2003 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1055 – Hwy dist comm, powers/duties

SENATE BILL NO. 1055

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S1055........................................................by TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS - Amends existing law to clarify administrative
powers and duties of highway district commissioners regarding disposal of real
and personal property, payment of expenses for emergencies and calamities,
purchase of equipment at public auction, publication of proposed commissioner
salaries in the annual budget and compensation for highway district
commissioners.
                                                                        
01/31    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/03    Rpt prt - to Transp
02/12    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/13    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/17    3rd rdg - PASSED - 28-7-0
      AYES -- Andreason, Bailey, Brandt, Bunderson, Burtenshaw, Cameron,
      Compton, Darrington, Davis, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde, Hill, Ingram,
      Kennedy, Keough, Little, Lodge, McKenzie, McWilliams, Noble, Noh,
      Pearce, Richardson, Sorensen, Stegner, Sweet, Williams
      NAYS -- Burkett, Calabretta, Malepeai, Marley, Schroeder, Stennett, Werk
      Absent and excused -- None
    Floor Sponsor - Little
    Title apvd - to House
02/18    House intro - 1st rdg - to Transp
02/27    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/28    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/03    3rd rdg - PASSED - 64-3-3
      AYES -- Andersen, Barraclough, Barrett, Bauer, Bell, Bieter, Black,
      Block, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Campbell, Cannon, Clark, Collins, Crow,
      Cuddy, Denney, Douglas, Eberle, Edmunson, Ellsworth, Eskridge,
      Field(18), Field(23), Gagner, Garrett, Henbest, Jaquet, Jones, Kellogg,
      Lake, Langford, Langhorst, Martinez, McGeachin, McKague, Meyer, Miller,
      Mitchell, Moyle, Naccarato, Nielsen, Raybould, Ridinger, Ring, Ringo,
      Roberts, Robison, Rydalch, Sali, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd, Shirley,
      Skippen, Smith(24), Smylie, Snodgrass, Stevenson, Tilman, Trail, Wills,
      Wood
      NAYS -- Harwood, Kulczyk, Smith(30)
      Absent and excused -- Bedke, Deal, Mr. Speaker
    Floor Sponsor - Ridinger
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/04    To enrol
03/05    Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/06    Sp signed
03/07    To Governor
03/13    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 68
         Effective: 07/01/03

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1055
                                                                        
                                BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO HIGHWAY DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTION 31-808, IDAHO CODE, TO  DELETE
  3        REQUIREMENT  OF  HIGHWAY DISTRICTS TO DISPOSE OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY
  4        VALUED AT OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS  OF
  5        THIS  SECTION  OF  LAW; AMENDING SECTION 40-1308, IDAHO CODE, TO AUTHORIZE
  6        HIGHWAY DISTRICTS TO PAY FOR EMERGENCIES OR CALAMITIES IN ACCORDANCE  WITH
  7        EXISTING  HIGHWAY DISTRICT LAW AND TO DELETE REFERENCE TO PAYMENT OF JUDG-
  8        MENTS AND LIABILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW FOR TORT  CLAIMS  AGAINST
  9        GOVERNMENTAL  ENTITIES;  AMENDING  SECTION 40-1309, IDAHO CODE, TO CLARIFY
 10        CORPORATE POWERS OF HIGHWAY DISTRICTS WITH REGARD TO DISPOSAL OF  REAL  OR
 11        PERSONAL  PROPERTY EXCEEDING FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN VALUE AND TO PROVIDE
 12        THAT NO EMPLOYEES OF A HIGHWAY DISTRICT OR FAMILIES  OF  HIGHWAY  DISTRICT
 13        COMMISSIONERS,  DIRECTORS  OR  EMPLOYEES  MAY  BE PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN
 14        HIGHWAY DISTRICT PURCHASES OR CONTRACTS; AMENDING SECTION  40-1310,  IDAHO
 15        CODE,  TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMIS-
 16        SIONERS REGARDING PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AT PUBLIC AUCTION;  AMENDING  SEC-
 17        TION  40-1314,  IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLICATION OF PROPOSED COMMIS-
 18        SIONER SALARIES AS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND  TO  PRO-
 19        VIDE  CORRECT  TERMINOLOGY;  AND  AMENDING  SECTIONS 40-1404 AND 40-1404A,
 20        IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR COMPENSATION OF HIGHWAY DISTRICT AND COUNTYWIDE
 21        HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS  OF  SEC-
 22        TION 40-1314, IDAHO CODE.
                                                                        
