20-6-317. High school district annexation procedure. A high school district may be annexed to another high school district located in the same county when one of the conditions of 20-6-316 is met in accordance with the following procedure:
     (1) At the time the annexation proposition is first considered, the districts involved shall jointly determine whether the annexation is to be made with or without the joint assumption of the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district by the district to be annexed and the annexing district.
     (2) An annexation proposition may be introduced in the district to be annexed by either of the following methods:
     (a) the trustees may pass a resolution requesting the county superintendent to order an election to consider an annexation proposition for their district; or
     (b) not less than 20% of the electors of the district who are qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may petition the county superintendent requesting an election to consider an annexation proposition for their district.
     (3) Before ordering an election on the proposition, the county superintendent must receive from the trustees of the annexing district a resolution giving him the authority to annex such district.
     (4) When the county superintendent receives authorization from the annexing district, he shall, within 10 days after the receipt of the resolution or a valid petition from the district to be annexed and as provided by 20-20-201, order the trustees of the district to be annexed to call an annexation election.
     (5) (a) The district shall call and conduct an election in the manner prescribed in this title for school elections.
     (b) In addition:
     (i) if the district to be annexed is to jointly assume with the annexing district the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district, the annexation election must also follow the procedures prescribed in 20-6-318; or
     (ii) if the district to be annexed is not to jointly assume with the annexing district the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district, the annexation election must also follow the procedures prescribed in 20-6-319.
     (6) After the county superintendent receives the election certificate provided for in 20-20-416 from the trustees of the district conducting the annexation election and if the annexation proposition has been approved by such election, he shall order the annexation of the territory of the high school district voting on such proposition to the high school district that has authorized the annexation to its territory. The order must be issued within 10 days after the receipt of the election certificate and, if it is for annexation with the assumption of bonded indebtedness, must specify that all the taxable real and personal property of the annexed territory shall jointly assume with the annexing district the existing bonded indebtedness of the annexing district. The county superintendent shall send a copy of the order to the board of county commissioners and to the trustees of the districts involved in the annexation order.
     (7) If the annexation proposition is disapproved in the district to be annexed, it fails and the county superintendent shall notify each district of the disapproval of the annexation proposition.

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 617, L. 1983.