CHAPTER 176
HOUSE BILL No. 2878
An  Act concerning certain municipalities; relating to the governing bodies thereof; relating
to the powers and duties thereof; amending K.S.A. 12-1922, 12-1926, 12-1927 and 12-
1928 and K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 19-2765 and 19-4004 and repealing the existing sections;
also repealing K.S.A. 12-1935.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. K.S.A. 12-1926 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
1926. (a) Except as provided by this section subsection (c), recreation
commissions shall consist of five members to be appointed as follows: (1)
Upon the adoption of the provisions of this act by the city or school district
acting independently, the governing body of such city or school district
shall appoint four persons who are residents of the taxing district to serve
as members of the recreation commission, the first appointee to serve for
four years, the second for three years, the third for two years, and the
fourth for one year, and the fifth member who also shall serve for four
years shall be appointed by the four appointee members of such com-
mission; or (2) upon the adoption of the provisions of this act by the city
and school district acting jointly, the governing bodies each shall appoint
two persons who are residents of the taxing district to serve as members
of the recreation commission, and the persons so selected shall select one
additional person, and all of such persons shall constitute the recreation
commission.

      Of the members of the commission first selected by the school district,
one shall serve for a term of one year, and one for a term of four years;
one of those first selected by the governing body of the city shall serve
for a term of two years, and one for a term of three years. The additional
member shall serve for a term of four years. Thereafter, the members of
the commission shall be selected in the same manner as the member such
person is succeeding and the term of office of each shall be four years.
Any member of the recreation commission may be removed from the
commission, by the appointing authority, for any cause which would jus-
tify removal of an appointive officer of the city or school district. Except
for members first appointed to the commission, all commissioners not
filling a vacancy shall hold office for a term of four years and until their
successors are appointed and qualified. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the
membership of the commission, a successor shall be selected to fill such
vacancy in the same manner as and for the unexpired term of the member
such person is succeeding. The commission shall elect a chairperson and
secretary from their membership. The commissioners are hereby em-
powered to administer in all respects the business and affairs of the rec-
reation system. The treasurer of the city or school district to which is
certified the budget of the recreation commission shall serve as ex officio
treasurer of the recreation commission. Such treasurer shall keep an ac-
curate record of all money and property received and disbursed and shall
make a report thereof monthly to the commission, or as often as the
commission requires. Members of the commission and the ex officio trea-
surer of the commission shall serve without compensation.

      (b) Any recreation commission established pursuant to K.S.A. 12-
1901 et seq., and amendments thereto, prior to the effective date of this
act may continue as constituted on the effective date of this act or may,
upon a majority vote of the commissioners, reorganize into a five-member
commission as provided by subsection (a). If the commission continues
as constituted on the effective date of this act, upon the expiration of the
term of a member, a person shall be appointed to the commission in the
same manner as the member such person is succeeding. The term of
office shall be four years. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership
of the commission, a successor shall be selected to fill such vacancy in
the same manner as and for the unexpired term of the member such
person is succeeding.

      (c) From and after the effective date of this act, the Blue Valley rec-
reation system established by the Blue Valley unified school district No.
229 shall be governed by a recreation commission consisting of seven
members appointed by the board of education of such school district.
There shall be at least two residents of each member district of such
school district appointed to the recreation commission. The terms of of-
fice of members of the recreation commission serving prior to the effec-
tive date of this act shall expire on the effective date of this act, but such
members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed here-
under. Members of the recreation commission serving prior to the effec-
tive date of this act may be reappointed as provided by this subsection.
Of the members first appointed to the commission after the effective date
of this act: (1) One member shall be appointed for a term of one year;
(2) two members shall be appointed for terms of two years; (3) two mem-
bers shall be appointed for terms of three years; and (4) two members
shall be appointed for terms of four years. Thereafter successors shall be
appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed
and qualified. Members may be removed from the commission by the
board of education. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unex-
pired term.