 23    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 24        SECTION  1.  That  Section  31-808, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 25    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 26        31-808.  SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY -- GENERAL PROCEDURE -- SALE OF  PROPERTY
 27    ACQUIRED  THROUGH TAX DEED -- PROCEDURE AFTER ATTEMPTED AUCTION -- EXCHANGE OF
 28    COUNTY PROPERTY -- SALE OF CERTAIN ODD-LOT PROPERTY -- SALE, EXCHANGE OR DONA-
 29    TION OF PROPERTY TO OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT. (1) A board of  county  commis-
 30    sioners shall have the power and authority to sell or offer for sale at public
 31    auction  any  real  or personal property belonging to the county not necessary
 32    for its use. However, personal property not exceeding two hundred  fifty  dol-
 33    lars ($250) in value may be sold at private sale without notice or public auc-
 34    tion. Prior to offering the property for sale, the board of county commission-
 35    ers  shall  advertise notice of the auction in a newspaper, as defined in sec-
 36    tion 60-106, Idaho Code, either published in the county or  having  a  general
 37    circulation  in  the county, not less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the
 38    auction. If the property to be sold is real property, the notice  to  be  pub-
 39    lished  shall  contain  the legal description as well as the street address of
 40    the property. If the property is outside the corporate limits of  a  city  and
 41    does  not  have  a street address, then the description shall also contain the
 42    distance and direction of the location of the real property from  the  closest
 43    city.  If the property to be sold is acquired by tax deed, the notice required
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    to be published shall include, next to the description of  the  property,  the
  2    name  of  the  taxpayer  as  it appears in the delinquent tax certificate upon
  3    which the tax deed was issued. The property shall be sold to the highest  bid-
  4    der.  However,  the  board  of  county  commissioners may reserve the right to
  5    reject any and all bids and shall have discretionary authority  to  reject  or
  6    accept  any  bid which may be made for an amount less than the total amount of
  7    all delinquent taxes, late charges, costs and interest which may have  accrued
  8    against  any  property  so offered for sale, including the amount specified in
  9    the tax deed to the county.
 10        (2)  Proceeds from the sale of county property not acquired  by  tax  deed
 11    shall  be paid into the county treasury for the general use of the county.  If
 12    the property to be sold has been acquired by tax deed, pursuant to the  provi-
 13    sions  of  chapter 10, title 63, Idaho Code, the proceeds from the sale, after
 14    reimbursement to the county for the cost of advertising  and  sale,  shall  be
 15    apportioned  to the taxing districts in which the property is situated accord-
 16    ing to the levy applied to the year of delinquency upon which the tax deed was
 17    issued to the county.
 18        (3)  Any property sold may be carried on  a  recorded  contract  with  the
 19    county  for a term not to exceed ten (10) years and at an interest rate not to
 20    exceed the rate of interest specified in section 28-22-104(1), Idaho Code. The
 21    board of county commissioners shall have the authority to cancel any  contract
 22    if the purchaser fails to comply with any of the terms of the contract and the
 23    county  shall retain all payments made on the contract. The title to all prop-
 24    erty sold on contract shall be retained in the name of the county  until  full
 25    payment  has  been  made  by  the  purchaser.  However, the purchaser shall be
 26    responsible for payment of all property taxes during the period  of  the  con-
 27    tract.
 28        (4)  Any sale of property by the county shall vest in the purchaser all of
 29    the  right,  title  and  interest of the county in the property, including all
 30    delinquent taxes which have become a lien on the property since  the  date  of
 31    issue of the tax deed, if any.
 32        (5)  In  addition  to  the purchase price, a purchaser of county property,
 33    including property acquired by tax deed, shall pay all fees  required  by  law
 34    for  the  transfer of property. No deed for any real estate purchased pursuant
 35    to the provisions of this section shall be delivered to a purchaser until such
 36    deed has been recorded in the county making the sale.
 37        (6)  Should the county be unable to sell at a public auction any  real  or
