consultant to:
             217          (a) complete the feasibility study and submit the written results to the county legislative
             218      body and the contact sponsor no later than 90 days after the feasibility consultant is engaged to
             219      conduct the study;
             220          (b) submit with the full written results of the feasibility study a summary of the results
             221      no longer than one page in length; and
             222          (c) attend the public hearings under Subsection 10-2-108 (1) and present the feasibility
             223      study results and respond to questions from the public at those hearings.
             224          [(4) (a) The feasibility study shall consider:]
             225          [(i) the population and population density within the area proposed for incorporation
             226      and the surrounding area;]
             227          [(ii) the history, geography, geology, and topography of and natural boundaries within
             228      the area proposed to be incorporated and the surrounding area;]
             229          [(iii) whether the proposed boundaries eliminate or create an unincorporated island or
             230      peninsula;]
             231          [(iv) whether the proposed incorporation will hinder or prevent a future and more
             232      logical and beneficial incorporation or a future logical and beneficial annexation;]
             233          [(v) the fiscal impact on unincorporated areas, other municipalities, local districts,
             234      special service districts, and other governmental entities in the county;]
             235          [(vi) current and five-year projections of demographics and economic base in the
             236      proposed city and surrounding area, including household size and income, commercial and
             237      industrial development, and public facilities;]
             238          [(vii) projected growth in the proposed city and in adjacent areas during the next five
             239      years;]
             240          [(viii) subject to Subsection (4)(c), the present and five-year projections of the cost,
             241      including overhead, of governmental services in the proposed city;]
             242          [(ix) the present and five-year projected revenue for the proposed city;]


             243          [(x) the projected impact the incorporation will have over the following five years on
             244      the amount of taxes that property owners within the proposed city and in the remaining
             245      unincorporated county will pay;]
             246          [(xi) past expansion in terms of population and construction in the proposed city and
             247      the surrounding area;]
             248          [(xii) the extension of the boundaries of other nearby municipalities during the past 10
             249      years, the willingness of those municipalities to annex the area proposed for incorporation, and
             250      the probability that those municipalities would annex territory within the area proposed for
             251      incorporation within the next five years except for the incorporation; and]
             252          [(xiii) whether the legislative body of the county in which the area proposed to be
             253      incorporated favors the incorporation proposal.]
             254          [(b) For purposes of Subsection (4)(a)(ix), the feasibility consultant shall assume ad
             255      valorem property tax rates on residential property within the proposed city at the same level at
             256      which they would have been without the incorporation.]
             257          [(c) For purposes of Subsection (4)(a)(viii):]
             258          [(i) the feasibility consultant shall assume a level and quality of governmental services
             259      to be provided to the proposed city in the future that fairly and reasonably approximate the
             260      level and quality of governmental services being provided to the proposed city at the time of
             261      the feasibility study;]
             262          [(ii) in determining the present cost of a governmental service, the feasibility
             263      consultant shall consider:]
             264          [(A) the amount it would cost the proposed city itself to provide the service after
             265      incorporation;]
             266          [(B) if the county is currently providing the service to the proposed city, the county's
             267      cost of providing the service; and]
             268          [(C) if the county is not currently providing the service to the proposed city, the
             269      amount the proposed city can reasonably expect to pay for the service under a contract for the
             270      service; and]
             271          [(iii) the five-year projected cost of a governmental service shall be based on the
             272      amount calculated under Subsection (4)(c)(ii), taking into account inflation and anticipated
             273      growth.]


             274          [(5) If the results of the feasibility study or revised feasibility study do not meet the
             275      requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3), the feasibility consultant shall, as part of the
             276      feasibility study or revised feasibility study and if requested by the sponsors of the request,
             277      make recommendations as to how the boundaries of the proposed city may be altered so that
             278      the requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3) may be met.]
             279          (4) (a) The feasibility study shall consider:
             280          (i) population and population density within the area proposed for incorporation and
             281      the surrounding area;
             282          (ii) current and five-year projections of demographics and economic base in the
             283      proposed city and surrounding area, including household size and income, commercial and
             284      industrial development, and public facilities;
             285          (iii) projected growth in the proposed city and in adjacent areas during the next five
             286      years;
             287          (iv) subject to Subsection (4)(b), the present and five-year projections of the cost,
             288      including overhead, of governmental services in the proposed city, including:
             289          (A) culinary water;
             290          (B) secondary water;
             291          (C) sewer;
             292          (D) law enforcement;
             293          (E) fire protection
             294          (F) roads and public works;
             295          (G) garbage
             296          (H) weeds; and
             297          (I) government offices;
             298          (v) assuming the same tax categories and tax rates as currently imposed by the county
             299      and all other current service providers, the present and five-year projected revenue for the
             300      proposed city;
             301          (vi) a projection of any new taxes per household that may be levied within the
             302      incorporated area within five years of incorporation; and
             303          (vii) the fiscal impact on unincorporated areas, other municipalities, local districts,
             304      special service districts, and other governmental entities in the county.


             305          (b) (i) For purposes of Subsection (4)(a)(iv), the feasibility consultant shall assume a
             306      level and quality of governmental services to be provided to the proposed city in the future that
             307      fairly and reasonably approximate the level and quality of governmental services being
             308      provided to the proposed city at the time of the feasibility study.
             309          (ii) In determining the present cost of a governmental service, the feasibility consultant
             310      shall consider:
             311          (A) the amount it would cost the proposed city to provide governmental service for the
             312      first five years after incorporation; and
             313          (B) the county's present and five-year projected cost of providing governmental
             314      service.
             315          (iii) The costs calculated under Subsection (4)(a)(iv), shall take into account inflation
             316      and anticipated growth.
             317          (5) If the five year projected revenues under Subsection (4)(a)(v) exceed the five year
             318      projected costs under Subsection (4)(a)(iv) by more than 5%, the feasibility consultant shall
             319      project and report the expected annual revenue surplus to the contact sponsor and the lieutenant
             320      governor.
             321          (6) If the results of the feasibility study or revised feasibility study do not meet the
             322      requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3), the feasibility consultant shall, as part of the
             323      feasibility study or revised feasibility study and if requested by the sponsors of the request,
             324      make recommendations as to how the boundaries of the proposed city may be altered so that
             325      the requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3) may be met.
             326          [(6)] (7) (a) For purposes of this Subsection [(6)] (7), "pending" means that the process
             327      to incorporate an unincorporated area has been initiated by the filing of a request for feasibility
             328      study under Section 10-2-103 but that, as of [the date this Subsection (6) becomes effective]
             329      May 8, 2012, a petition under Section 10-2-109 has not yet been filed.
             330          (b) The amendments to Subsection (4) that become effective upon the effective date of
             331      this Subsection [(6)] (7):
             332          (i) apply to each pending proceeding proposing the incorporation of an unincorporated
             333      area; and
             334          (ii) do not apply to a municipal incorporation proceeding under this part in which a
             335      petition under Section 10-2-109 has been filed.


