reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
OR Rev Stat § 568.420 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.420 - Certificate of formation; boundaries of district.

(1) The Secretary of State shall make and issue to the board of directors appointed under ORS 568.400 a certificate, under the seal of the state, of the formation of the soil and water conservation district, and shall record the certificate with the application and statement. (2) The boundaries of the district shall include the territory as determined by the department as provided in ORS 568.330, but may not include any area included within the boundaries of another soil and water conservation district. [Amended by 1955 c.142 §12; 1981 c.92 §18; 2009 c.220 §12]
OR Rev Stat § 568.431 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.431 - Petitions for inclusion of territory; conditions; referendum.

(1) Except as provided under ORS 568.445, one or more landowners may petition the State Department of Agriculture to include the land of the petitioning landowners in an existing soil and water conservation district. The department shall prescribe the form for the petition. The petition must include, but need not be limited to, a legal description of the property, landowner information and the reasons for the proposed inclusion. (2) The department shall approve the petition if the department, in consultation with the district board of directors, determines that: (a) It is or would be feasible for the land described in the petition to receive services from the district; and (b) The work of the district would benefit the soil, water or natural resource conditions of the land described in the petition. (3) The department shall deny the petition if the department, in consultation with the district board, determines that: (a) It is not and would not be feasible for the land described in the petition to receive services from the district; or (b) The work of the district would not benefit the soil, water or natural resource conditions of the land described in the petition. (4) If the department approves the petition, the department shall redefine the boundaries of the district and make any adjustments to the district zones necessary to comply with ORS 568.560. (5) Land that becomes included in a district that has ad valorem tax authority is subject to taxes levied for the district after the inclusion date. The district board shall provide the notice of boundary change to the Department of Revenue and the county assessor under ORS 568.435. (6) If a petitioner disagrees with the decision of the department, the petitioner may initiate a referendum on the decision by submitting additional petitions signed by 10 percent or more of the electors residing in the existing district. The referendum election shall be governed by ORS chapter 255. Only electors residing in the existing district are eligible to cast ballots in the referendum election. (7) If a majority of the ballots cast at the referendum election are in favor of inclusion, the department shall approve the petition, redefine the boundaries of the district and make any adjustments to the district zones necessary to comply with ORS 568.560. [2009 c.220 §14]
OR Rev Stat § 568.433 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.433 - Petitions for withdrawal of territory; conditions; referendum.

(1) Except as provided in ORS 568.445, one or more landowners may petition the State Department of Agriculture to withdraw the land of the petitioning landowners from an existing soil and water conservation district. The department shall prescribe the form for the petition. The petition must include, but need not be limited to, a legal description of the property, landowner information and the reasons for the proposed withdrawal. (2) The department shall approve the petition if the department, in consultation with the district board of directors, determines that: (a) It is not and would not be feasible for the land described in the petition to receive services from the district; or (b) The work of the district would not benefit the soil, water or natural resource conditions of the land described in the petition. (3) The department shall deny the petition if the department, in consultation with the district board, determines that: (a) It is or would be feasible for the land described in the petition to receive services from the district; and (b) The work of the district would benefit the soil, water or natural resource conditions of the land described in the petition. (4) If the department approves the petition, the department shall redefine the boundaries of the district and make any adjustments to the district zones necessary to comply with ORS 568.560. (5) Land withdrawn from a district with an ad valorem tax is not subject to taxes levied for the district after the withdrawal date. The district board shall provide the notice of boundary change to the Department of Revenue and the county assessor under ORS 568.435. (6) If a petitioner disagrees with the decision of the department, the petitioner may initiate a referendum on the decision by submitting additional petitions signed by 10 percent or more of the electors residing in the existing district. The referendum election shall be governed by ORS chapter 255. Only electors residing in the existing district are eligible to cast ballots in the referendum election. (7) If a majority of the ballots cast at the referendum election are in favor of the withdrawal, the department shall approve the petition, redefine the boundaries of the district and make any adjustments to the district zones necessary to comply with ORS 568.560. [2009 c.220 §15]
OR Rev Stat § 568.435 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.435 - Boundary change notice for taxation purposes.