 38    personal  property belonging to the county, including property acquired by tax
 39    deed, it may sell the property without further notice  by  public  or  private
 40    sale  upon  such terms and conditions as the county deems necessary. Distribu-
 41    tion of the proceeds of sale shall be as set forth in subsection (2)  of  this
 42    section.
 43        (7)  The  board of county commissioners may at its discretion, when in the
 44    county's best interest, exchange and do all things necessary to  exchange  any
 45    of  the  real  property now or hereafter held and owned by the county for real
 46    property of equal value, public or private, to consolidate county  real  prop-
 47    erty  or  aid  the  county in the control and management or use of county real
 48    property.
 49        (8)  The board of county commissioners may, by resolution, declare certain
 50    parcels of real property as odd-lot property, all or portions of which are not
 51    needed for public purposes and are excess to the needs of the county. For pur-
 52    poses of this subsection, odd-lot property is defined as  that  property  that
 53    has an irregular shape or is a remnant and has value primarily to an adjoining
 54    property owner. Odd-lot property may be sold to an adjacent property owner for
 55    fair  market  value that is estimated by a land appraiser licensed to appraise
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    property in the state of Idaho. If, after thirty (30) days' written notice, an
  2    adjoining property owner or owners do not desire to purchase the odd-lot prop-
  3    erty, the board of county commissioners may sell the  property  to  any  other
  4    interested party for not less than the appraised value. When a sale of odd-lot
  5    property  is  agreed  to,  a public advertisement of the pending sale shall be
  6    published in one (1) edition of the newspaper as defined in subsection (1)  of
  7    this  section,  and  the  public shall have fifteen (15) days to object to the
  8    sale in writing. The board of county commissioners shall make the final deter-
  9    mination regarding the sale of odd-lot property in an open meeting.
 10        (9)  In addition to any other powers granted by law, the board  of  county
 11    commissioners   may at their discretion, grant to or exchange with the federal
 12    government, the state of Idaho, any political subdivision or  taxing  district
 13    of the state of Idaho or any local historical society which is incorporated as
 14    an Idaho nonprofit corporation which operates primarily in the county or main-
 15    tains  a  museum in the county, with or without compensation, any real or per-
 16    sonal property or any interest  in  such  property  owned  by  the  county  or
 17    acquired  by  tax  deed, after adoption of a resolution by the board of county
 18    commissioners that the grant or exchange of property is in the  public  inter-
 19    est.   Notice of such grant or exchange shall be as provided in subsection (1)
 20    of this section and the decision may be made at  any  regularly  or  specially
 21    scheduled  meeting  of  the  board  of county commissioners. The execution and
 22    delivery by the county of the deed conveying an interest in the property shall
 23    operate to discharge and cancel all levies, liens and taxes  made  or  created
 24    for  the  benefit  of  the state, county or any other political subdivision or
 25    taxing district and to cancel all titles or claims of title  including  claims
 26    of  redemption  to such real property asserted or existing at the time of such
 27    conveyance. However, if the property conveyed is subject to a lien for one (1)
 28    or more unsatisfied special assessments, the lien  shall  continue  until  all
 29    special assessments have been paid in full. At no time shall a lien for a spe-
 30    cial  assessment  be extinguished prior to such special assessment having been
 31    paid in full. Any property conveyed to any local  historical  society  by  the
 32    county  shall revert to the county when the property is no longer utilized for
 33    the purposes for which it was conveyed.
 34        (10) A highway district or single countywide highway district shall follow
 35    the provisions of this section when selling real or  personal  property  which
 36    has  a  value  in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) belonging to it but
 37    not necessary for its use. The proceeds from such sale shall be  paid  to  the
 38    highway district or single countywide highway district for its use.
                                                                        