      Any recreation commission having more than five members and estab-
lished prior to July 1, 2002, may continue as constituted on June 30, 2002,
or upon a majority vote of such commissioners, may reorganize into a five
member district as provided in subsection (a). If a recreation commission
having more than five members and established prior to July 1, 2002,
continues as constituted on June 30, 2002, upon the expiration of the term
of a member, a person shall be appointed to the recreation commission in
the same manner as the member such person is succeeding. The term of
office shall be four years. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership
of a recreation commission, a successor shall be selected to fill such va-
cancy in the same manner as and for the unexpired term of the member
such person is succeeding.

      Sec.  2. K.S.A. 12-1927 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
1927. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b) The recreation commission
shall prepare an annual budget for the operation of the recreation system.
Prior to the certification of its budget to the city or school district, the
recreation commission shall meet for the purpose of answering and hear-
ing objections of taxpayers relating to the proposed budget and for the
purpose of considering amendments to such proposed budget. The rec-
reation commission shall give at least 10 days' notice of the time and place
of the meeting by publication in a weekly or daily newspaper having a
general circulation in the taxing district. Such notice shall include the
proposed budget and shall set out all essential items in the budget except
such groupings as designated by the director of accounts and reports on
a special publication form prescribed by the director of accounts and
reports and furnished with the regular budget form. The public hearing
required to be held herein shall be held not less than 10 days prior to the
date on which the recreation commission is required to certify its budget
to the city or school district. After such hearing the budget shall be
adopted or amended and adopted by the recreation commission. In order
to provide funds to carry out the provisions of this act and to pay a portion
of the principal and interest on bonds issued pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1774,
and amendments thereto, the recreation commission shall annually, not
later than August 1 of any year, certify its budget to such city or school
district which shall levy a tax sufficient to raise the amount required by
such budget on all the taxable tangible property within the taxing district.
Each year a copy of the budget adopted by the recreation commission
shall be filed with the city clerk in the case of a city-established recreation
system or with the clerk of the school district in the case of a school
district-established recreation system or with the clerk of the taxing dis-
trict in the case of a jointly established recreation system. A copy of such
budget also shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which
the recreation system is located. If the recreation system is located in
more than one county, a copy of the budget shall be filed with the clerk
of the county in which the greater portion of the assessed valuation of
the recreation system is located. The city or school district shall not be
required to levy a tax in excess of the maximum tax levy set by the city
or school district by current resolution. In the case of a new recreation
commission established under the provisions of this act, such levy shall
not be required to exceed one mill. Whenever the recreation commission
determines that the tax currently being levied for the commission, as
previously established by the city or school district, is insufficient to op-
erate the recreation system and the commission desires to increase the
mill levy above the current levy, the commission shall request that the
city or school district authorize an increase by adopting a resolution de-
claring it necessary to increase the annual levy. The city or school district
may authorize the increase by resolution, but such increase shall not ex-
ceed one mill per year. The maximum annual mill levy for the recreation
commission general fund shall not exceed a total of four mills.

      (b) Prior to adopting the budget pursuant to subsection (a), the Blue
Valley recreation commission appointed by the Blue Valley unified school
district No. 229 shall submit its proposed budget to the board of education
of such school district. The school board either shall approve, or modify
and approve, the proposed budget. The recreation commission shall
adopt such budget as approved, or modified and approved, by the board.

      (c) Any resolution adopted under subsection (a) shall state the total
amount of the tax to be levied for the recreation system and shall be
published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official news-
paper of the taxing district. Whereupon, such annual levy in an amount
not to exceed the amount stated in the resolution may be made for the
ensuing budget year and each successive budget year unless a petition
requesting an election upon the proposition to increase the tax levy in
excess of the current tax levy, signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters
of the taxing district, is filed with the county election officer within 30
days following the date of the last publication of the resolution. In the
event a valid petition is filed, no such increased levy shall be made without
such proposition having been submitted to and having been approved by
a majority of the voters of the taxing district voting at an election called
and held thereon. All such elections shall be called and held in the manner
provided by the general bond law, and the cost of the election shall be
borne by the recreation commission. Such taxes shall be levied and col-
lected in like manner as other taxes, which levy the city or school district
shall certify, on or before August 25 of each year, to the county clerk who
is hereby authorized and required to place the same on the tax roll of the
county to be collected by the county treasurer and paid over by the county
treasurer to the ex officio treasurer of the recreation commission.