For purposes of ad valorem taxation, a boundary change must be filed in final approved form with the county assessor and the Department of Revenue as provided in ORS 308.225. [2001 c.138 §50] Note: 568.435 was added to and made a part of 568.210 to 568.808 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
OR Rev Stat § 568.440 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.440 - District legally formed; certificate as evidence.

In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of, or relating to, any contract, proceeding or action of a soil and water conservation district, the district shall be deemed to have been formed in accordance with ORS 568.210 to 568.808 and 568.900 to 568.933 upon proof of the issuance by the Secretary of State of the certificate provided for in ORS 568.420 or 568.555. A copy of such certificate certified by the Secretary of State shall be admissible in evidence in any such suit, action or proceedings and shall be proof of the filing and contents of the certificate. [Amended by 1983 c.740 §219; 2009 c.220 §13]
OR Rev Stat § 568.445 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.445 - Petitions for inclusion of territory wholly within another district; approval or disapproval by directors and department.

(1) Proceedings for inclusion within a district territory adjacent thereto and located wholly within another district may be initiated by: (a) A petition for inclusion filed with the directors of the district within which the territory is proposed to be included, signed by 25 or two-thirds, whichever is the lesser, of the landowners of the adjacent territory; or (b) Resolutions for inclusion adopted by the board of directors of each district to be affected by the inclusion and filed with the State Department of Agriculture. (2) The department shall prescribe the form for such petitions. The directors of the district within which the territory is proposed to be included shall approve or disapprove such a petition. If they approve the petition, the directors shall forward it to the department. (3) Upon receipt of a petition forwarded as provided in subsection (2) of this section or a resolution as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section, the department shall investigate the proposed inclusion of territory, taking into consideration: (a) The reasons for the proposed inclusion. (b) The reaction of the landowners of the district within which the territory in question is located to the proposed inclusion. (c) The effect of the inclusion on the district within which the territory in question is located and the district within which the territory is proposed to be included. (d) Any other matters deemed pertinent by the department. (4) After the investigation the department shall approve or disapprove the petition. If the department approves the petition, the inclusion of the territory within the one district and the withdrawal thereof from the other district shall be effective, and the department shall present to the Secretary of State a statement of such approval and a map of each district affected showing the new boundaries thereof. The Secretary of State, upon receipt of the statement and maps, shall make the necessary changes in the appropriate records in the office of the secretary. [1955 c.142 §3; 1973 c.656 §6; 1981 c.92 §20]
OR Rev Stat § 568.460 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.460 - Referendum; eligible electors; majority required.

In the holding of the referendum for consolidation all electors residing within the affected districts shall be eligible to vote. Unless a majority of the electors in each of the districts involved votes in favor of the proposal, the districts shall not be consolidated. [Amended by 1973 c.656 §7]
OR Rev Stat § 568.471 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.471 - Effect of consolidating districts.

If two or more soil and water conservation districts are consolidated, the corporate existence of the districts and, except as provided in ORS 568.545, the terms of office for the board of directors of the former districts expire upon the Secretary of State issuing and recording a certificate of formation for the consolidated district. Upon consolidation, the consolidated district shall assume and be vested with all rights and liabilities of the former districts. [2009 c.220 §17]
OR Rev Stat § 568.491 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.491 - Termination of board of directors; appointment of board of trustees; notice of dissolution; certificate of dissolution.