 39        SECTION  2.  That  Section 40-1308, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 40    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 41        40-1308.  POWER TO LEVY TAXES FOR COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE, PROSECUTING AND
 42    DEFENDING ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS AND LIABILITIES. Every highway district  has  the
 43    power to levy and collect taxes as necessary to:
 44        (1)  Pay  for a comprehensive insurance plan as provided in section 6-927,
 45    Idaho Code;
 46        (2)  Defray all expenses of prosecuting and defending actions; and
 47        (3)  Pay any judgments and liabilities incurred against it as provided  in
 48    section 6-928, Idaho Code; and
 49        (4)  Pay  for  emergencies  or  calamities  as provided in section 40-820,
 50    Idaho Code.
                                                                        
 51        SECTION 3.  That Section 40-1309, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 52    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1        40-1309.  CORPORATE POWERS OF HIGHWAY DISTRICTS. Each highway district has
  2    power:
  3        (1)  To sue and be sued.
  4        (2)  To  purchase  and  hold lands, make contracts, purchase and hold per-
  5    sonal property as may be necessary or convenient  for  the  purposes  of  this
  6    chapter,  and  to  sell  and exchange any real or personal property other than
  7    public lands which by the constitution and laws of the state are placed  under
  8    the  jurisdiction of the state land board. Personal property, no longer useful
  9    to the district, not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) in value may  be
 10    sold    by the highway commissioners at a private sale or at any regular board
 11    meeting without advertisement. Before disposing of all other personal or  real
 12    property  exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) in value, tThe highway dis-
 13    trict commissioners shall first adopt a resolution finding that all other such
 14    personal or real property to be sold or exchanged is no longer useful  to  the
 15    district;  that  a public hearing is to be held, of which hearing notice shall
 16    be published in accordance with the provisions of section 40-206, Idaho  Code,
 17    and  at which hearing any person interested may appear and show cause that the
 18    sale or exchange should not be made. The hearing and sale shall  not  be  con-
 19    ducted  at the same regular meeting. Highway district commissioners, and high-
 20    way directors, employees, and their families must be personally disinterested,
 21    directly or indirectly, in the purchase of property for the use of the highway
 22    district, or in the sale of any property belonging to the highway district, or
 23    in any contract made by the highway district or other person on behalf of  the
 24    highway district unless otherwise authorized by law.
 25        (3)  To  levy  and apply ad valorem taxes for purposes under its exclusive
 26    jurisdiction as are authorized by law.
                                                                        
