Special districts task force.

ORIGINAL
House
ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0053

ENROLLED ACT NO. 50,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2016 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to the administration of government; creating a task force on special districts; providing for a study of special districts and their operation; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

There is created a task force on special districts consisting of the following members:

(i)

Two
(
2
) member
s
of the Wyoming senate appointed by the president of the senate;

(
ii
)

Two
(
2
) member
s
of the Wyoming house appointed by the speaker of the house;

(
iii
)

One (1) representative from the Wyoming secretary of state's office
appointed by the governor
;

(
iv
)

One (1) representative from the Wyoming county commissioner's association
appointed by the governor
;

(
v
)

One (1) representative from the Wyo
ming county clerk's association
appointed by the governor
;

(
vi
)

One (1) representative
appointed by the governor
for the special districts
where the board is elected in a general election
;

(
vii
)

One (1) representative appointed by the governor for the special district where the board is appointed by the board of county commissioners;

(
viii
)

One (1) representative appointed by the governor for the special district where the board is elected in a district election and not in a general election;

(
i
x
)

One (1) representative for the Wyoming taxpayers
appointed by the governor
;

(x)

One (1) representative from the mineral extraction industry appointed by the governor.

(b)

The task force shall s
elect from among its members a chairman and a
vice
‑
chairman.

(c)

The task force shall be staffed by the legislative service office.
State agencies shall provide information and assistance to the task force as requested by the task force.

(d)

The task force shall
identify,
study and make recommendations concerning:

(i)

The primary issues which impact the formation, functionality, efficiency, accountability and continued operation of special districts
. In considering the
s
e
issue
s
, the task force shall receive public comment
and attempt
to identify the cause
s
of the primary issues that negatively impact the formation, functionality, efficiency, accountability and continued operation of special districts in Wyoming
. If the task force determines
that it lacks the resources to properly consider
all the
issues identified pursuant to
this paragraph,
the task force
may
limit its consideration

to
only issues which can be properly studied, giving preference to issues that hav
e
the
largest impact on the public and
on special
districts and for
which a solution might be reasonably available;

(ii)

Specific changes to Wyoming law which might address the negative impacts identified pursuant to paragraph (i) of this
sub
section.
The task force shall encourage the submission of proposed changes from interested parties and stake

holders and shall consider any proposals made.
In making any recommendations, the task force shall rank any recommended changes in order of importance. The task force also shall provide a plan and time

line for the implementation of each recommended change into law,
giving due
preference to the
early implementation of changes that will have the greatest impact and changes which
reasonably

can
be accomplished with available resources;

(iii)

The dissolution and termination of special districts that ar
e no longer necessary or viable

and
the adoption of streamlined procedures for the termination of special districts
after prescribed time periods
.

(e)

The task force shall submit a report summarizing its studies, findings and recommendations to the joint corporations, elections and political subdivisions interim committee on or before
September
15, 2016. The joint corporations, elections and political subdivisions interim committee shall consider the recommendations and develop any legislation it deems appropriate for consideration by the legislature. If the recommendations made by the task force suggest a multi
‑
year approach to addressing special
district issues, the joint corporations, elections and political subdivisions interim committee may consider sponsoring legislation for the continuation of the task force.

(f)

The task force shall exist until December 31, 2016. Members of the task force who are not state employees or legislators shall not receive a salary but shall receive reimbursement for mileage and per diem
expenses at a rate provided for legislators under W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101. Members of the task force who are legislators shall be paid salary, per diem and mileage
, but no salary for preparation,
as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 for their official duties as members of the task force.

(g)

There is appropriated from the genera
l fund for purposes of this act
thirty
thousand dollars ($
30
,000.00)
to the legislative service office for the payment of
expenses for the task force
.

(h)

Funds appropriated under subsection (g) of this section shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2017 and shall b
e expended only for the purpose
of providing the payments to task force members authorized in subsection (g) of this section.

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the
House
.

Chief Clerk

1