19-204. Rearrangement of commissioner districts; change in number of districts; approval of electors; limitation on changes; charter counties, exception.
19-204
19-204. Rearrangement of commissioner districts;
change in number of
districts; approval of electors; limitation on changes; charter counties,
exception.
(a) Subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 2009 Supp. 19-204b, and amendments
thereto, and
subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 19-204a, and amendments thereto,
the
board of county
commissioners, on the day of the
organization of the board or as soon thereafter as may be possible, shall
meet
and divide the county into three commissioner districts or such
number of districts as is prescribed by resolution of the board, as
compact and equal in population as possible, and number them. Such
districts shall be subject to
alteration at least once every three years.
(b) In Shawnee county, each district shall include residents of both the
incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. The number of residents in
each district from the unincorporated area of the county shall be as equal in
number, as possible. Such districts shall be subject to alteration at least
once every three years.
If the districts do not meet the requirements of this subsection, the
districts shall be altered to comply with such requirements no later than 30
days following the effective date of this act.
(c) The board of county commissioners of any county, by
resolution, may divide the county into three, five or seven
commissioner districts, as compact and equal in population as possible,
but no such resolution which would effect a change in the number of
commissioner districts shall take effect until it has been approved by a
majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at the
next general election
following not less than 60 days the
adoption of such resolution, in which all the qualified electors of the
county are entitled to vote. Upon the presentation of a petition to the
board of county commissioners, signed by electors equal in number to 5%
of the qualified electors of the county and verified
by the county election officer, requesting that the number of
commissioner districts be changed, the board of county commissioners
shall cause such proposition to be submitted to the voters of the county
at the next general election, following not less than 60 days
the presentation of such petition, in which all of the qualified
electors of the county are entitled to vote. In the event that more
than one such petition is presented to the board of county
commissioners prior to a general election, and any of such petitions
conflicts with any other such petition with respect to the number of
commissioner districts requested, the board of county commissioners
shall decide, by majority vote thereon, which of the propositions
shall
be submitted to the voters at the next such general election. If a
majority of the electors voting at such election shall be in favor of
changing the number of commissioner districts, the board of county
commissioners shall provide for the division of the county into
commissioner districts as provided in K.S.A. 19-204a, and amendments
thereto.
(d) No change in the number of commissioner districts shall
become effective in any county within four years of the effective date of
any previous change in the number of commissioner districts in such
county.
(e) The provisions of this section may be modified by the
adoption of a charter for county government in any county which has established
a charter commission pursuant to law.
History: L. 1901, ch. 129, § 4; R.S. 1923, 19-204; L. 1975,
ch. 153, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 121, § 4; L. 1981, ch. 112, § 1;
L. 1992, ch. 38, § 4;
L. 1996, ch. 68, § 1;
L. 2009, ch. 134, § 6; May 28.