 27        SECTION 4.  That Section 40-1310, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 28    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 29        40-1310.  POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS. (1) The
 30    commissioners of a highway district have  exclusive  general  supervision  and
 31    jurisdiction  over  all highways and public rights-of-way within their highway
 32    system, with full power to construct, maintain, repair, acquire, purchase  and
 33    improve all highways within their highway system, whether directly or by their
 34    own  agents and employees or by contract. Except as otherwise provided in this
 35    chapter in respect to the highways within their highway system, a highway dis-
 36    trict shall have all of the powers and duties that would by law be  vested  in
 37    the  commissioners  of the county and in the district directors of highways if
 38    the highway district had not been organized. Where any highway within the lim-
 39    its of the highway district has been designated as a state highway,  then  the
 40    board shall have exclusive supervision, jurisdiction and control over the des-
 41    ignation,  location, maintenance, repair and reconstruction of it. The highway
 42    district shall have power to manage and conduct the business  and  affairs  of
 43    the  district;  establish  and post speed and other regulatory signs; make and
 44    execute all necessary contracts; have an office and employ and appoint agents,
 45    attorneys, officers and employees as may  be  required,  and  prescribe  their
 46    duties  and  fix  their compensation. Highway district commissioners and their
 47    agents and employees have the right to enter upon any lands to make a  survey,
 48    and  may  locate  the  necessary works on the line of any highways on any land
 49    which may be deemed best for the location.
 50        (2)  The highway district shall also have the right to acquire  either  by
 51    purchase, or other legal means, all lands and other property necessary for the
 52    construction,  use,  maintenance,  repair and improvement of highways in their
 53    system. The highway district may change the width or location,  or  straighten
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    lines  of any highway in their system, and if in the constructing, laying out,
  2    widening, changing, or straightening of any highways, it shall  become  neces-
  3    sary  to  take  private  property, the district director of highways, with the
  4    consent and on order of the highway district commissioners, shall cause a sur-
  5    vey of the proposed highway to be made, together with an accurate  description
  6    of  the lands required. He shall endeavor to agree with each owner of property
  7    for the purchase of a right-of-way over the lands included within the descrip-
  8    tion. If the director is able to agree with the owner of the lands, the  high-
  9    way  district    commissioners may purchase the land and pay for it out of the
 10    funds of the highway district, and the lands purchased shall then be  conveyed
 11    to the highway district for the use and purpose of highways.
 12        (3)  Whenever  the  director of highways shall be unable to agree with any
 13    person for the purchase of land, or that person shall be unknown or a nonresi-
 14    dent of the county in which the highway district is situated, or a  minor,  or
 15    an insane or incompetent person, the director shall have the right, subject to
 16    the  order  of the highway district commissioners, to begin action in the name
 17    of the highway district in the district court of the county in which the  dis-
 18    trict  is situated, to condemn the land necessary for the right-of-way for the
 19    highway, under the provisions of chapter 7, title 7, Idaho Code. An  order  of
 20    the  highway  district  commissioners  entered  upon its minutes that the land
 21    sought to be condemned is necessary for a public highway and public use  shall
 22    be prima facie evidence of the fact.
 23        (4)  The  highway  district  has the power to contract for and pay out any
 24    special rewards and bounties as may appear expedient  or  useful  in  securing
 25    proper  highway  construction and maintenance, and to accept, on behalf of the
 26    district, aid or contributions in the construction or maintenance of any high-
 27    way; to construct or repair, with the consent of the corporate authorities  of
 28    any  city within the district, any highway within a city, upon the division of
 29    the cost as may be agreed upon; or to join with the state or any body  politic
 30    or  political subdivision, or with any person in the construction or repair of
 31    any highway and to contract for an equitable division of  the  cost;  and  all
 32    counties,  cities,  highway  districts  and other bodies politic and political
 33    subdivisions are authorized to  contract  with  any  highway  district  acting
 34    through its highway district commissioners in exercise of the powers granted.
 35        (5)  The  highway  district has the power to receive highway petitions and
 36    lay out, alter, create and abandon  and  vacate  public  highways  and  public
 37    rights-of-way  within  their respective districts under the provisions of sec-
 38    tions 40-202, 40-203 and 40-203A, Idaho Code. Provided however, when a  public
 39    highway,  public street and/or public right-of-way is part of a platted subdi-
 40    vision which lies within an established county/city impact area or within  one
 41    (1) mile of a city if a county/city impact area has not been established, con-
 42    sent of the city council of the affected city, when the city has a functioning
 43    street  department with jurisdiction over the city streets, shall be necessary
 44    prior to the granting of acceptance or vacation of said public street or  pub-
 45    lic right-of-way by the highway district board of commissioners.
 46        (6)  The  highway district is empowered to take conveyance or other assur-
 47    ances, in the name of the highway district, for all property  acquired  by  it
 48    under the provisions of this chapter for the purposes of this title. The high-
 49    way  district  may institute and maintain any and all actions and proceedings,
 50    suits at law and in equity, necessary or proper in order to carry out the pro-
 51    visions of this chapter, or to enforce, maintain, protect or preserve any  and
 52    all rights, privileges and immunities provided in this chapter. In all courts,
 53    actions,  suits  or  proceedings,  the  highway  district  may sue, appear and
 54    defend, in person or by attorneys, and in the name of the highway district.
 55        (7)  The highway district is empowered to hold, use, acquire,  sell,  man-
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    age, occupy and possess property. The highway district may create highway sub-
  2    districts, which must be carefully and distinctly defined and described. High-
  3    way  subdistricts  may  be revised or modified by the highway district commis-
  4    sioners, as changes in conditions demand.
  5        (8)  The highway district board of commissioners shall have the  exclusive
  6    general  supervisory  authority  over  all public highways, public streets and
  7    public rights-of-way under their jurisdiction, with full  power  to  establish
  8    design  standards,  establish  use   standards, pass resolutions and establish
  9    regulations in accordance with the provisions of title  49,  Idaho  Code,  and
 10    control  access  to said public highways, public streets and public rights-of-
 11    way.
 12        (9)  By July 1, 2000, and every five (5)  years  thereafter,  the  highway
 13    district  board  of  commissioners  shall  have published in map form and made
 14    readily available the location of all public rights-of-way under its jurisdic-
 15    tion. Any highway district board of commissioners may be granted an  extension
 16    of time with the approval of the legislature by adoption of a concurrent reso-
 17    lution.
 18        (10) In  its  discretion, the highway district may purchase equipment at a
 19    public auction, if the highway district board  of  commissioners  has  made  a
 20    finding  that such equipment may be purchased at a competitive price. Prior to
 21    the public auction, the highway district commissioners  shall,  at  a  regular
 22    meeting  of the district or at a special hearing, notice of which is published
 23    in accordance with the provisions of section 40-206, Idaho  Code,  review  any
 24    documentation available as to the items to be auctioned at the public sale and
 25    determine  which items the district may bid on, and establish a maximum amount
 26    the district will bid for such item.
                                                                        