             336          (c) (i) If, in a pending incorporation proceeding, the feasibility consultant has, as of
             337      [the effective date of this Subsection (6)] May 8, 2012, already completed the feasibility study,
             338      the county legislative body shall, within 20 days after the effective date of this Subsection [(6)]
             339      (7) and except as provided in Subsection [(6)] (7)(c)(iii), engage the feasibility consultant to
             340      revise the feasibility study to take into account the amendments to Subsection (4) that became
             341      effective on the effective date of this Subsection [(6)] (7).
             342          (ii) Except as provided in Subsection [(6)] (7)(c)(iii), the county legislative body shall
             343      require the feasibility consultant to complete the revised feasibility study under Subsection
             344      [(6)] (7)(c)(i) within 20 days after being engaged to do so.
             345          (iii) Notwithstanding Subsections [(6)] (7)(c)(i) and (ii), a county legislative body is
             346      not required to engage the feasibility consultant to revise the feasibility study if, within 15 days
             347      after the effective date of this Subsection [(6)] (7), the request sponsors file with the county
             348      clerk a written withdrawal of the request signed by all the request sponsors.
             349          (d) All provisions of this part that set forth the incorporation process following the
             350      completion of a feasibility study shall apply with equal force following the completion of a
             351      revised feasibility study under this Subsection [(6)] (7), except that, if a petition under Section
             352      10-2-109 has already been filed based on the feasibility study that is revised under this
             353      Subsection [(6)] (7):
             354          (i) the notice required by Section 10-2-108 for the revised feasibility study shall
             355      include a statement informing signers of the petition of their right to withdraw their signatures
             356      from the petition and of the process and deadline for withdrawing a signature from the petition;
             357          (ii) a signer of the petition may withdraw the signer's signature by filing with the
             358      county clerk a written withdrawal within 30 days after the final notice under Subsection
             359      10-2-108 [(2)](3) has been given with respect to the revised feasibility study; and
             360          (iii) unless withdrawn, a signature on the petition may be used toward fulfilling the
             361      signature requirements under Subsection 10-2-109 (2)(a) for a petition based on the revised
             362      feasibility study.
             363          Section 6. Section 10-2-108 is amended to read:
             364           10-2-108. Public hearings on feasibility study results -- Notice of hearings.
             365          (1) If the results of the feasibility study or supplemental feasibility study meet the
             366      requirements of Subsection 10-2-109 (3), the county legislative body shall, at its next regular


             367      meeting after receipt of the results of the feasibility study or supplemental feasibility study,
             368      schedule at least two public hearings to be held:
             369          (a) within the following 60 days;
             370          (b) at least seven days apart;
             371          (c) in geographically diverse locations within the proposed city; and
             372          (d) for the purpose of allowing:
             373          (i) the feasibility consultant to present the results of the study; and
             374          (ii) the public to become informed about the feasibility study results and to ask
             375      questions about those results of the feasibility consultant.
             376          (2) At a public hearing described in Subsection (1), the county legislative body shall:
             377          (a) provide a map or plat of the boundary of the proposed city;
             378          (b) provide a copy of the feasibility study for public review; and
             379          (c) allow the public to express its views about the proposed incorporation, including its
             380      view about the proposed boundary.
             381          [(2)] (3) (a) (i) The county clerk shall publish notice of the public hearings required
             382      under Subsection (1):
             383          (A) at least once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general
             384      circulation within the proposed city; and
             385          (B) on the Utah Public Notice Website created in Section 63F-1-701 , for three weeks.
             386          (ii) The last publication of notice required under Subsection [(2)] (3)(a)(i)(A) shall be
             387      at least three days before the first public hearing required under Subsection (1).
             388          (b) (i) If, under Subsection [(2)] (3)(a)(i)(A), there is no newspaper of general
             389      circulation within the proposed city, the county clerk shall post at least one notice of the
             390      hearings per 1,000 population in conspicuous places within the proposed city that are most
             391      likely to give notice of the hearings to the residents of the proposed city.
             392          (ii) The clerk shall post the notices under Subsection [(2)] (3)(b)(i) at least seven days
             393      before the first hearing under Subsection (1).
             394          (c) The notice under Subsections [(2)] (3)(a) and (b) shall include the feasibility study
             395      summary under Subsection 10-2-106 (3)(b) and shall indicate that a full copy of the study is
             396      available for inspection and copying at the office of the county clerk.
             397          Section 7. Section 10-2-109 is amended to read:


             398           10-2-109. Incorporation petition -- Requirements and form.
             399          (1) At any time within [18 months] one year of the completion of the public hearings
             400      required under Subsection 10-2-108 (1), a petition for incorporation of the area proposed to be
             401      incorporated as a city may be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the area is
             402      located.
             403          (2) Each petition under Subsection (1) shall:
             404          (a) be signed by [the owners of private real property that]:
             405          [(i) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated;]
             406          [(ii) covers at least 1/3 of the total private land area within the area; and]
             407          [(iii) is equal in value to at least 1/3 of the value of all private real property within the
             408      area;]
             409          (i) 10% of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated as a city,
             410      according to the official voter registration list maintained by the county on the date the petition
             411      is filed; and
             412          (ii) 10% of all registered voters within, subject to Subsection (5), 90% of the voting
             413      precincts within the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, according to the official voter
             414      registration list maintained by the county on the date the petition is filed;
             415          (b) indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each owner
             416      signing the petition;
             417          (c) describe the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, as described in the
             418      feasibility study request or modified request that meets the requirements of Subsection (3);
             419          (d) state the proposed name for the proposed city;
             420          (e) designate five signers of the petition as petition sponsors, one of whom shall be
             421      designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each;
             422          (f) state that the signers of the petition appoint the sponsors, if the incorporation
             423      measure passes, to represent the signers in the process of:
             424          (i) selecting the number of commission or council members the new city will have; and
             425          (ii) drawing district boundaries for the election of commission or council members, if
             426      the voters decide to elect commission or council members by district;
             427          (g) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate plat or map, prepared by a
             428      licensed surveyor, showing the boundaries of the proposed city; and


             429          (h) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
             430          PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
             431      city)
             432          To the Honorable County Legislative Body of (insert the name of the county in which
             433      the proposed city is located) County, Utah:
             434          We, the undersigned owners of real property within the area described in this petition,
             435      respectfully petition the county legislative body to submit to the registered voters residing
             436      within the area described in this petition, at [a special election held for that purpose] the next
             437      regular general election, the question of whether the area should incorporate as a city. Each of
             438      the undersigned affirms that each has personally signed this petition and is an owner of real
             439      property within the described area, and that the current residence address of each is correctly
             440      written after the signer's name. The area proposed to be incorporated as a city is described as
             441      follows: (insert an accurate description of the area proposed to be incorporated).
             442          (3) A petition for incorporation of a city under Subsection (1) may not be filed unless
             443      the results of the feasibility study or supplemental feasibility study show that the average
             444      annual amount of revenue under Subsection 10-2-106 (4)(a)[(ix)](v) does not exceed the
             445      average annual amount of cost under Subsection 10-2-106 (4)(a)[(viii)](iv) by more than 5%.
             446          (4) A signature on a request under Section 10-2-103 or a modified request under
             447      Section 10-2-107 may be used toward fulfilling the signature requirement of Subsection (2)(a):
             448          (a) if the request under Section 10-2-103 or modified request under Section 10-2-107
             449      notified the signer in conspicuous language that the signature, unless withdrawn, would also be
             450      used for purposes of a petition for incorporation under this section; and
             451          (b) unless the signer files with the county clerk a written withdrawal of the signature
             452      before the petition under this section is filed with the clerk.
             453          (5) (a) A signature does not qualify as a signature to meet the requirement described in
             454      Subsection (2)(a)(ii) if the signature is gathered from a voting precinct that:
             455          (i) is not located entirely within the boundaries of the proposed city; or
             456          (ii) includes less than 50 registered voters.
             457          (b) A voting precinct that is not located entirely within the boundaries of the proposed
             458      city does not qualify as a voting precinct to meet the precinct requirements of Subsection
             459      (2)(a)(ii).