(1) If referendum election results favor the dissolution of a soil and water conservation district, or if the State Department of Agriculture orders the dissolution of a district under ORS 568.481 without a referendum election, the department shall declare the member positions of the district board of directors to be vacant and appoint three individuals to serve as a board of trustees for winding up the affairs of the district. (2) The board of trustees shall consult with the department for the purpose of implementing the plan of dissolution and liquidation and carrying out the following: (a) Payment of debts, or securing the release of debts, and disposing of district property. (b) Settling all books and other records of the district and delivering the records to the department. (c) Executing under oath, and filing with the department, a statement that the district has been dissolved and liquidated. (d) Transferring conservation easements and other contracts that are to remain in effect. (3) Upon receiving the statement of dissolution and liquidation from the trustees, the department shall give notice of the dissolution and of the termination of the corporate existence of the district for all purposes to: (a) The Secretary of State; (b) Affected county governments; (c) The Department of Revenue; (d) Known holders of valid indebtedness of the district; and (e) Other agencies or entities as the State Department of Agriculture deems appropriate. (4) Upon receiving notice from the State Department of Agriculture of district dissolution and termination of corporate status, the Secretary of State shall issue and record a certificate of dissolution for the district. [2009 c.220 §19]
OR Rev Stat § 568.495 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.495 - Disposition of district assets; insolvency; rules.

(1) If a soil and water conservation district that is being dissolved has tax levying authority, the board of trustees for the district shall turn over to the county treasurer any surplus moneys remaining to the credit of the district after payment of the indebtedness of the district. If the assets of the district are insufficient to pay the indebtedness, the board of trustees shall levy taxes, within the limits of the authority of the district, for the liquidation of the indebtedness. (2) In each year that the county receives surplus moneys to the credit of a district described in subsection (1) of this section, the county assessor shall certify any moneys in the district account on June 30, except moneys not in excess of $6,000 that the county retains for administration. The certified moneys shall be disposed of in one of the following manners, as selected by the county assessor: (a) Notwithstanding ORS 310.105, the moneys may be offset against that portion of the levies of taxing units levied against the property values of property within the dissolved district. The Department of Revenue shall adopt rules further defining the method of offset. If the moneys are offset as provided under this paragraph, the moneys shall be distributed to each taxing unit in the amount of that taxing unit’s offset. (b) The amount may be credited to each property appearing on the tax roll for the year for which the credit applies within the dissolved district on the basis of current assessed value. If the certified moneys are distributed under this paragraph, the moneys shall be deposited in the unsegregated tax collections account established under ORS 311.385 and distributed in the same manner as other moneys in that account. The Department of Revenue shall adopt rules further defining the method to be used to credit the amount. (3) If a district that is being dissolved does not have tax levying authority, the board of trustees shall turn over to the State Department of Agriculture any surplus moneys remaining to the credit of the district after payment of the indebtedness of the district. If the assets of the district are insufficient to pay the indebtedness, the board of trustees shall determine whether any of the indebtedness is given priority by law over other indebtedness. The board of trustees shall apply the assets of the district first to the payment of indebtedness that is given priority by law over other indebtedness. If any assets remain after the payment of indebtedness that is given priority by law, the board of trustees shall apply the assets to the payment of a uniform percentage of each remaining indebtedness. (4) The board of trustees may transfer any district assets, other than moneys, available after the payment of all district indebtedness to the State Department of Agriculture or to another soil and water conservation district. [2009 c.220 §20]
OR Rev Stat § 568.500 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.500 - Order of dissolution; effect.

Upon issuance of an order of dissolution by the State Department of Agriculture, all ordinances and regulations adopted and in force within the former soil and water conservation district shall be of no further force and effect. [Amended by 1981 c.92 §24; 2009 c.220 §21]
OR Rev Stat § 568.510 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.510 - Proceedings for dissolution limited.

The State Department of Agriculture may not entertain petitions for dissolution of any soil and water conservation district or conduct a referendum or make findings regarding a petition for dissolution of a district in accordance with ORS 568.481 more often than once each year after the first five-year period following formation of the district. [Amended by 1981 c.92 §25; 2009 c.220 §22]
OR Rev Stat § 568.520 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.520 - Petitions nominating directors; regular elections; duties of department.