 27        SECTION 5.  That Section 40-1314, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 28    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 29        40-1314.  COMPENSATION OF HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, OFFICERS, AGENTS
 30    AND  EMPLOYEES. (1) It shall be the duty of the board of highway district com-
 31    missioners of each highway district to fix the annual salaries of the  highway
 32    district  commissioners commencing on October 1 and for the next ensuing year.
 33    The proposed commissioner salaries shall be published in accordance  with  the
 34    provisions  of  section  40-206,  Idaho Code, and for notice  purposes of that
 35    section, the proposed salaries shall be treated as if they were an override or
 36    bond election hearing as a separate line item in the highway district's annual
 37    budget.
 38        (2)  Actual expenses shall be paid in addition to their compensation.  The
 39    payment for expenses shall be paid from the funds of the highway district upon
 40    the  presentation  of itemized vouchers, signed by the commissioners and under
 41    oath made to the secretary of the district.
 42        (3)  When a commissioner is an officer and/or agent of the  district,  the
 43    two  (2)  remaining commissioners may fix the compensation salary and benefits
 44    to be paid him for his services as an officer  and/or  agent.  A  commissioner
 45    acting  as  an  officer  and/or agent of the district shall be entitled to his
 46    necessary and actual expenses in addition to his  salary,  but  shall  not  be
 47    entitled to draw compensation as a commissioner when placed upon a salary. The
 48    board  shall  fix the compensation salary and benefits to be paid to the other
 49    officers and agents and employees of the highway district, to be paid  out  of
 50    the treasury of the highway district.
 51        (4)  Commissioners  are considered employees of the district. The district
 52    shall be liable and responsible for the actions of  the  commissioners,  offi-
 53    cers,  agents  and/or  employees of the district when the commissioners, offi-
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1    cers, agents and/or employees are performing their duties  on  behalf  of  the
  2    district.
                                                                        
  3        SECTION  6.  That  Section 40-1404, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  4    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  5        40-1404.  APPOINTMENT OF FIRST HIGHWAY DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS  IN  CERTAIN
  6    COUNTYWIDE  HIGHWAY DISTRICTS -- SUBDISTRICTS -- ELECTIONS, TERMS AND SALARIES
  7    OF COMMISSIONERS. For counties with a  population  of   two  hundred  thousand
  8    (200,000)  persons  or  less,  if  there is a majority affirmative vote at the
  9    election the county commissioners, at their next meeting  shall  organize  the
 10    countywide highway district. The county shall be subdivided by the county com-
 11    missioners  into  three  (3) subdistricts, designated subdistricts number one,
 12    two and three, as nearly equal in population as practicable, and one (1) high-
 13    way commissioner shall represent each subdistrict and be  a  resident  of  the
 14    subdistrict.  The governor shall appoint the first countywide highway district
 15    commissioners. Where one (1) or more highway districts have been in  existence
 16    at  the  time of the creation of the countywide highway district, the governor
 17    shall appoint, whenever practicable, at least one (1) of  the  former  highway
 18    district  commissioners  as  they  shall qualify by reason of residence in the
 19    territorial limits of the subdistricts of the countywide highway district as a
 20    commissioner of the countywide highway district. County commissioners and city
 21    council members shall not be eligible to hold office as a  countywide  highway
 22    district  commissioner.  The  originally  appointed  commissioners shall serve
 23    until the next general election when two (2) members shall be elected for  two
 24    (2)  years  and  one (1) member shall be elected for a term of four (4) years,
 25    the commissioner from subdistrict number one being elected for a term of  four
 26    (4)  years. The four (4) year term shall be allotted thereafter in rotation to
 27    subdistricts number two, three and one. A qualified voter  of  the  countywide
 28    highway  district shall be eligible to vote for each of the countywide highway
 29    district commissioners, and the election shall be  conducted  as  provided  by
 30    Idaho statutes relating to holding elections at the county level.
 31        The highway commissioners shall take office on January 1 of the year imme-
 32    diately  following  their  election, and each may be compensated in accordance
 33    with the provisions of section 40-1314, Idaho Code, or receive a salary not to
 34    exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per calendar month with the exception of the
 35    president of the highway commissioners who may receive a salary not to  exceed
 36    seven hundred dollars ($700) per calendar month.
                                                                        