      (d) (c) The tax levy provided in this section shall not be considered a
levy of such city or school district under any of the statutes of this state,
but shall be in addition to all other levies authorized by law and, with
respect to any such levy made for the first time in 1989, shall not be
subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 79-5021 et seq., and amendments
thereto.

      (e) (d)  (1) At any time after the making of the first tax levy pursuant
to this act, the amount of such tax levy may be reduced by a majority of
the voters of the taxing district voting at an election called pursuant to a
petition and conducted in the same manner as that prescribed by sub-
section (c) (b). The authority of any recreation commission in existence
on the effective date of this act or any recreation commission established
under the provisions of this act to operate and conduct its activities, other
than the recreation commission appointed by the Blue Valley unified
school district No. 229, may be revoked in any year following the third
year of its operation by a majority of the voters of the taxing district voting
at an election called pursuant to a petition and conducted in the same
manner as that prescribed by subsection (c) (b). If the petition submitted
is for the purpose of reducing the mill levy, it shall state the mill levy
reduction desired. Upon revocation, all property and money belonging to
the recreation commission shall become the property of the taxing au-
thority levying the tax for the commission, and the recreation commission
shall be dissolved. In the event the authority of a recreation commission
is revoked pursuant to this subsection, the taxing authority may continue
to levy a tax in the manner prescribed by the petition language for the
purpose of paying any outstanding obligations of the recreation commis-
sion which exist on the date such authority is revoked. The authority to
levy a tax for this purpose shall continue only as long as such outstanding
obligations exist.

      (2) If the recreation district whose authority is revoked owns any real
property at the time of such revocation, title to such real property shall
revert to the taxing authority.

      (f) (e) All financial records of the recreation commission shall be au-
dited as provided in K.S.A. 75-1122, and amendments thereto, and a copy
of such annual audit report shall be filed with the governing body of the
city or school district, or both, in the case of a jointly established recre-
ation system. A copy of such audit also shall be filed with the county clerk
of the county in which the recreation system is located. If the recreation
system is located in more than one county, a copy of the budget shall be
filed with the clerk of the county in which the greater portion of the
assessed valuation of the recreation system is located. The cost of each
audit shall be borne by the recreation commission.

      Sec.  3. K.S.A. 12-1928 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
1928. Every recreation commission appointed pursuant to this act shall
have the power to:

      (a) Make and adopt rules and regulations for the operation of the
recreation system;

      (b) conduct the activities of the recreation system on any property
under its custody and management, or, with proper consent, on any other
public property and upon private property with the consent of the owners;

      (c) receive any gift or donation from any source;

      (d) receive, accept and administer any money appropriated or
granted to it by the state or federal government or any agency thereof;

      (e) purchase insurance. The city or school district to which the rec-
reation commission certifies its budget shall levy an annual tax upon all
taxable tangible property within the taxing district in an amount necessary
to pay for insurance purchased for those purposes authorized by K.S.A.
75-6111, and amendments thereto, and to pay a portion of the principal
and interest on bonds issued pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1774, and amend-
ments thereto, except that no levy shall be made under this subsection
which, when coupled with any levy made pursuant to subsection (j), is in
excess of one mill without the approval of the city or school district. Taxes
levied pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to all other taxes
authorized or limited by K.S.A. 12-1927, and amendments thereto, or any
other provisions of law;

      (f) sue and be sued;

      (g) enter contracts;

      (h) enter lease agreements for real and personal property. The term
of any such lease shall not exceed 10 years. Any such lease agreement
shall be subject to the approval of the city or school district to which the
recreation commission certifies its budget;

      (i) employ a superintendent of recreation and any other employees
which may be necessary for proper operation of the recreation system;