             460          Section 8. Section 10-2-111 is amended to read:
             461           10-2-111. Incorporation election.
             462          (1) (a) At the next [special election] regular general election date under Section
             463      [ 20A-1-204 ] 20A-1-201 more than [45] 60 days after the county legislative body's receipt of
             464      the certified petition or certified modified petition under Subsection 10-2-110 (1)(b)(i), the
             465      county legislative body shall hold an election on the proposed incorporation.
             466          (b) Unless a person is a registered voter who resides, as defined in Section 20A-1-102 ,
             467      within the boundaries of the proposed city, the person may not vote on the proposed
             468      incorporation.
             469          (2) (a) The county clerk shall publish notice of the election:
             470          (i) in a newspaper of general circulation within the area proposed to be incorporated at
             471      least once a week for three successive weeks; and
             472          (ii) in accordance with Section 45-1-101 for three weeks.
             473          (b) The notice required by Subsection (2)(a) shall contain:
             474          (i) a statement of the contents of the petition;
             475          (ii) a description of the area proposed to be incorporated as a city;
             476          (iii) a statement of the date and time of the election and the location of polling places;
             477      and
             478          (iv) the feasibility study summary under Subsection 10-2-106 (3)(b) and a statement
             479      that a full copy of the study is available for inspection and copying at the office of the county
             480      clerk.
             481          (c) The last publication of notice required under Subsection (2)(a) shall occur at least
             482      one day but no more than seven days before the election.
             483          (d) (i) In accordance with Subsection (2)(a)(i), if there is no newspaper of general
             484      circulation within the proposed city, the county clerk shall post at least one notice of the
             485      election per 1,000 population in conspicuous places within the proposed city that are most
             486      likely to give notice of the election to the voters of the proposed city.
             487          (ii) The clerk shall post the notices under Subsection (2)(d)(i) at least seven days before
             488      the election under Subsection (1).
             489          (3) If a majority of those casting votes within the area boundaries of the proposed city
             490      vote to incorporate as a city, the area shall incorporate.


             491          Section 9. Section 10-2-116 is amended to read:
             492           10-2-116. Election of officers of new city.
             493          (1) For the election of city officers, the county legislative body shall:
             494          (a) unless a primary election is prohibited by Subsection 20A-9-404 (2), hold a primary
             495      election; and
             496          (b) hold a final election.
             497          (2) Each election under Subsection (1) shall be:
             498          (a) appropriate to the form of government chosen by the voters at the incorporation
             499      election;
             500          (b) consistent with the voters' decision about whether to elect commission or council
             501      members by district and, if applicable, consistent with the boundaries of those districts as
             502      determined by the petition sponsors; and
             503          (c) consistent with the sponsors' determination of the number of commission or council
             504      members to be elected and the length of their initial term.
             505          (3) (a) Subject to Subsection (3)(b) [and except as provided in Subsection (5)], the
             506      primary election under Subsection (1)(a) shall be held at the earliest of the next:
             507          (i) regular general election under Section 20A-1-201 ;
             508          (ii) municipal primary election under Section 20A-9-404 ;
             509          (iii) municipal general election under Section 20A-1-202 ; or
             510          (iv) special election under Section 20A-1-204 .
             511          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a), the primary election under Subsection (1)(a)
             512      may not be held until 75 days after the incorporation election under Section 10-2-111 .
             513          (4) [Except as provided in Subsection (5), the] The final election under Subsection
             514      (1)(b) shall be held at the next special election date under Section 20A-1-204 :
             515          (a) after the primary election; or
             516          (b) if there is no primary election, more than 75 days after the incorporation election
             517      under Section 10-2-111 .
             518          [(5) Notwithstanding Subsections (3) and (4), the county legislative body may hold the
             519      primary and final elections required under Subsection (1) on the dates provided for the next
             520      municipal primary election under Section 20A-9-404 and the next municipal general election
             521      under Section 20A-1-202 , respectively, after the incorporation election, if:]


             522          [(a) with the results under Subsection 10-2-114 (1)(d), the petition sponsors submit to
             523      the county legislative body a written request to that effect; and]
             524          [(b) the incorporation election under Section 10-2-111 took place in February or May
             525      of an odd-numbered year.]
             526          [(6)] (5) (a) (i) The county clerk shall publish notice of an election under this section:
             527          (A) at least once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
             528      within the future city; and
             529          (B) in accordance with Section 45-1-101 for two weeks.
             530          (ii) The later notice under Subsection [(6)] (5)(a)(i) shall be at least one day but no
             531      more than seven days before the election.
             532          (b) (i) In accordance with Subsection [(6)] (5)(a)(i)(A), if there is no newspaper of
             533      general circulation within the future city, the county clerk shall post at least one notice of the
             534      election per 1,000 population in conspicuous places within the future city that are most likely
             535      to give notice of the election to the voters.
             536          (ii) The county clerk shall post the notices under Subsection [(6)] (5)(b)(i) at least
             537      seven days before each election under Subsection (1).
             538          [(7)] (6) Until the city is incorporated, the county clerk is the election officer for all
             539      purposes in an election of officers of the city approved at an incorporation election.
             540          Section 10. Section 10-2-124 is repealed and reenacted to read:
             541          10-2-124. Incorporation petition or feasibility study before May 8, 2012.
             542          (1) A party with petition in process as of January 1, 2012, and not yet filed for final
             543      certification with the county clerk in accordance with Section 10-2-110 as of May 8, 2012,
             544      shall comply with the provisions of this chapter as enacted on May 8, 2012, except as provided
             545      in Subsection (3).
             546          (2) A party described in Subsection (1) may use a signature on a petition in process as
             547      of May 8, 2012, to fulfill the requirements of this chapter enacted on May 8, 2012.
             548          (3) If on or before May 8, 2012, a feasibility study has been completed for a party
             549      described in Subsection (1):
             550          (a) the completed feasibility study shall fulfill the requirements of this section; and
             551          (b) the party is not required to request a new feasibility study.
             552          Section 11. Section 10-2-125 is amended to read:


             553           10-2-125. Incorporation of a town -- Petition.
             554          (1) As used in this section:
             555          (a) "Assessed value," with respect to agricultural land, means the value at which the
             556      land would be assessed without regard to a valuation for agricultural use under Section
             557      59-2-503 .
             558          (b) "Financial feasibility study" means a study [to determine:] described in Subsection
             559      (8).
             560          [(i) the projected revenues for the proposed town during the first three years after
             561      incorporation; and]
             562          [(ii) the projected costs, including overhead, that the proposed town will incur in
             563      providing governmental services during the first three years after incorporation.]
             564          (c) "Feasibility consultant" means a person or firm:
             565          (i) with expertise in the processes and economics of local government; and
             566          (ii) who is independent of and not affiliated with a county or sponsor of a petition to
             567      incorporate.
             568          [(c)] (d) "Municipal service" means a publicly provided service that is not provided on
             569      a countywide basis.
             570          [(d)] (e) "Nonurban" means having a residential density of less than one unit per acre.
             571          (2) (a) (i) A contiguous area of a county not within a municipality, with a population of
             572      at least 100 but less than 1,000, may incorporate as a town as provided in this section.
             573          (ii) An area within a county of the first class is not contiguous for purposes of
             574      Subsection (2)(a)(i) if:
             575          (A) the area includes a strip of land that connects geographically separate areas; and
             576          (B) the distance between the geographically separate areas is greater than the average
             577      width of the strip of land connecting the geographically separate areas.
             578          (b) The population figure under Subsection (2)(a) shall be determined:
             579          (i) as of the date the incorporation petition is filed; and
             580          (ii) by the Utah Population Estimates Committee within 20 days after the county clerk's
             581      certification under Subsection (6) of a petition filed under Subsection (4).
             582          (3) (a) The process to incorporate an area as a town is initiated by filing a [request for a
             583      public hearing with the clerk of the county in which the area is located] petition to incorporate