 37        SECTION  7.  That Section 40-1404A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 38    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 39        40-1404A.  ELECTIONS, TERMS  AND  SALARIES  OF  COMMISSIONERS  IN  CERTAIN
 40    COUNTYWIDE  HIGHWAY  DISTRICTS.  In  countywide highway districts located in a
 41    county with a population of more than two hundred thousand  (200,000)  persons
 42    in  which the voters have chosen to establish a countywide highway district at
 43    a previous election, the county shall be divided by the  county  commissioners
 44    immediately  upon  the  effective  date of this act into five (5) subdistricts
 45    which shall be as nearly equal in  population  as  practicable.  No  precincts
 46    shall  be  divided. A highway district commissioner shall be a resident of the
 47    subdistrict which he represents. Voters in each subdistrict  shall  vote  only
 48    for  one  (1)  candidate seeking to represent that subdistrict. County commis-
 49    sioners, mayors and city council members shall not be eligible to hold  office
 50    as  a  countywide highway district commissioner. At the election held in 1998,
 51    commissioners representing subdistricts two and five shall be elected for  two
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1    (2)  year  terms  and  commissioners  representing subdistricts three and four
  2    shall be elected for four (4) year terms. Thereafter, all commissioners  shall
  3    be  elected  for four (4) year terms. Any incumbent in office on the effective
  4    date of this act may complete the term to which they were  elected  and  shall
  5    represent the subdistrict in which they reside. Any incumbent in office on the
  6    effective date of this act whose term expires on January 1, 2000, shall retain
  7    that  office until January 1, 2000, shall be assigned the subdistrict in which
  8    they reside by the county commissioners, which subdistrict  shall be  numbered
  9    one as provided in this section and that commissioner need not stand for elec-
 10    tion in 1998.
 11        A  qualified voter of the countywide highway district shall be eligible to
 12    vote for a countywide highway district commissioner residing in the  elector's
 13    subdistrict, and the election shall be conducted as provided by Idaho statutes
 14    relating to holding  general elections at the county level.
 15        The  highway  commissioners  shall  take  office on  January 1 of the year
 16    immediately following their election, and each may be  compensated  in  accor-
 17    dance  with the provisions of section 40-1314, Idaho Code, or receive a salary
 18    not to exceed one thousand two hundred dollars  ($1,200)  per  calendar  month
 19    with  the  exception  of  the  president  of the highway commissioners who may
 20    receive a salary not to exceed one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400)  per
 21    calendar month.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                 
                                             RS 12621
                                 
                                    This legislation makes grammatical and procedural
      corrections to highway district law in Title 40 chapter 13
      and 14.
    
      Reference to the disposal of highway district property is
    deleted from the county law, and clarified in the highway
    district section, amends the section 40-1308 to correct a
    previous deletion in code on the ability to pay for legal
    actions, judgments, and emergencies, clarifies the procedure
    for disposing of property over five thousand ($5,000) in
    value, and restricts employees and their families from having
    a personal interest in the property to be sold.
    
      This legislation also grants highway districts the same power
    as cities to purchase items at public auction, and changes the
    requirement for highway districts to publish proposed
    commissioner salaries from the provisions of Title 40, chapter
    206,and replaces it with the requirement that the proposed
    salary shall be printed as a separate line item in their
    annual budget. The legislation also allows highway district
    commissioners from a countywide highway districts the option
    to establish their salaries in accordance with title 40
    chapter 13.
    
    
                           FISCAL IMPACT
                                 
                                    None to the general fund.
    
    
    
    
    
      Contact
                    Name:   Stuart 0. Davis
            Executive Director
      Idaho Association of Highway Districts
                    Phone: 859-9378
          
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
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