      (j) create and establish employee benefits contribution funds for the
purpose of paying the employer's share of any employee benefits, exclu-
sive of any salaries, wages or other direct payments to such employees,
as may be prescribed in the resolution creating such funds. The recreation
commission may receive and place in such funds any moneys from any
source whatsoever which may be lawfully utilized for the purposes stated
in the resolution creating such funds, including the proceeds of tax levies
authorized by law for such purposes. The city or school district to which
is certified the budget of any recreation commission which has established
employee benefits contribution funds pursuant to this subsection shall
levy an annual tax upon all taxable tangible property within the taxing
district in an amount determined by the recreation commission to be
necessary for the purposes for which such funds were created and to pay
a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued pursuant to K.S.A.
12-1774, and amendments thereto, except that no levy shall be made
under this subsection which, when coupled with any levy made pursuant
to subsection (e), is in excess of one mill without the approval of the city
or school district. Taxes levied pursuant to this subsection shall be in
addition to all other taxes authorized or limited by K.S.A. 12-1927, and
amendments thereto, or any other provisions of law. For the purposes of
this subsection, employee benefits shall include social security as provided
by subsection (c) of K.S.A. 40-2305, and amendments thereto, workers'
compensation as provided by K.S.A. 44-505c, and amendments thereto,
unemployment compensation as provided by K.S.A. 44-710a, and amend-
ments thereto, health insurance and retirement benefits;

      (k) acquire title to personal property by purchase, bequest, gift or
other donation and acquire title to real property by devise, gift or other
donation. No real property may be purchased by the recreation commis-
sion appointed by the Blue Valley unified school district No. 229 without
first obtaining the approval of the board of education of such school dis-
trict. Whenever property owned by a recreation commission is sold, the
proceeds shall be used for recreation purposes; and

      (l) make improvements for recreation system purposes; and

      (l) (m) perform any other acts necessary to carry out the provisions
of this act.

      Sec.  4. K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 19-2765 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 19-2765. (a) Every improvement district incorporated under the
terms of this act K.S.A. 19-2753 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall
have the power to:

      (1) (a) Adopt a seal.

      (2) (b) Be sued and to sue by its corporate name.

      (3) (c) Adopt resolutions prescribing the manner in which the powers
of the district shall be carried out, and generally regulating the affairs of
the district.

      (4) (d) Plan and construct or to purchase public works and improve-
ments necessary for public health, recreation, convenience or welfare
within the limits of the improvement district. Also to construct or pur-
chase works outside the limits of the district which may be necessary to
secure outlets, disposal, etc., and permit satisfactory performance of the
works within the district.

      (5) (e) Purchase, hold, sell and convey real estate and other property.

      (6) (f) Take private property for public use by exercise of the right of
eminent domain as provided by law.

      (7) (g)  (i) (1) Annually levy and collect a general tax not exceeding
five mills on all taxable tangible property within the district, to create a
general fund. Unless consented to in writing by the owners of at least
90% of the total area of land in the improvement district, no such levy
shall be made by any improvement district where the density of popula-
tion thereof, as determined by the county clerk of the county in which
the district is located, on the basis of the assessment rolls for the last
assessment made for the county, does not exceed one resident for each
five acres of land, including platted land and unplatted land, located
within the district. (ii) (2) In addition to the levy authorized pursuant to
(i) (1), any improvement district located in McPherson county may levy
and collect annually a tax not exceeding 20 mills on all taxable tangible
property within the district to create a fund to provide street lights in the
district. (iii) (3) In lieu of the levy authorized under (i) (1), any improvement
district located in a county having a population of more than 150,000 and
less than 180,000 and having an assessed taxable tangible valuation in
such district of more than $300,000, may levy and collect annually a tax
not exceeding 15 mills on all taxable tangible property within the district
to provide moneys for the general fund and, in addition, may annually
levy and collect a tax of not to exceed seven mills on all taxable tangible
property within the district to provide moneys for law enforcement and
fire protection for all property located within the district, if, in either case,
51% of the qualified electors of the improvement district, as determined
and verified by the board of directors of the district, shall petition the
directors requesting that such levies be made. (iv) (4) Any improvement
district may annually levy and collect a general tax not exceeding six mills
on all taxable tangible property within the district to create a general fund,
but no levy in excess of five mills may be made unless the board of di-
rectors of such improvement district has published a resolution author-
izing a levy in excess of five mills once each week for three consecutive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the district. If within
30 days after the last publication of such resolution, a petition protesting
such levy, signed by qualified electors of the improvement district equal
in number to not less than 10% of the electors voting at the last improve-
ment district election for directors, is filed with the county clerk of the
county in which such improvement district is located, no levy in excess
of five mills may be made. If no petition protesting the levy in excess of
five mills is filed within the prescribed time, the improvement district
may, annually thereafter, levy such general tax not exceeding six mills.

      (8) (h) Levy assessments and special taxes, if deemed expedient by
the directors, upon all of the real estate in the district that may be ben-
efited by special works and improvements including the improvement
and maintenance of roads in the district, which will be conducive to the
public health, convenience or welfare.

      (9) (i) Authorize the issuance of bonds to pay the cost of constructing
public works and improvements that will benefit all property located
within the district and be conducive to the public health, convenience, or
welfare and be beneficial to all of the inhabitants of the district. No such
bonds shall be issued unless consented to in writing by the owners of all
of the land in the improvement district or until authorized by a vote of
the taxpayers as hereinafter provided. The total amount of such bonds
outstanding shall not, unless consented to in writing by the owners of all
of the land in the improvement district, exceed 25% of the assessed val-
uation of the district as shown by latest assessment rolls. Unless consented
to in writing by the owners of at least 90% of the total area of land in the
improvement district, no such bonds shall be issued for the payment of
the cost of any improvement within any improvement district where the
density of population thereof, as determined by the county clerk of the
county in which the district is located, on the basis of the assessment rolls
for the last assessment made for the county does not exceed one resident
for each five acres of land, including platted land and unplatted land,
located within the district. Any improvement district having a population
of more than 2,000 and an assessed taxable tangible valuation of more
than $2,000,000 and located within a county having a population of more
than 300,000 is hereby authorized to issue revenue bonds the proceeds
of which shall be used only to purchase, construct, reconstruct, equip,
maintain or repair buildings and to acquire sites therefor, and to enlarge
or remodel such buildings and equip the same for the purposes set out
in and pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-1740 et seq., and amend-
ments thereto.

      (10) (j) Contract with other improvement districts or with other pub-
lic corporations for cooperation or joint action in the construction of pub-
lic works or improvements. Also to contract for and receive aid, contri-
butions and loans from the United States government or any agency
thereof.

      (11) (k) Establish by resolution of the board of directors reasonable
rates on charges for the use of the sewage disposal system of the district
and provide for the manner of the making and collection of the same.
``Sewage disposal system'' for the purposes of this act shall include the
system of sewers and the sewage disposal plant of the district.

      (12) (l) Make all contracts and do all other acts in relation to the
affairs of the district necessary to the proper exercise of its corporate
legislative or administrative powers and to the accomplishment of the
purpose of its organization.

      (13) (m) Purchase or acquire outdoor emergency warning sirens.

      (14) (n) Employ any person necessary to carry out the provisions of
this act.

      (15) (o) Do all other acts that may be necessary to carry out and
execute the general powers hereinbefore or hereinafter granted, although
not hereinbefore specifically enumerated.

      (b) The board of directors of any improvement district the boundaries
of which are located more than five miles from the boundaries of any
incorporated city and Lake Wabaunsee improvement district located in
Wabaunsee county also shall have the power to:

      (1) Secure the general health of the district by the adoption of res-
olutions to prevent, abate and remove nuisances. The secretary of the
board of directors shall send a notice to the owner of the property to
remove or abate such nuisance within a period of time not to exceed 10
days. If the owner fails to remove or abate the nuisance within the time
specified the board may provide for the removal or abatement of the
nuisance and provide for the assessment of the cost of abating or remov-
ing such nuisance against the property upon which the same is located or
maintained. Such assessments shall be certified by the secretary of the
board of directors of the district to the county clerk of the county in which
the property is located, to be placed upon the tax roll for collection at the
same time and in the same manner as ad valorem property tax levies are
collected and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same pro-
cedure for collection as is prescribed by law for the collection of such ad
valorem property taxes. Any unpaid costs assessed pursuant to this sub-
section shall become a lien upon the property from the date of assessment
thereof.

      (2) (p) Secure the health of the district by the adoption of resolutions
requiring the removal or destruction of grass, weeds or other vegetation
from any lot or parcel of land located within the district. The secretary
of the board of directors shall send notice to the owner of the property
to remove the grass, weeds or vegetation within a period of time not to
exceed 10 days. If the owner fails to remove the grass, weeds or vegetation
within the time specified, the board may provide for the removal thereof
and assess the cost of removal against the property on which the same
was located. Such assessments shall be certified by the secretary of the
board of directors of the district to the county clerk of the county in which
the property is located, to be placed upon the tax roll for collection at the
same time and in the same manner as ad valorem property tax levies are
collected and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same pro-
cedure for collection as is prescribed by law for the collection of such ad
valorem property taxes. Any unpaid costs assessed pursuant to this sub-
section shall become a lien upon the property from the date of assessment
thereof.

      (3) (q) Adopt resolutions regulating and prohibiting the running at
large of domestic animals.

      (4) (r) Adopt resolutions for the preservation of the peace and order
of the district and to prevent injury, destruction or interference with pub-
lic or private property.

      (5) (s) Adopt resolutions providing for the assessment of unpaid bills
or charges for utility services provided by the district against the property
receiving the service. Such assessments shall be certified by the secretary
of the board of directors of the district to the county clerk of the county
in which the property is located, to be placed upon the tax roll for col-
lection at the same time and in the same manner as ad valorem property
tax levies are collected and shall be subject to the same penalties and the
same procedure for collection as is prescribed by law for the collection
of such ad valorem property taxes. Any unpaid costs assessed pursuant to
this subsection shall become a lien upon the property from the date of
assessment thereof.

      (t) Take any other action necessary to carry out and execute the gen-
eral powers granted by this section.

      Sec.  5. K.S.A. 12-1922 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
1922. When used in this act:

      (a) ``City'' means any city in the state of Kansas;

      (b) ``School district'' means any unified school district in the state of
Kansas;.

      (c) ``Recreation system'' means any system of public recreation and
playgrounds established pursuant to this act; and.

      (d) ``Taxing district'' means (1) the area within the corporate limits of
a city in the case of a city-established recreation system; (2) subject to the
provisions of section 6, and amendments thereto, the area within the
boundary lines of a school district in the case of a school district-estab-
lished recreation system; or (3) subject to the provisions of section 6, and
amendments thereto, the area within the corporate limits of a city or the
area within the boundary lines of a school district, whichever has the
greater assessed valuation, in the case of a jointly established recreation
system.

      New Sec.  6. Unless the boundaries of a taxing district are expanded
as provided by section 7, and amendments thereto, whenever a school
district which has established a recreation system or which is part of a
joint recreation system established under K.S.A. 12-1922 et seq., and
amendments thereto, consolidates with another school district which has
not established a recreation system or which is not a part of a joint rec-
reation system, the ``taxing district'' of the recreation system shall mean
the area of the taxing district as it existed on the day immediately pre-
ceding the effective date of the consolidation of the school districts.

      New Sec.  7. (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to those
recreation systems with taxing districts as defined in section 6, and
amendments thereto.

      (b) Whenever a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters
of a school district of which only a portion is included within the taxing
district of a recreation system is filed with the clerk thereof, requesting
the governing body of the school district to extend the boundaries of the
taxing district to be coterminous with the boundaries of the school district,
the governing body of the school district shall submit the question to the
qualified voters thereof. Such election shall be called and held in the
manner provided by the general bond law, and the cost of the election
shall be borne by such school district.

      (c) The governing body of any school district may initiate the exten-
sion of the boundaries of the taxing district to be coterminous with the
boundaries of the school district by adopting a resolution proposing to
extend the boundaries of the taxing district. The proposal shall be sub-
mitted for approval by the voters of the school district, at an election
called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law, and the
cost of the election shall be borne by the school district.

      (d) Upon approval of the proposition by a majority of those voting on
it at the election, the governing body of the school district, by appropriate
resolution, shall provide for the extension of the taxing district to be co-
terminous with the boundaries of the school district.

      (e) When used in this section, ``qualified voter'' means a registered
voter of a school district who is a resident of that portion of such school
district which is not included in the taxing district of a recreation system
following the consolidation of such school district with a school district
which has established a recreation system or which is a part of a joint
recreation system.

      Sec.  8. K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 19-4004 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 19-4004. In all counties wherein the board or boards of county
commissioners in the event of a combination of counties has established
a governing board, the respective board or boards of county commission-
ers may levy an annual tax upon all taxable tangible property in such
county for mental health services and to pay a portion of the principal
and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and
amendments thereto, by cities located in the county. The respective board
or boards of county commissioners may also levy an additional annual tax
upon all taxable tangible property in such county for mental retardation
services and to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued
under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities
located in the county. The additional levy authorized by this section for
mental retardation services shall not be made until a notice of intent to
make such levy has been published in a newspaper of general circulation
in the county or counties involved by the board or boards of county com-
missioners proposing to make such levy, and such notice shall state that
if a petition signed by 5% of the electors of the county shall file a protest
petition within 60 days of the date of such publication a proposition will
be submitted at an election called for the purpose in the county for ap-
proval of the levy; if such proposition is approved or if no sufficient protest
is made, then the board or boards of county commissioners shall levy such
tax, but if a sufficient protest is made and such proposition is not ap-
proved, the levy will not be made. The proceeds thereof shall be placed
in the hands of the appropriate governing board to be administered as
provided by this act.

      In addition thereto, to provide for the purchase of or the construction
of facilities for the community mental health center, and/or facility for
the mentally retarded, the board or boards of county commissioners may,
upon petition of the governing board, levy an annual tax on all taxable
tangible property in their county and to issue and sell general obligation
bonds of such county, for the purpose of creating and providing a special
fund to be used in acquiring a site for, and the building, equipping, re-
pairing, remodeling and furnishing of a community mental health center,
and/or facilities for the mentally retarded, or for any one or more of such
purposes. The additional levy authorized by this section shall not be made
until a notice of intent to make such levy has been published in a news-
paper of general circulation in the county or counties involved by the
board or boards of county commissioners proposing to make such levy,
and such notice shall state that if a petition signed by 5% of the electors
of the county shall file a protest petition within 60 days of the date of
such publication a proposition will be submitted at an election called for
the purpose in the county for approval of the levy; if such proposition is
approved or if no sufficient protest is made, then the board of county
commissioners will make the levy of such tax, but if a sufficient protest
is made and such proposition is not approved, the levy will not be made.
The board of county commissioners shall proceed in the manner pre-
scribed to be followed in such notice. The tax levy may be made annually
until sufficient funds have been created for the purpose or purposes, or
if the county has issued and sold general obligation bonds, the proceeds
raised by the annual tax levy shall be used to retire the general obligation
bonds and the tax levy shall continue until the general obligation bonds
have been retired. Such federal, state or private funds as may be available
may be accepted by the board of county commissioners to be placed in
the fund for operation of or construction of a community mental health
center, and/or facility for the mentally retarded, as the case may be. Title
to the building or buildings of the community mental health center, and/
or facility for the mentally retarded, shall vest in the governing board
which is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the facilities
if a combination of counties has established the center, but, if only one
county has established the mental health center or facilities for the men-
tally retarded, title shall vest in the board of county commissioners of
such county. If the board of county commissioners has contracted with a


nonprofit corporation to provide mental health services under K.S.A. 19-
4007, and amendments thereto, the title to the building or buildings shall
may, in the discretion of the board of county commissioners, vest in the
board of county commissioners and they or the nonprofit corporation
providing mental health services, and the board of county commissioners
may allow the nonprofit corporation to use the buildings without charge.

 Sec.  9. K.S.A. 12-1922, 12-1926, 12-1927, 12-1928 and 12-1935 and
K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 19-2765 and 19-4004 are hereby repealed.

 Sec.  10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved May 29, 2002.
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