Except as otherwise provided in section 32-1-304.5, immediately after the filing of a petition, the court wherein the petition is filed, by order, shall fix a place and time, not less than twenty-one days nor more than forty-two days after the petition is filed, for hearing thereon. The clerk of the court shall cause notice by publication to be made of the pendency of the petition, the purposes and boundaries of the special district, and the time and place of hearing thereon. The clerk of the court shall also forthwith cause a copy of the notice to be sent by United States first-class mail or by electronic service using the e-filing system of the judicial department to the board of county commissioners of each of the several counties and to each party entitled to notice pursuant to section 32-1-206 (2). The notice must include a general description of the land contained within the boundaries of the proposed special district and information explaining methods and procedures for the filing of a petition for exclusion of territory pursuant to section 32-1-305 (3).
Source: L. 81: Entire article R&RE, p. 1553, � 1, effective July 1. L. 91: Entire section amended, p. 786, � 11, effective June 4. L. 2007: Entire section amended, p. 1189, � 7, effective July 1. L. 2017: Entire section amended, (HB 17-1142), ch. 66, p. 208, � 1, effective September 1.
Editor's note: The provisions of this section are similar to provisions of several former sections as they existed prior to 1981. For a detailed comparison, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.
Cross references: For requirements for notice by publication, see part 1 of article 70 of title 24.
32-1-304.5. Court hearing not required - health service district - health assurance district. (1) If the petition for organization filed with the court pursuant to section 32-1-301 is for a health service district or health assurance district, the court shall not hold a hearing or provide notice pursuant to section 32-1-304. In lieu of holding a hearing, the court shall review the petition for a health service district or health assurance district and the additional information submitted to the court pursuant to section 32-1-301. In addition, the court shall review the findings of the board of county commissioners pursuant to section 32-1-205 or the findings of the court pursuant to section 32-1-206, as applicable.
(2) The court shall complete the review of information required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section within thirty calendar days of receipt of the petition for a health service district or health assurance district. Within such period, the court shall determine whether the persons proposing the petition have complied with all of the statutory requirements for proposing a special district and that the required number of taxpaying electors of the proposed special district have signed the petition.
(3) If the court finds that the petition has not been signed and presented in conformity with this part 3, the court shall either dismiss said proceedings and adjudge the costs against the signers of the petition in the proportion it deems just and equitable or allow the petitioners an opportunity to correct any technical defects in the petition and refile the petition with the court. No appeal or other remedy shall lie from an order dismissing said proceedings. Nothing in this subsection (3) shall be construed to prevent the filing of a subsequent petition for similar improvements or for a similar special district, and the right to renew such proceedings is hereby expressly granted and authorized.
(4) The court shall not accept or act upon petitions filed by an owner of any real property within a proposed health service district or health assurance district stating reasons why the property should not be included therein and requesting that the property be excluded therefrom.
(5) If the court concludes that a petition for the organization of a health service district or health assurance district has been signed and presented in conformity with this part 3 and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court, by order duly entered of record, shall direct that the question of the organization of the special district be submitted at an election to be held for that purpose in accordance with the provisions of articles 1 to 13 of title 1, C.R.S. In such event, the provisions of section 32-1-305 (5), (6), and (7) shall apply to the election.
Source: L. 2007: Entire section added, p. 1189, � 8, effective July 1.