             584      the area as a town with the clerk of the county in which the area is located.
             585          [(b) Each request for a public hearing under Subsection (3)(a) shall:]
             586          [(i) be signed by the owners of at least five separate parcels of private real property,
             587      each owned by a different owner, located within the area proposed to be incorporated; and]
             588          [(ii) be accompanied by an accurate map or plat depicting the boundary of the proposed
             589      town.]
             590          [(c) Within 10 days after a request for a public hearing is filed under Subsection (3)(a),
             591      the county clerk shall, with the assistance of other county officers from whom the clerk
             592      requests assistance, determine whether the petition complies with the requirements of
             593      Subsection (3)(b).]
             594          [(d) If the clerk determines that a request under Subsection (3)(a) fails to comply with
             595      the requirements of Subsection (3)(b), the clerk shall reject the request and deliver written
             596      notice of the rejection to the signers of the request.]
             597          [(e) (i) If the clerk determines that a request under Subsection (3)(a) complies with the
             598      requirements of Subsection (3)(b), the clerk shall:]
             599          [(A) schedule and arrange for a public hearing to be held:]
             600          [(I) (Aa) at a public facility located within the boundary of the proposed town; or]
             601          [(Bb) if there is no public facility within the boundary of the proposed town, at another
             602      nearby public facility or at the county seat; and]
             603          [(II) within 20 days after the clerk provides the last notice required under Subsection
             604      (3)(e)(i)(B); and]
             605          [(B) no later than 10 days after the clerk determines that a request complies with the
             606      requirements of Subsection (3)(b), give notice of the public hearing on the proposed
             607      incorporation by:]
             608          [(I) posting notice of the public hearing on the county's Internet website, if the county
             609      has an Internet website;]
             610          [(II) (Aa) publishing notice of the public hearing at least once a week for two
             611      consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town; or]
             612          [(Bb) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town, posting
             613      notice of the public hearing in at least five conspicuous public places within the proposed
             614      town; and]


             615          [(III) publishing notice of the public hearing on the Utah Public Notice Website created
             616      in Section 63F-1-701 .]
             617          [(ii) Each public hearing under Subsection (3)(e)(i)(A) shall be conducted by the chair
             618      of the county commission or council, or the chair's designee, to:]
             619          [(A) introduce the concept of the proposed incorporation to the public;]
             620          [(B) allow the public to review the map or plat of the boundary of the proposed town;]
             621          [(C) allow the public to ask questions and become informed about the proposed
             622      incorporation; and]
             623          [(D) allow the public to express their views about the proposed incorporation,
             624      including their views about the boundary of the area proposed to be incorporated.]
             625          [(4) (a) At any time within three months after the public hearing under Subsection
             626      (3)(e), a petition to incorporate the area as a town may be filed with the clerk of the county in
             627      which the area is located.]
             628          (b) [Each] A petition under Subsection [(4)] (3)(a) shall:
             629          (i) be signed by:
             630          (A) the owners of private real property that:
             631          (I) is located within the area proposed to be incorporated; and
             632          [(II) covers a majority of the total private land area within the area;]
             633          [(III)] (II) is equal in assessed value to more than [1/2] 1/5 of the assessed value of all
             634      private real property within the area; and
             635          [(IV) consists, in number of parcels, of at least 1/3 of the number of all parcels of
             636      private real property within the area proposed to be incorporated; and]
             637          (B) [a majority] 1/5 of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated
             638      as a town, according to the official voter registration list maintained by the county on the date
             639      the petition is filed;
             640          (ii) designate as sponsors at least five of the property owners who have signed the
             641      petition, one of whom shall be designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address of
             642      each owner signing as a sponsor;
             643          (iii) be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate map or plat, prepared by a
             644      licensed surveyor, showing a legal description of the boundary of the proposed town; and
             645          (iv) substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:


             646          PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
             647      town)
             648          To the Honorable County Legislative Body of (insert the name of the county in which
             649      the proposed town is located) County, Utah:
             650          We, the undersigned owners of real property and registered voters within the area
             651      described in this petition, respectfully petition the county legislative body [for the area
             652      described in this petition to be incorporated] to submit to the registered voters residing within
             653      the area described in this petition, at the next regular general election, the question of whether
             654      the area should incorporate as a town. Each of the undersigned affirms that each has personally
             655      signed this petition and is an owner of real property or a registered voter residing within the
             656      described area, and that the current residence address of each is correctly written after the
             657      signer's name. The area proposed to be incorporated as a town is described as follows: (insert
             658      an accurate description of the area proposed to be incorporated).
             659          (c) A petition under this Subsection [(4)] (3) may not describe an area that includes
             660      some or all of an area proposed for annexation in an annexation petition under Section
             661      10-2-403 that:
             662          (i) was filed before the filing of the petition; and
             663          (ii) is still pending on the date the petition is filed.
             664          (d) A petition may not be filed under this section if the private real property owned by
             665      the petition sponsors, designated under Subsection [(4)] (3)(b)(ii), cumulatively exceeds 40%
             666      of the total private land area within the area proposed to be incorporated as a town.
             667          (e) A signer of a petition under this Subsection [(4)] (3) may withdraw or, after
             668      withdrawn, reinstate the signer's signature on the petition:
             669          (i) at any time until the county clerk certifies the petition under Subsection [(6)] (5);
             670      and
             671          (ii) by filing a signed, written withdrawal or reinstatement with the county clerk.
             672          [(5)] (4) (a) If a petition is filed under Subsection [(4)] (3)(a) proposing to incorporate
             673      as a town an area located within a county of the first class, the county clerk shall deliver written
             674      notice of the proposed incorporation:
             675          (i) to each owner of private real property owning more than 1% of the assessed value
             676      of all private real property within the area proposed to be incorporated as a town; and


             677          (ii) within seven calendar days after the date on which the petition is filed.
             678          (b) A private real property owner described in Subsection [(5)] (4)(a)(i) may exclude
             679      all or part of the owner's property from the area proposed to be incorporated as a town by filing
             680      a notice of exclusion:
             681          (i) with the county clerk; and
             682          (ii) within 10 calendar days after receiving the clerk's notice under Subsection [(5)]
             683      (4)(a).
             684          (c) The county legislative body shall exclude from the area proposed to be incorporated
             685      as a town the property identified in the notice of exclusion under Subsection [(5)] (4)(b) if:
             686          (i) the property:
             687          (A) is nonurban; and
             688          (B) does not and will not require a municipal service; and
             689          (ii) exclusion will not leave an unincorporated island within the proposed town.
             690          (d) If the county legislative body excludes property from the area proposed to be
             691      incorporated as a town, the county legislative body shall send written notice of the exclusion to
             692      the contact sponsor within five days after the exclusion.
             693          [(6) Within] (5) No later than 20 days after the filing of a petition under Subsection
             694      [(4)] (3), the county clerk shall:
             695          (a) with the assistance of other county officers from whom the clerk requests
             696      assistance, determine whether the petition complies with the requirements of Subsection [(4)]
             697      (3); and
             698          (b) (i) if the clerk determines that the petition complies with those requirements:
             699          (A) certify the petition and deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body;
             700      and
             701          (B) mail or deliver written notification of the certification to:
             702          (I) the contact sponsor;
             703          (II) if applicable, the chair of the planning commission of each township in which any
             704      part of the area proposed for incorporation is located; and
             705          (III) the Utah Population Estimates Committee; or
             706          (ii) if the clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of those
             707      requirements, reject the petition and notify the contact sponsor in writing of the rejection and


