reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 14-123-506 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 123 - Levee Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 5 - Districts in Four or More Counties|§ 14-123-506. Tax collector's report — Final settlement

 (a) When the time for payment of levee taxes as provided by law shall have expired, the several collectors of taxes shall cease to collect the taxes and shall at once make up a report to the board of directors of the district of all taxes collected for the current year.  (b) This report, together with the tax books, shall be delivered by the collector to the board on or before December 15. At the time of delivery of the report and tax books, the collector shall make final settlement with the board for all taxes collected during the current year.  (c) If any such collector shall fail to make final settlement within the time herein fixed, he shall be chargeable with a penalty for each day that he may be delinquent with the settlement, in a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the amount of compensation to which he would otherwise be entitled.
AR Code § 14-123-507 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 123 - Levee Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 5 - Districts in Four or More Counties|§ 14-123-507. List of uncollected taxes

 (a) The collector shall also file with the clerk of the chancery court of the county for which he is collector of levee taxes, at the time as is now required by law, a list of all uncollected levee taxes, showing thereon the name of the supposed owner, the description of the delinquent property, the amount of the uncollected tax, and all penalties.  (b) The list shall have affixed thereto an affidavit of the collector verifying its correctness.  (c) The collector shall also deliver a copy of the list to the secretary of the levee district.
AR Code § 14-125-101 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-101. Title

 This chapter may be known and cited as the “Conservation Districts Law.”
AR Code § 14-125-102 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-102. Legislative determination — Soil condition

 It is declared, as a matter of legislative determination:   (1) That the farm and grazing lands of the State of Arkansas are among the basic assets of the state and that the preservation of these lands is necessary to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of its people;  (2) That improper land-use practices have caused and have contributed to, and are now causing and contributing to, a progressively more serious erosion of the farm and grazing lands of this state by water and wind;  (3) That the breaking of natural grass, plant, and forest cover have interfered with the natural factors of soil stabilization, causing loosening of soil and exhaustion of humus and developing a soil condition that favors erosion;  (4) That the topsoil is being washed and blown out of the fields and pastures;  (5) That there has been an accelerated washing of sloping fields;  (6) That these processes of erosion by water and wind speed up with removal of absorptive topsoil, causing exposure of less absorptive and less protective but more erosive subsoil;  (7) That failure by any landowner to conserve the soil and control erosion upon his lands causes a washing and blowing of soil and water from his lands onto other lands and makes the conservation of soil and control of erosion on such other lands difficult or impossible.
AR Code § 14-125-103 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-103. Legislative determination — Consequences of erosion

 It is declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the consequences of soil erosion in the form of soil-washing and soil-blowing are:   (1) The silting and sedimentation of stream channels, reservoirs, dams, ditches, and harbors;  (2) The loss of fertile soil material in dust storms;  (3) The piling up of soil on lower slopes and its deposit over alluvial plains;  (4) The reduction in productivity or outright ruin of rich bottom lands by overwash of poor subsoil material, sand, and gravel swept out of the hills;  (5) Deterioration of soil and its fertility, deterioration of crops grown thereon, and declining acre yields despite development of scientific processes for increasing such yields;  (6) Loss of soil and water which causes destruction of food and cover for wildlife;  (7) A washing and blowing of soil into streams which silts over spawning beds and destroys water plants, diminishing the food supply of fish;  (8) A diminishing of the underground water reserve, which causes water shortages, intensifies periods of drought, and causes crop failures;  (9) An increase in the speed and volume of rainfall runoff, causing severe and increasing floods, which bring suffering, disease, and death;  (10) Impoverishment of families attempting to farm eroding and eroded lands;  (11) Damage to roads, highways, railways, farm buildings, and other property from floods and from dust storms; and  (12) Losses in navigation, hydroelectric power, municipal water supply, irrigation developments, farming, and grazing.
AR Code § 14-125-104 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-104. Legislative determination — Improvements

 It is declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that to control and prevent soil erosion, to prevent floodwater and sediment damages, and to further the conservation, development, and utilization of soil and water resources and the disposal of water, it is necessary:   (1) That land-use practices contributing to soil wastage and soil erosion be discouraged and discontinued, and appropriate soil-conserving land-use practices and works of improvement for flood prevention or the conservation, development, and utilization of soil and water resources and the disposal of water be adopted and carried out;  (2) That among the works of improvement and procedures needed are:  (A) The carrying on of engineering operations such as the construction of terraces, terrace outlets, check dams, desilting basins, floodwater-retarding structures, channel improvements, floodways, dikes, ponds, ditches, and the like;  (B) The utilization of strip cropping, lister furrowing, contour cultivating, and contour furrowing;  (C) Land drainage;  (D) Land irrigation;  (E) Seeding and planting of waste, sloping, abandoned, or eroded lands to water-conserving and erosion-preventing plants, trees, and grasses;  (F) Forestation and reforestation;  (G) Rotation of crops;  (H) Soil stabilization with trees, grasses, legumes, and other thick-growing, soil-holding crops;  (I) Retardation of run-off of increasing absorption of rainfall;  (J) Retirement from cultivation of steep, highly erosive areas and areas now badly gullied or otherwise eroded;  (K) Fish and wildlife or recreational developments;  (L) The storage, transportation, and sale of water for irrigation, municipal or industrial water supply purposes; and  (M) Rural domestic water supply systems.
AR Code § 14-125-105 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-105. Legislative policy

