reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 48-9-520 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-520. Content of petition.

 Any such 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 and water 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 shall not be required to be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions but shall be deemed sufficient if generally accurate; and  (4) