Brief⁽¹⁾

S.B. 657 authorizes township boards to transfer their powers, responsibilities, and duties to the board of county commissioners if township voters approve this transfer at an election. Township voters are also authorized to initiate a petition and hold an election for the return of those powers to the township board.

The election on the issue to transfer township powers is initiated by passage of a resolution by the township board. If approved by voters, all funds of the township are to be transferred to the county. The board of county commissioners is authorized to levy taxes and expend funds on behalf of the township. A 20 percent initiative petition by township qualified electors shall cause an election on the transfer back of township powers to the township board.

The Senate Committee made certain clarifying amendments.

Background

The bill was supported by the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners in response to the desires of township officials. S.B. 657 is nearly identical to H.B. 2902.

The bill has no fiscal impact on the state.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext-bill.html.