14-284-204. Establishment by petition and adoption of ordinance.

14-284-204. Establishment by petition and adoption of ordinance. (a)(1)(A) If petitions containing a description of the territory for a proposed fire protection district, along with an accurate map of the proposed fire protection district boundaries, and containing the signatures of ten percent (10%) or more of the qualified electors within the proposed fire protection district are filed with the county quorum court of a county in which the proposed fire protection district is to be located to request a public hearing and the establishment of a fire protection district in the county, then the county quorum court or quorum courts, if the proposed fire protection district is located in more than one (1) county, shall conduct a public hearing to determine the support for the proposed fire protection district. (B)(i) A petition shall be certified by the quorum court within sixty (60) days of receipt of the petition under subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section. (ii) The quorum court shall respond in writing to the petitioners within the sixty-day period under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section if there are issues or questions the quorum court would like addressed in the petition, but in no event shall the quorum court delay the sixty-day period under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section. (2)(A) The quorum court shall set the time for the hearing to be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the petitions are certified and shall set the place for the hearing to be held within the boundaries of the proposed fire protection district. (B) When a time and place for the hearing are set, the quorum court shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. (3)(A) Before setting the initial hearing on the adoption of an ordinance to establish a fire protection district, petitions filed with the county quorum court shall be sent to the county clerk of the county where the proposed fire protection district is to be located. (B) It shall be the duty of the county clerk or clerks, as the case may be, to determine the sufficiency of the signatures and to certify the sufficiency in writing to the quorum court. (C) The petitions shall indicate the elector's name, address, and signature and shall contain a verification of the signatures pursuant to § 7-9-109. (b)(1) After the petitions are certified and the initial public hearing held, the county quorum court shall adopt an ordinance to establish the fire protection district, to levy assessments on property or the landowners, or both, and to call for a public hearing on the ordinance. (2) The ordinance shall set the time and place for a public hearing on the ordinance to be held within the boundaries of the proposed fire protection district. (c)(1)(A) When an ordinance is adopted by the quorum court establishing a fire protection district, the quorum court shall publish notice of the adoption of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. (B) The notice shall include a copy of the ordinance and shall prescribe a time and place within the proposed district for a public hearing on the ordinance. (2)(A) A public hearing shall be held at some large public facility within the boundaries of the proposed district at least sixty (60) days and not more than ninety (90) days after the date of publication of the notice. (B) If at the hearing a majority of the qualified electors in the proposed district appear in person to oppose the establishment of the district or if petitions opposing the establishment of the district and containing the signatures of a majority of the qualified electors in the proposed district are filed at or before the public hearing, the ordinance creating the district shall be void. (C)(i) If a majority of the qualified electors of the proposed district do not object to the establishment of the district in person or by petition within the time prescribed in this subsection, the ordinance shall be valid and the district shall be established. (ii) The board of commissioners for the district shall be appointed and serve, and the levy of assessed benefits to support the district may be made, in the same manner as is provided in this subchapter for fire protection districts established pursuant to a vote of the electors. (d)(1) A fire protection district established by ordinance of the quorum court without a vote of the electors of the district shall have no authority to issue bonds and to pledge assessed benefits of the district to secure bonds, unless the question of the issuance of bonds by the district is first submitted to, and approved by, a majority of the qualified electors of the district voting on the issue. (2) The question of the issuance of bonds by a fire protection district established by ordinance of the quorum court may be submitted to the electors of the district at an election called by the county court either at the request of the board of commissioners of the district or upon petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the electors of the district as determined by the number of votes cast by the electors of the district for all candidates for Governor at the last preceding general election.