 It is declared to be the policy of the General Assembly to provide for the control and prevention of soil erosion, for the prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, and for furthering the conservation, development, and utilization of soil and water resources and the disposal of water, and thereby to preserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors, preserve wildlife, assist in the control of nonpoint source pollution, protect the tax base, protect public lands, and protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state.
AR Code § 14-125-107 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-107. Chapter controlling

 Insofar as any of the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling.
AR Code § 14-125-108 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-108. Development of soil conservation program — Powers and duties of commission

 (a) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission in cooperation with the land grant college in the state shall develop a program for soil conservation and for other purposes as provided for in this chapter, which shall be recognized as the state's policy in soil conservation. It may perform such acts, hold such public hearings, and promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the execution of its functions under this chapter.  (b) The commission may employ technical experts and other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications and duties. The commission may call upon the Attorney General of the state for the legal services it may require. It shall have authority to delegate to its chair, to one (1) or more of its members, or to one (1) or more agents or employees such powers and duties as it may deem proper. Upon request of the commission for the purpose of carrying out any of its functions, the supervising officer of any state agency, or of any state institution of learning may, insofar as may be possible under available appropriations, and having due regard to the needs of the agency to which the request is directed, assign or detail to the commission members of the staff or personnel of the agency or institution of learning, and make special reports, surveys, or studies as the commission may request.  (c) In addition to the duties and powers hereinafter conferred upon the commission, it shall have the following duties and powers:  (1) To offer such assistance as may be appropriate to the directors of soil conservation districts, organized as provided hereinafter, in the carrying out of any of their powers and programs;  (2) To keep the directors of each of the several districts organized under the provisions of this chapter informed of the activities and experience of all other districts organized hereunder and to facilitate an interchange of advice and experience between the districts and cooperation between them;  (3) To coordinate the programs of the several soil conservation districts organized hereunder so far as this may be done by advice and consultation;  (4) To secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States and of any of its agencies, and of agencies of this state, in the work of the districts;  (5) To disseminate information throughout the state concerning the activities and programs of the soil conservation districts organized hereunder and to encourage the formation of the districts in areas where their organization is desirable.
AR Code § 14-125-109 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 14-125-109. Payments made to district by commission

 (a) For the purpose of aiding the development and general operation of the respective soil conservation districts of this state, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission is authorized to make payments to the districts from time to time from funds appropriated for that purpose. All payments made to soil conservation districts shall be used for the purposes authorized by law, and no payments may be made to any district that does not comply with the provisions of this section.  (b)  (1) Whenever the General Assembly shall have appropriated funds to be used for making payments as authorized by this section, the commission shall annually through its designated employee give notice to all soil conservation districts of this state that applications for payments will be received by the commission on or before a date designated by the commission, which date shall be at least thirty (30) days after the date of notice.  (2) Any soil conservation district desiring to receive payments under the provisions of this section shall make application therefor upon forms furnished by the commission and shall return the application to the commission on or before the date specified by the commission.  (3) All applications for payments shall be signed and verified by the chair and secretary of the board of directors of the soil conservation district.  (4) The application form shall contain a statement that the signers thereof understand the purposes for which payments will be received and that they agree to use the payments for the purpose for which they are made and will be held accountable for any misuse of the payments.  (5) No application for payments shall be considered by the commission that is not prepared and signed according to the rules of the commission or which is received after the date specified by the commission for receiving applications.    (c) Payments made to the various conservation districts of this state shall be used only in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter and shall be in such amounts and with such restrictions as prescribed by the rules of the commission.  (d)  (1)  (A) Arkansas Legislative Audit may annually audit the books and accounts of each of the soil conservation districts receiving payments under the provisions of this section.  (B) All payments made to the districts shall be used for the purposes provided for in this section.    (2)  (A) Any soil conservation district which violates the provisions of this section shall not be eligible for payments under the provisions of this section for three (3) years.  (B) Any member of the board of directors of any soil conservation district or any other person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
AR Code § 14-125-201 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-201. Petition for district organization

 (a) Any twenty-five (25) owners of land lying within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a district may file a petition with the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission asking that a soil conservation district be organized to function in the territory described in the petition.  (b) The petition shall set forth:  (1) The proposed name of the district;  (2) That there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare for a soil conservation district to function in the territory described in the petition;  (3) A description of the territory proposed to be organized as a district, which description shall not be required to be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions but shall be deemed sufficient if generally accurate;  (4) A request that:  (A) The Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission duly define the boundaries for the district;  (B) A referendum be held within the territory so defined on the question of the creation of a soil conservation district in the territory; and  (C) The commission determine that such a district be created.      (c) Where more than one (1) petition is filed covering parts of the same territory, the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission may consolidate all or any such petitions.
AR Code § 14-125-203 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-203. Administrative practicability and feasibility generally — Holding referendum

