Section 31-1413 - CONSOLIDATION OF DISTRICTS - HEARING - PROTEST - ELECTIONExcept as provided for in section 31-1423(2)(b), Idaho Code, any fire protection district may consolidate with one (1) or more existing fire protection districts subject to the following procedure, or pursuant to an election for consolidation as provided in section 31-1414, Idaho Code, and with the following effects:
(1) If, in the opinion of the board of any fire protection district, it would be to the advantage of said district to consolidate with one (1) or more other existing fire protection districts, the said board shall cause to be prepared an agreement for consolidation which shall among other things provide: (a) The name of the proposed consolidated fire protection district.(b) That all property of the districts to be consolidated shall become the property of the consolidated district.(c) That all debts of the districts to be consolidated shall become the debts of the consolidated district.(d) That the existing commissioners of the districts to be consolidated shall be the commissioners of the consolidated district until the next election, said election to be held pursuant to the terms of section 31-1410, Idaho Code, at which three (3) commissioners shall be elected, unless the agreement of consolidation establishes a five (5) member board, in which case five (5) commissioners shall be elected. If the board consists of three (3) members, commissioners from fire protection subdistricts one and two shall be elected for terms of four (4) years, and the commissioner from fire protection subdistrict three shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. If the board consists of five (5) commissioners, the commissioners from fire protection subdistricts one, three and five shall be elected for terms of four (4) years, and the commissioners from fire protection subdistricts two and four shall be elected for an initial term of two (2) years. Thereafter, the term of all commissioners shall be four (4) years.(e) That the employees of the consolidated fire protection district shall be selected from the employees of the fire protection districts being consolidated, which employees shall retain the seniority rights under their existing employment contracts.(2) After approval of the agreement of consolidation by each of the fire protection district boards involved, the boards of commissioners of each fire protection district shall hold a hearing not less than ten (10) or more than thirty (30) days thereafter and shall cause notice of the hearing, designating the time and place to be published in at least one (1) issue of a newspaper of general circulation within the district not less than five (5) days prior to the hearing. Any person supporting or objecting to the petition shall be heard at the hearing, if in attendance, and at the close of the hearing the board shall approve or reject the agreement of consolidation. If each board approves the agreement of consolidation, the agreement shall become effective and the consolidation of the district complete thirty (30) days after the approval unless within the thirty (30) days a petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the qualified electors of one (1) of the fire protection districts objecting to the consolidation be filed with the secretary of the district. In the event of an objection, an election shall be held as provided in section 31-1405, Idaho Code, except that the question shall be "consolidation of.... fire protection district, yes," or "consolidation of.... fire protection district, no," or words equivalent thereto. If more than one-half (1/2) of the votes cast are yes, the agreement shall become effective. If more than one-half (1/2) of the votes cast are no, the agreement shall be void and of no effect; and no new consolidation shall be proposed for at least six (6) months following the date of the consolidation election.(3) Upon the agreement of consolidation becoming effective, the board of the consolidated fire protection district shall file a certified copy of the agreement with the county recorder of each county in which such district is situated and shall comply with the provisions of section 63-215, Idaho Code. The consolidated district shall thereafter have the same rights and obligations as any other fire protection district organized under the statutes of this state.(4) An agreement of consolidation shall not take effect unless the provisions of section 31-1423(2)(b), Idaho Code, are complied with.[(31-1413) 31-1411A, added 1967, ch. 95, sec. 1, p. 203; am. 1996, ch. 322, sec. 9, p. 1038; am. 1997, ch. 372, sec. 1, p. 1185; am. 1998, ch. 190, sec. 4, p. 693; am. and redesig. 2006 , ch. 318, sec. 9, p. 996; am. 2013 , ch. 185, sec. 1 , p. 444.]Amended by 2013 Session Laws, ch. 185, sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2013.