             708      the reasons for the rejection.
             709          [(7)] (6) (a) (i) A petition that is rejected under Subsection [(6)] (5)(b)(ii) may be
             710      amended to correct a deficiency for which it was rejected and then refiled with the county
             711      clerk.
             712          (ii) A valid signature on a petition filed under Subsection [(4)] (3)(a) may be used
             713      toward fulfilling the signature requirement of Subsection [(4)] (3)(b) for the same petition that
             714      is amended under Subsection [(7)] (6)(a)(i) and then refiled with the county clerk.
             715          (b) If a petition is amended and refiled under Subsection [(7)] (6)(a)(i) after having
             716      been rejected by the county clerk under Subsection [(6)] (5)(b)(ii):
             717          (i) the amended petition shall be considered as a newly filed petition; and
             718          (ii) the amended petition's processing priority is determined by the date on which it is
             719      refiled.
             720          (8) (a) (i) The legislative body of a county with which a petition is filed under
             721      Subsection (4) [may, at its option and upon the petition being] and certified under Subsection
             722      (6)[,] shall commission and pay for a financial feasibility study.
             723          [(ii) If the county legislative body chooses to commission a financial feasibility study,
             724      the county legislative body shall:]
             725          [(A) within 20 days after the incorporation petition is certified, select and engage a
             726      feasibility consultant; and]
             727          (ii) The feasibility consultant shall be chosen:
             728          (A) (I) by the contact sponsor of the incorporation petition, as described in Subsection
             729      (3)(b)(ii), with the consent of the county; or
             730          (II) by the county if the contact sponsor states, in writing, that the sponsor defers
             731      selection of the feasibility consultant to the county; and
             732          (B) in accordance with applicable county procurement procedure.
             733          [(B)] (iii) The county legislative body shall require the feasibility consultant to
             734      complete the financial feasibility study and submit written results of the study to the county
             735      legislative body no later than 30 days after the feasibility consultant is engaged to conduct the
             736      financial feasibility study.
             737          (b) The financial feasibility study shall consider the:
             738          (i) population and population density within the area proposed for incorporation and


             739      the surrounding area;
             740          (ii) current and five-year projections of demographics and economic base in the
             741      proposed town and surrounding area, including household size and income, commercial and
             742      industrial development, and public facilities;
             743          (iii) projected growth in the proposed town and in adjacent areas during the next five
             744      years;
             745          (iv) subject to Subsection (8)(c), the present and five-year projections of the cost,
             746      including overhead, of governmental services in the proposed town, including:
             747          (A) culinary water;
             748          (B) secondary water;
             749          (C) sewer;
             750          (D) law enforcement;
             751          (E) fire protection
             752          (F) roads and public works;
             753          (G) garbage
             754          (H) weeds; and
             755          (I) government offices;
             756          (v) assuming the same tax categories and tax rates as currently imposed by the county
             757      and all other current service providers, the present and five-year projected revenue for the
             758      proposed town; and
             759          (vi) a projection of any new taxes per household that may be levied within the
             760      incorporated area within five years of incorporation.
             761          (c) (i) For purposes of Subsection (8)(b)(iv), the feasibility consultant shall assume a
             762      level and quality of governmental services to be provided to the proposed town in the future
             763      that fairly and reasonably approximate the level and quality of governmental services being
             764      provided to the proposed town at the time of the feasibility study.
             765          (ii) In determining the present cost of a governmental service, the feasibility consultant
             766      shall consider:
             767          (A) the amount it would cost the proposed town to provide governmental service for
             768      the first five years after incorporation; and
             769          (B) the county's present and five-year projected cost of providing governmental


             770      service.
             771          (iii) The costs calculated under Subsection (8)(b)(iv), shall take into account inflation
             772      and anticipated growth.
             773          (d) If the five year projected revenues under Subsection (8)(b)(v) exceed the five year
             774      projected costs under Subsection (8)(b)(iv) by more than 10%, the feasibility consultant shall
             775      project and report the expected annual revenue surplus to the contact sponsor and the lieutenant
             776      governor.
             777          [(b) If the county legislative body has commissioned a financial feasibility study under
             778      Subsection (8)(a)(i), the]
             779          (e) The county legislative body shall approve a certified petition proposing the
             780      incorporation of a town and hold [an election for town officers,] a public hearing as provided in
             781      [Subsection (9), if:] Section 10-2-126 .
             782          [(i) the county clerk has certified the petition under Subsection (6); and]
             783          [(ii) (A) the results of the financial feasibility study described in Subsection (8)(a)(i)
             784      show that the average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) does not
             785      exceed the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than
             786      15%; or]
             787          [(B) the results of the financial feasibility study described in Subsection (8)(a)(i) show
             788      that the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) does not exceed the
             789      average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) by more than 15%.]
             790          [(c) (i) If the results of the financial feasibility study described in Subsection (8)(a)(i)
             791      show that the average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) exceeds the
             792      average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than 15%, the
             793      county legislative body may:]
             794          [(A) deny the petition, in accordance with Subsection (8)(c)(iii), if the results of the
             795      financial feasibility study show that the average annual amount of revenues described in
             796      Subsection (1)(b)(i) exceeds the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection
             797      (1)(b)(ii) by more than 15%; or]
             798          [(B) (I) with the consent of the petition sponsors:]
             799          [(Aa) impose conditions to prevent the average annual amount of revenues described in
             800      Subsection (1)(b)(i) from exceeding the average annual amount of costs described in


             801      Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than 15%; or]
             802          [(Bb) alter the boundaries of the area proposed to be incorporated as a town to
             803      approximate the boundaries necessary to prevent the average annual amount of revenues
             804      described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) from exceeding the average annual amount of costs described
             805      in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) by more than 15%; and]
             806          [(II) approve the incorporation petition and hold an election for town officers, as
             807      provided in Subsection (9).]
             808          [(ii) If the results of the financial feasibility study described in Subsection (8)(a)(i)
             809      show that the average annual amount of costs described in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) exceeds the
             810      average annual amount of revenues described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) by more than 15%, the
             811      county legislative body shall:]
             812          [(A) approve the petition;]
             813          [(B) deny the petition in accordance with Subsection (8)(c)(iii); or]
             814          [(C) (I) with the consent of the petition sponsors:]
             815          [(Aa) impose conditions to prevent the average annual amount of costs described in
             816      Subsection (1)(b)(ii) from exceeding the average annual amount of revenues described in
             817      Subsection (1)(b)(i) by more than 15%; or]
             818          [(Bb) alter the boundaries of the area proposed to be incorporated as a town to
             819      approximate the boundaries necessary to prevent the average annual amount of costs described
             820      in Subsection (1)(b)(ii) from exceeding the average annual amount of revenues described in
             821      Subsection (1)(b)(i) by more than 15%; and]
             822          [(II) approve the incorporation petition and hold an election for town officers, as
             823      provided in Subsection (9).]
             824          [(iii) A county legislative body intending to deny a petition under Subsection
             825      (8)(c)(i)(A) or (8)(c)(ii)(B) shall deny the petition within 20 days after the feasibility consultant
             826      submits the written results of the financial feasibility study.]
             827          [(d) Each town that incorporates pursuant to a petition approved after the county
             828      legislative body imposes conditions under Subsection (8)(c)(i)(B)(I)(Aa) or (8)(c)(ii)(C)(I)(Aa)
             829      shall comply with those conditions.]
             830          [(9) (a) The legislative body of the county in which the proposed new town is located
             831      shall hold the election for town officers provided for in Subsection (8) within:]


             832          [(i) 45 days after the day on which the feasibility consultant submits the written results
             833      of the financial feasibility study, for an election under Subsection (8)(b); or]
             834          [(ii) 60 days after the day on which the feasibility consultant submits the written results
             835      of the financial feasibility study, for an election under Subsection (8)(c)(i)(B)(II) or
             836      (8)(c)(ii)(B)(II).]
             837          [(b) The officers elected at an election under Subsection (9)(a) shall take office:]
             838          [(i) at noon on the first Monday in January next following the election, if the election is
             839      held on a regular general or municipal general election date; or]
             840          [(ii) at noon on the first day of the month next following the effective date of the
             841      incorporation under Subsection (12), if the election of officers is held on any other date.]
             842          [(10) Each newly incorporated town shall operate under the five-member council form
             843      of government as defined in Section 10-3b-102 .]
             844          [(11) The mayor-elect of the future town shall:]
             845          [(a) within 30 days after the canvass of the election of town officers under Subsection
             846      (9), file with the lieutenant governor:]
             847          [(i) a copy of a notice of an impending boundary action, as defined in Section
             848      67-1a-6.5 , that meets the requirements of Subsection 67-1a-6.5 (3); and]
             849          [(ii) a copy of an approved final local entity plat, as defined in Section 67-1a-6.5 ; and]
             850          [(b) upon the lieutenant governor's issuance of a certificate of incorporation under
             851      Section 67-1a-6.5 :]
             852          [(i) if the town is located within the boundary of a single county, submit to the recorder
             853      of that county the original:]
             854          [(A) notice of an impending boundary action;]
             855          [(B) certificate of incorporation; and]
             856          [(C) approved final local entity plat; or]
             857          [(ii) if the town is located within the boundaries of more than a single county, submit
             858      the original of the documents listed in Subsections (11)(b)(i)(A), (B), and (C) to one of those
             859      counties and a certified copy of those documents to each other county.]
             860          [(12) (a) A new town is incorporated:]
             861          [(i) on December 31 of the year in which the lieutenant governor issues a certificate of
             862      incorporation under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town officers under Subsection (9) is


             863      held on a regular general or municipal general election date; or]
             864          [(ii) on the last day of the month during which the lieutenant governor issues a
             865      certificate of incorporation under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town officers under
             866      Subsection (9) is held on any other date.]
             867          [(b) (i) The effective date of an incorporation for purposes of assessing property within
             868      the new town is governed by Section 59-2-305.5 .]
             869          [(ii) Until the documents listed in Subsection (11)(b) are recorded in the office of the
             870      recorder of each county in which the property is located, a newly incorporated town may not:]
             871          [(A) levy or collect a property tax on property within the town;]
             872          [(B) levy or collect an assessment on property within the town; or]
             873          [(C) charge or collect a fee for service provided to property within the town.]
             874          [(13) For each petition filed before March 5, 2008:]
             875          [(a) the petition is subject to and governed by the law in effect at the time the petition
             876      was filed; and]
             877          [(b) the law in effect at the time the petition was filed governs in all administrative and
             878      judicial proceedings relating to the petition.]
             879          Section 12. Section 10-2-126 is enacted to read:
             880          10-2-126. Incorporation of town -- Public hearing on feasibility.
             881          (1) If, in accordance with Section 10-2-125 , the county clerk certifies a petition for
             882      incorporation or an amended petition for incorporation, the county legislative body shall, at its
             883      next regular meeting after completion of the feasibility study, schedule a public hearing to:
             884          (a) be held no later than 60 days after the day on which the feasibility study is
             885      completed; and
             886          (b) consider, in accordance with Subsection (3)(b), the feasibility of incorporation for
             887      the proposed town.
             888          (2) The county legislative body shall give notice of the public hearing on the proposed
             889      incorporation by:
             890          (a) posting notice of the public hearing on the county's Internet website, if the county
             891      has an Internet website;
             892          (b) (i) publishing notice of the public hearing at least once a week for two consecutive
             893      weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town; or


             894          (ii) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the proposed town, posting
             895      notice of the public hearing in at least five conspicuous public places within the proposed
             896      town; and
             897          (c) publishing notice of the public hearing on the Utah Public Notice Website created
             898      in Section 63F-1-701 .
             899          (3) At the public hearing scheduled in accordance with Subsection (1), the county
             900      legislative body shall:
             901          (a) (i) provide a copy of the feasibility study; and
             902          (ii) present the results of the feasibility study to the public; and
             903          (b) allow the public to:
             904          (i) review the map or plat of the boundary of the proposed town;
             905          (ii) ask questions and become informed about the proposed incorporation; and
             906          (iii) express its views about the proposed incorporation, including their views about the
             907      boundary of the area proposed to be incorporated.
             908          (4) A county may not hold an election on the incorporation of a town in accordance
             909      with Section 10-2-127 if the results of the feasibility study show that the five year projected
             910      revenues under Subsection 10-2-125 (8)(b)(v) exceed the five year projected costs under
             911      Subsection (8)(b)(iv) by more than 10%.
             912          Section 13. Section 10-2-127 is enacted to read:
             913          10-2-127. Incorporation of town -- Election to incorporate -- Ballot form.
             914          (1) (a) At the next regular general election, as defined in Section 20A-1-102 , more than
             915      60 days after the public hearing described in Section 10-2-126 , the county legislative body shall
             916      hold an election on the proposed incorporation unless prohibited under the provisions of
             917      Section 10-2-126 .
             918          (b) Unless a person is a registered voter who resides, as defined in Section 20A-1-102 ,
             919      within the boundaries of the proposed town, the person may not vote on the proposed
             920      incorporation.
             921          (2) (a) The county clerk shall publish notice of the election:
             922          (i) in a newspaper of general circulation, within the area proposed to be incorporated,
             923      at least once a week for three successive weeks; and
             924          (ii) in accordance with Section 45-1-101 for three weeks.


             925          (b) The notice required by Subsection (2)(a) shall contain:
             926          (i) a statement of the contents of the petition;
             927          (ii) a description of the area proposed to be incorporated as a town;
             928          (iii) a statement of the date and time of the election and the location of polling places;
             929      and
             930          (iv) the county Internet website address, if applicable, and the address of the county
             931      office where the feasibility study is available for review.
             932          (c) The last publication of notice required under Subsection (2)(a) shall occur at least
             933      one day but no more than seven days before the election.
             934          (d) (i) In accordance with Subsection (2)(a)(i), if there is no newspaper of general
             935      circulation within the proposed town, the county clerk shall post at least one notice of the
             936      election per 100 population in conspicuous places within the proposed town that are most
             937      likely to give notice of the election to the voters of the proposed town.
             938          (ii) The clerk shall post the notices under Subsection (2)(d)(i) at least seven days before
             939      the election under Subsection (1)(a).
             940          (3) The ballot at the incorporation election shall pose the incorporation question
             941      substantially as follows:
             942          Shall the area described as (insert a description of the proposed town) be incorporated
             943      as the town of (insert the proposed name of the proposed town)?
             944          (4) The ballot shall provide a space for the voter to answer yes or no to the question in
             945      Subsection (3).
             946          (5) If a majority of those casting votes within the area boundaries of the proposed town
             947      vote to incorporate as a town, the area shall incorporate.
             948          Section 14. Section 10-2-128 is enacted to read:
             949          10-2-128. Form of government -- Election of officers of new town.
             950          (1) A newly incorporated town shall operate under the five-member council form of
             951      government as defined in Section 10-3b-102 .
             952          (2) (a) The county legislative body of the county in which a newly incorporated town is
             953      located shall hold an election for town officers at the next special election after the regular
             954      general election in which the town incorporation is approved.
             955          (b) The officers elected at an election described in Subsection (2)(a) shall take office at