 (a) After the commission has made and recorded a determination that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, for the organization of a district in a particular territory and has defined the boundaries thereof, it shall consider the question whether the operation of a district within the boundaries with the powers conferred upon soil conservation districts in this chapter is administratively practicable and feasible.  (b) To assist the commission in the determination of administrative practicability and feasibility, it shall be the duty of the commission, within a reasonable time after entry of the findings that there is need for the organization of the proposed district and the determination of the boundaries thereof, to hold a referendum within the proposed district upon the proposition of the creation of the district and to cause due notice of the referendum to be given.  (c) The question shall be submitted by ballots upon which the words “FOR creation of a soil conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of , and ” and “AGAINST creation of a soil conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of and ” shall be printed, with a direction to cross out or scratch off one (1) or the other of the propositions, leaving unmarked the proposition for which the voter wishes to vote.  (d) The ballot shall set forth the boundaries of the proposed district as determined by the commission.  (e) All owners of lands lying within the boundaries of the territory, as determined by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, shall be eligible to vote in the referendum.  (f) Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote.
AR Code § 14-125-204 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-204. Expenses and conduct of hearings and referenda

 (a) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission shall pay all expenses for the issuance of notices and the conduct of the hearings and referenda and shall supervise the conduct of the hearings and referenda.  (b) It shall issue appropriate rules governing the conduct of the hearings and referenda, and providing for the registration prior to the date of the referendum of all eligible voters, or prescribing some other appropriate procedure for the determination of those eligible as voters in the referendum.  (c) No informalities in the conduct of the referendum or in any matters relating thereto shall invalidate the referendum or its result if notice thereof shall have been given substantially as herein provided and the referendum shall have been fairly conducted.
AR Code § 14-125-205 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-205. Results of referendum — Final determination by commission

 (a) The commission shall publish the result of the referendum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible.  (b) If the commission shall determine that the operation of the district is not administratively practicable and feasible, it shall record the determination and deny the petition.  (c) If the commission shall determine that the operation of the district is administratively practicable and feasible, it shall record the determination and shall proceed with the organization of the district in the manner hereinafter provided.  (d) In making the determination the commission shall give due regard and weight to the attitudes of the owners of lands lying within the defined boundaries, the number of landowners eligible to vote in the referendum who shall have voted, the proportion of the votes cast in the referendum in favor of the creation of the district to the total number of votes cast, the approximate wealth and income of the landowners of the proposed district, the probable expense of carrying on erosion-control operations within the district, and other economic and social factors as may be relevant to the determination, having due regard to the legislative determinations set forth in §§ 14-125-102 — 14-125-104.  (e) However, the commission shall not have authority to determine that the operation of the proposed district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible unless at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast in the referendum upon the proposition of the creation of the district shall have been cast in favor of the creation of the district.
AR Code § 14-125-207 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-207. Subsequent petitions for district organization

 After six (6) months shall have expired from the date of entry of a determination by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission that operation of a proposed district is not administratively practicable and feasible, and denial of a petition pursuant to the determination, subsequent petitions may be filed as set out in § 14-125-201 and action taken thereon in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
AR Code § 14-125-208 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-208. Petitions to include additional territory

 (a) Petitions for including additional territory within an existing district may be filed with the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and the proceedings herein provided for in the case of petitions to organize a district shall be observed in the case of petitions for inclusion.  (b) The commission shall prescribe the form for such petitions, which shall be as nearly as may be in the form prescribed in this chapter for petitions to organize a district.  (c) Where the total number of landowners in the area proposed for inclusion shall be less than twenty-five (25), the petition may be filed when signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the owners of such areas, and in such case no referendum need be held.  (d) In referenda upon petitions for such inclusion, all owners of land lying within the proposed additional area shall be eligible to vote.
AR Code § 14-125-209 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 2 - District Organization|§ 14-125-209. Certificate as evidence

 (a) In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of, or relating to, any contract, proceeding, or action of the district, the district shall be deemed to have been established in accordance with the provisions of this chapter upon proof of the issuance of a certificate by the Secretary of State pursuant to § 14-125-206.  (b) A copy of the certificate duly certified by the Secretary of State shall be made admissible in evidence in any such suit, action, or proceeding and shall be proof of the filing and contents thereof.
AR Code § 14-125-304 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 125 - Conservation Districts Law|Subchapter 3 - Board of Directors|§ 14-125-304. Delegation of directors' powers and duties

 The directors may delegate to their chairman, to one (1) or more directors, or to one (1) or more agents or employees such powers and duties as they may deem proper.