12-343. Same; commission, powers and duties; studies and investigations; consolidation plan, submission to legislature, voter approval.
12-343
12-343. Same; commission, powers and duties; studies and investigations;
consolidation plan, submission to legislature, voter approval.
(a) The commission shall prepare and adopt a plan addressing
the
consolidation of the city and county or certain city and county offices,
functions, services and operations. The commission shall conduct such studies
and investigations
as
it deems appropriate to complete its work. Such studies and investigations
shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Studies of the efficiency and effectiveness of the administrative
operations of the city and county.
(2) Studies of the costs and benefits of consolidating the city and county
or certain city and county offices, functions, services and operations.
(b) The commission shall hold public hearings for the purpose of receiving
information and materials which will aid in the drafting of the plan.
(c) For the purposes of performing its studies and investigations, the
commission or its executive director may administer oaths and affirmations,
subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, require the
production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements or other
documents or records which the commission or executive director deems relevant
or material to its studies and investigation.
(d) On or before November 29, 1996, the commission shall prepare and adopt a
preliminary plan addressing the consolidation of the city and county or certain
city and county offices, functions, services and operations it deems
advisable. Copies of the preliminary plan shall be filed with the county
election officer, city clerk and each public library within the county and
shall be available to members of the public for inspection upon request. The
commission shall hold at least one public hearing to obtain citizen views
concerning the preliminary plan. Notice of such hearing or hearings shall be
published at
least once in a newspaper of general circulation within the county. Following
the public hearings on the
preliminary plan, the commission may adopt, or modify and adopt, the
preliminary plan as the final plan.
(e) On or before January 13, 1997, the commission shall submit its final
plan to the governor and legislature. The final plan shall include the full
text and an explanation of the proposed plan, and comments deemed desirable by
the commission, a written opinion by an attorney admitted to practice law in
the state of Kansas and retained by the executive director for such purpose
that the proposed plan is not in conflict with the constitution or the
laws of the
state, and any minority reports. Copies of the final plan shall be filed with
the county election officer, city clerk and each public library within the
county and shall be available to members of the public for inspection upon
request. The commission shall continue in existence at least 90 days following
the submission of the final plan pursuant to this subsection.
(f) Unless the legislature, by concurrent resolution adopted on or before
February 12, 1997, the 30th day of the 1997 regular session, rejects such plan,
the plan shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the county at the
school district general election on April 1, 1997. Such election shall be
called and held by the county election officer in the manner provided by the
general bond law. A summary of the final plan shall be prepared by the
commission and shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in
a newspaper of general circulation within the county. If a majority of the
electors voting on the plan
vote in favor thereof, the consolidation plan shall be implemented in the
manner provided by the plan. If a majority of the electors vote against
such plan, the proposed consolidation plan shall not be implemented.
If the commission submits a final plan which does not recommend the
consolidation of the city and county or certain city and county offices,
functions, services and operations, the provisions of this subsection shall not
apply.
History: L. 1996, ch. 11, § 4; Feb. 29.