             956      noon on the first Monday in January next following the special election described in
             957      Subsection (2)(a).
             958          Section 15. Section 10-2-129 is enacted to read:
             959          10-2-129. Notice to lieutenant governor -- Effective date of incorporation -- Effect
             960      of recording documents.
             961          (1) The mayor-elect of the future town shall:
             962          (a) within 30 days after the canvass of the election of town officers under Section
             963      10-2-128 , file with the lieutenant governor:
             964          (i) a copy of a notice of an impending boundary action, as defined in Section 67-1a-6.5 ,
             965      that meets the requirements of Subsection 67-1a-6.5 (3); and
             966          (ii) a copy of an approved final local entity plat, as defined in Section 67-1a-6.5 ; and
             967          (b) upon the lieutenant governor's issuance of a certificate of incorporation under
             968      Section 67-1a-6.5 :
             969          (i) if the town is located within the boundary of a single county, submit to the recorder
             970      of that county the original:
             971          (A) notice of an impending boundary action;
             972          (B) certificate of incorporation; and
             973          (C) approved final local entity plat; or
             974          (ii) if the town is located within the boundaries of more than a single county, submit
             975      the original of the documents listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i)(A), (B), and (C) to one of those
             976      counties and a certified copy of those documents to each other county.
             977          (2) (a) A new town is incorporated:
             978          (i) on December 31 of the year in which the lieutenant governor issues a certificate of
             979      incorporation under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town officers under Section 10-2-128
             980      is held on a regular general or municipal general election date; or
             981          (ii) on the last day of the month during which the lieutenant governor issues a
             982      certificate of incorporation under Section 67-1a-6.5 , if the election of town officers under
             983      Section 10-2-128 is held on any other date.
             984          (b) (i) The effective date of an incorporation for purposes of assessing property within
             985      the new town is governed by Section 59-2-305.5 .
             986          (ii) Until the documents listed in Subsection (1)(b)(i) are recorded in the office of the


             987      recorder of each county in which the property is located, a newly incorporated town may not:
             988          (A) levy or collect a property tax on property within the town;
             989          (B) levy or collect an assessment on property within the town; or
             990          (C) charge or collect a fee for service provided to property within the town.
             991          Section 16. Section 17-27a-302 is amended to read:
             992           17-27a-302. Planning commission powers and duties.
             993          (1) Each countywide or township planning commission shall, with respect to the
             994      unincorporated area of the county, or the township, make a recommendation to the county
             995      legislative body for:
             996          (a) a general plan and amendments to the general plan;
             997          (b) land use ordinances, zoning maps, official maps, and amendments;
             998          (c) an appropriate delegation of power to at least one designated land use authority to
             999      hear and act on a land use application;
             1000          (d) an appropriate delegation of power to at least one appeal authority to hear and act
             1001      on an appeal from a decision of the land use authority; and
             1002          (e) application processes that:
             1003          (i) may include a designation of routine land use matters that, upon application and
             1004      proper notice, will receive informal streamlined review and action if the application is
             1005      uncontested; and
             1006          (ii) shall protect the right of each:
             1007          (A) applicant and third party to require formal consideration of any application by a
             1008      land use authority;
             1009          (B) applicant, adversely affected party, or county officer or employee to appeal a land
             1010      use authority's decision to a separate appeal authority; and
             1011          (C) participant to be heard in each public hearing on a contested application.
             1012          (2) The planning commission of a township under this part may recommend to the
             1013      legislative body of the county in which the township is located[: (a) that the legislative body
             1014      support or oppose a proposed incorporation of an area located within the township, as provided
             1015      in Subsection 10-2-105 (4); or (b)] that the legislative body file a protest to a proposed
             1016      annexation of an area located within the township, as provided in Subsection 10-2-407 (1)(b).
             1017          Section 17. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:


             1018           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             1019          As used in this title:
             1020          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             1021      voter by the county clerk.
             1022          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             1023      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
             1024          (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
             1025      upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
             1026          (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
             1027      envelopes.
             1028          (4) "Ballot sheet":
             1029          (a) means a ballot that:
             1030          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             1031          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
             1032          (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             1033          (5) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
             1034          (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
             1035      be voted on; and
             1036          (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
             1037          (6) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters
             1038      on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
             1039          (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
             1040          (b) a constitutional amendment;
             1041          (c) an initiative;
             1042          (d) a referendum;
             1043          (e) a bond proposition;
             1044          (f) a judicial retention question; [or]
             1045          (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
             1046          [(g)] (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
             1047          (7) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
             1048      20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.


             1049          (8) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
             1050      the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             1051          (9) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a bound
             1052      book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             1053          (10) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
             1054      completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             1055          (11) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
             1056      election results by the board of canvassers.
             1057          (12) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
             1058      the canvass.
             1059          (13) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
             1060      or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
             1061          (14) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
             1062      delegates are selected.
             1063          (15) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
             1064      charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
             1065          (16) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
             1066      election day.
             1067          (17) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
             1068      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             1069          (18) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             1070      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
             1071      and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
             1072          (19) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             1073      elected.
             1074          (20) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
             1075          (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
             1076      occurs; and
             1077          (b) does not include:
             1078          (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
             1079          (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early


             1080      Voting.
             1081          (21) "Elected official" means:
             1082          (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
             1083          (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
             1084      Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
             1085          (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
             1086      Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
             1087          (22) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             1088      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             1089      primary election, and a local district election.
             1090          (23) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
             1091      Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
             1092          (24) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
             1093      file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
             1094          (25) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
             1095          (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
             1096          (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
             1097          (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
             1098          (26) "Election officer" means:
             1099          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
             1100          (b) the county clerk for:
             1101          (i) a county ballot and election; and
             1102          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             1103      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             1104          (c) the municipal clerk for:
             1105          (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
             1106          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             1107      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             1108          (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
             1109          (i) a local district ballot and election; and
             1110          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section


             1111      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or
             1112          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
             1113          (i) a school district ballot and election; and
             1114          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             1115      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
             1116          (27) "Election official" means:
             1117          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             1118      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             1119          (b) any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
             1120          (28) "Election results" means:
             1121          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             1122      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             1123          (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
             1124      proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
             1125          (29) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, all affidavits of registration, the military
             1126      and overseas absentee voter registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any
             1127      unprocessed absentee ballots, all counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all
             1128      spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition form, and the total votes cast form.
             1129          (30) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
             1130      device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
             1131          (31) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
             1132      or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
             1133      the record.
             1134          (32) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
             1135          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             1136          (33) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
             1137          (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
             1138          (b) failed to respond to that notice.
             1139          (34) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             1140      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             1141          (35) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.


             1142          (36) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
             1143      court judge.
             1144          (37) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
             1145      Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district under Title
             1146      17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
             1147          (38) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required by law
             1148      to be elected.
             1149          (39) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special election, a
             1150      local district election, and a bond election.
             1151          (40) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local district, or a
             1152      local school district.
             1153          (41) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
             1154      local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
             1155      vote.
             1156          (42) "Municipal executive" means:
             1157          (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
             1158      or
             1159          (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
             1160      10-3b-103 (6).
             1161          (43) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and local
             1162      districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year
             1163      for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             1164          (44) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
             1165      municipal government.
             1166          (45) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             1167          (46) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
             1168      elected.
             1169          (47) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
             1170      municipal office.
             1171          (48) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
             1172      workers to be given to voters to record their votes.


             1173          (49) "Official endorsement" means:
             1174          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             1175          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             1176          (ii) the date of the election; and
             1177          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             1178          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             1179          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             1180          (ii) the ballot number.
             1181          (50) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
             1182      election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
             1183          (51) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             1184          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             1185      voted on; and
             1186          (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
             1187      ballot proposition.
             1188          (52) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
             1189      participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation
             1190      and Procedures.
             1191          (53) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
             1192      election, voting, or counting votes.
             1193          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             1194          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             1195          (54) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
             1196      cast votes.
             1197          (55) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             1198          (56) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
             1199      in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
             1200          (57) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
             1201      interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for the
             1202      contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             1203      20A-5-400.1 .