(1) A regular election shall be held in each soil and water conservation district on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November in each even-numbered year for the purpose of electing directors to succeed the directors whose terms expire the following January. Nominating petitions of candidates for director to be voted for at a general district election shall be filed with the department no later than a date set by the State Department of Agriculture. (2) The department may extend the time within which nominating petitions may be filed. (3) The department may not accept a nominating petition unless the petition is subscribed by 10 or more electors residing within the boundaries of the district. (4) Electors residing within the boundaries of the district may sign more than one nominating petition to nominate more than one candidate for director. (5) To the extent of any conflict between ORS chapter 255 and the provisions of ORS 568.530, 568.545 and 568.560 and this section, the provisions of ORS 568.530, 568.545 and 568.560 and this section control. Elections officers, as defined in ORS 255.005, are not responsible for delivering, preparing or publishing information concerning district elections. (6) The department shall timely distribute and collect the forms established by the Secretary of State for updating information on members of district boards, including, but not limited to, any forms for information concerning the district offices to be filled or for which candidates are to be nominated or elected, or for information concerning the candidates. The district shall timely prepare and publish notice of the date for filing nominating petitions and the date of the election in a newspaper of general circulation within the district no later than 30 days before the final filing date. The department shall retain the information forms and publication information for not less than four years after the election for which the forms and publication were completed. [Amended by 1973 c.656 §9; 1981 c.92 §27; 1983 c.83 §106b; 1983 c.238 §2; 2007 c.690 §1; 2009 c.220 §23]
OR Rev Stat § 568.530 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.530 - Ballots; write-in votes; unfilled positions.

(1) The State Department of Agriculture shall furnish the names of all nominees for director on behalf of whom nominating petitions have been filed to the county clerk of the respective counties lying within the district not less than the 61st day before the date of the general election. Ballots shall be printed, voted, counted and canvassed in conformity with the provisions of general law relating to elections, except as otherwise provided by subsections (2) to (4) of this section or ORS 568.210 to 568.808 and 568.900 to 568.933. (2) If no nominee for a position qualifies under subsection (1) of this section to have the name of the nominee furnished to the county clerk for placement on the ballot, the position becomes open for write-in votes on the ballot. An elector who meets the qualifications to become a director of the district in a position for which no candidate qualifies under subsection (1) of this section may file with the department a declaration of intent and request for write-in votes to be tallied. The person must file the declaration and request no later than 14 days before the date of the election. The declaration and request must certify that the person is legally qualified to assume the duties of director and desires the position. (3) Upon receipt of a declaration and request filed under subsection (2) of this section, the department shall take actions the department deems necessary to determine whether the person filing the declaration and request is an elector who meets the qualifications to become a director of the district. If the department determines that the person is an elector who meets the qualifications, the department shall notify the county clerk to count the write-in votes for the person. (4) If no nominee for a position qualifies under subsection (1) of this section to have the name of the nominee furnished to the county clerk for placement on the ballot and no person filing a declaration and request for the position qualifies under subsection (3) of this section to have the county clerk count the write-in votes for that person, the county clerk may not count any write-in votes cast for any person for the position. If no nominee for a position qualifies under subsection (1) of this section to have the name of the nominee furnished to the county clerk for placement on the ballot and no person filing a declaration and request for the position qualifies under subsection (3) of this section to have the county clerk count write-in votes for the person, the local governing body of the district shall appoint a person to each position that was not filled at the election. [Amended by 1973 c.656 §10; 1981 c.92 §28; 1993 c.493 §86; 2007 c.690 §2; 2009 c.220 §24]
OR Rev Stat § 568.542 (2021)
2021 Oregon Revised Statutes|Volume : 15 - Water Resources, Agriculture and Food|Chapter 568 - Soil and Water Conservation; Water Quality Management|Section 568.542 - Payment of expenses for director election from county funds.

The expenses incurred for the election of directors of a soil and water conservation district under ORS 568.210 to 568.808 and 568.900 to 568.933 shall be paid out of county funds by the county or counties within which the territory of the district lies. [1995 c.243 §2] Note: 568.542 was added to and made a part of 568.210 to 568.808 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.