HB 1286 -- PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Hoppe

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Local
Government and Related Matters by a vote of 17 to 1.

This bill allows the petition for the formation of a public water
supply district to become final and conclusive if the circuit
court determines that the petition has been signed by at least
two-thirds of the property owners within the boundaries of the
proposed district.  Under current law, the petition must have
voter approval before becoming final and conclusive.

Under current law, the notice of a petition must be published for
three weeks in a weekly paper or in 20 successive issues of a
daily newspaper.  The bill allows publication in a daily paper to
be once a week for three weeks.  As an alternative to newspaper
publication, the notice of the filing of the petition may be
given by certified mail to all property owners within the
proposed boundaries of the district.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will save the county
the cost of an election.  If two-thirds of the voters sign a
petition, an election is not needed.  The change in newspaper
notice will give residents more information earlier.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Hoppe.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:00 am