             1204          (58) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             1205          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             1206          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             1207          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
             1208          (59) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form required by
             1209      Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide information to
             1210      verify a person's legal right to vote.
             1211          (60) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions at which nominees for
             1212      the regular primary election are selected.
             1213          (61) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
             1214          (a) is built into a voting machine; and
             1215          (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             1216          (62) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
             1217      duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             1218          (63) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             1219      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             1220      after the voter has voted.
             1221          (64) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
             1222      registration form.
             1223          (65) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             1224          (66) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
             1225      Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
             1226      established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             1227          (67) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
             1228      each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and nonpolitical groups to
             1229      advance to the regular general election.
             1230          (68) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
             1231          (69) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
             1232      and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             1233          (70) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then mark or
             1234      punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political parties.


             1235          (71) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the ballot into
             1236      which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the secrecy of
             1237      the voter's vote.
             1238          (72) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-204 .
             1239          (73) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             1240          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             1241          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
             1242          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             1243          (74) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
             1244      Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             1245          (75) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
             1246          (76) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election officer to
             1247      the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             1248          (77) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each group of
             1249      petitioners.
             1250          (78) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             1251      counting center.
             1252          (79) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created by
             1253      statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation,
             1254      or other cause.
             1255          (80) "Valid voter identification" means:
             1256          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             1257      include:
             1258          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             1259          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             1260          (A) the state; or
             1261          (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             1262          (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             1263          (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
             1264          (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             1265          (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a


             1266      photograph of the voter:
             1267          (i) a valid tribal identification card;
             1268          (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
             1269          (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
             1270          (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection (80)(a) or (b) but that bear
             1271      the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct, which
             1272      may include:
             1273          (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
             1274      election;
             1275          (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             1276          (iii) a certified birth certificate;
             1277          (iv) a valid Social Security card;
             1278          (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
             1279          (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             1280          (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             1281          (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
             1282          (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             1283          (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
             1284          (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
             1285          (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
             1286          (A) a local government within the state;
             1287          (B) an employer for an employee; or
             1288          (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
             1289      state; or
             1290          (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
             1291          (81) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in
             1292      candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             1293          (82) "Voter" means a person who:
             1294          (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
             1295          (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
             1296          (c) is registered to vote; and


             1297          (d) is listed in the official register book.
             1298          (83) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
             1299      20A-2-102.5 .
             1300          (84) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             1301      machines, and ballot box.
             1302          (85) "Voting booth" means:
             1303          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
             1304      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             1305          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             1306          (86) "Voting device" means:
             1307          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             1308      piercing the ballots by the voter;
             1309          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             1310          (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
             1311      electronically, or any component thereof;
             1312          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             1313          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             1314      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
             1315          (87) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of recording
             1316      and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             1317          (88) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             1318      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             1319          (89) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by law
             1320      within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             1321          (90) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an inspecting
             1322      poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             1323          (91) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in Chapter 9,
             1324      Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
             1325          (92) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             1326          (93) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on the
             1327      ballot according to the procedures established in this title.


             1328          Section 18. Section 20A-1-203 is amended to read:
             1329           20A-1-203. Calling and purpose of special elections -- Two-thirds vote
             1330      limitations.
             1331          (1) Statewide and local special elections may be held for any purpose authorized by
             1332      law.
             1333          (2) (a) Statewide special elections shall be conducted using the procedure for regular
             1334      general elections.
             1335          (b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, local special elections shall be conducted
             1336      using the procedures for regular municipal elections.
             1337          (3) The governor may call a statewide special election by issuing an executive order
             1338      that designates:
             1339          (a) the date for the statewide special election; and
             1340          (b) the purpose for the statewide special election.
             1341          (4) The Legislature may call a statewide special election by passing a joint or
             1342      concurrent resolution that designates:
             1343          (a) the date for the statewide special election; and
             1344          (b) the purpose for the statewide special election.
             1345          (5) (a) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may call a local special
             1346      election only for:
             1347          (i) a vote on a bond or debt issue;
             1348          (ii) a vote on a voted local levy authorized by Section 53A-17a-133 ;
             1349          (iii) an initiative authorized by Chapter 7, Part 5, Local Initiatives - Procedures;
             1350          (iv) a referendum authorized by Chapter 7, Part 6, Local Referenda - Procedures;
             1351          (v) if required or authorized by federal law, a vote to determine whether or not Utah's
             1352      legal boundaries should be changed;
             1353          (vi) a vote authorized or required by Title 59, Chapter 12, Sales and Use Tax Act;
             1354          (vii) a vote to elect members to school district boards for a new school district and a
             1355      remaining school district, as defined in Section 53A-2-117 , following the creation of a new
             1356      school district under Section 53A-2-118.1 ; or
             1357          (viii) an election of town officers of a newly incorporated town under [Subsection
             1358      10-2-125 (9)] Section 10-2-128 .


             1359          (b) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may call a local special election
             1360      by adopting an ordinance or resolution that designates:
             1361          (i) the date for the local special election; and
             1362          (ii) the purpose for the local special election.
             1363          (c) A local political subdivision may not call a local special election unless the
             1364      ordinance or resolution calling a local special election under Subsection (5)(b) is adopted by a
             1365      two-thirds majority of all members of the legislative body, if the local special election is for:
             1366          (i) a vote on a bond or debt issue as described in Subsection (5)(a)(i);
             1367          (ii) a vote on a voted leeway or levy program as described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii); or
             1368          (iii) a vote authorized or required for a sales tax issue as described in Subsection
             1369      (5)(a)(vi).
             1370          Section 19. Section 20A-1-204 is amended to read:
             1371           20A-1-204. Date of special election -- Legal effect.
             1372          (1) (a) The governor, Legislature, or the legislative body of a local political subdivision
             1373      calling a statewide special election or local special election under Section 20A-1-203 shall
             1374      schedule the special election to be held on:
             1375          (i) the fourth Tuesday in June;
             1376          (ii) the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; or
             1377          (iii) for an election of town officers of a newly incorporated town under [Subsection
             1378      10-2-125 (9)] Section 10-2-128 , on any date that complies with the requirements of that
             1379      subsection.
             1380          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(c), the governor, Legislature, or the legislative
             1381      body of a local political subdivision calling a statewide special election or local special election
             1382      under Section 20A-1-203 may not schedule a special election to be held on any other date.
             1383          (c) (i) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (1)(b), the legislative body of a
             1384      local political subdivision may call a local special election on a date other than those specified
             1385      in this section if the legislative body:
             1386          (A) determines and declares that there is a disaster, as defined in Section 63K-3-102 ,
             1387      requiring that a special election be held on a date other than the ones authorized in statute;
             1388          (B) identifies specifically the nature of the disaster, as defined in Section 63K-3-102 ,
             1389      and the reasons for holding the special election on that other date; and


             1390          (C) votes unanimously to hold the special election on that other date.
             1391          (ii) The legislative body of a local political subdivision may not call a local special
             1392      election for the date established in [Title 20A,] Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential
             1393      Primary, for Utah's Western States Presidential Primary.
             1394          (d) Nothing in this section prohibits:
             1395          (i) the governor or Legislature from submitting a matter to the voters at the regular
             1396      general election if authorized by law; or
             1397          (ii) a local government from submitting a matter to the voters at the regular municipal
             1398      election if authorized by law.
             1399          (2) (a) Two or more entities shall comply with Subsection (2)(b) if those entities hold a
             1400      special election within a county on the same day as:
             1401          (i) another special election;
             1402          (ii) a regular general election; or
             1403          (iii) a municipal general election.
             1404          (b) Entities described in Subsection (2)(a) shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate:
             1405          (i) polling places;
             1406          (ii) ballots;
             1407          (iii) election officials; and
             1408          (iv) other administrative and procedural matters connected with the election.


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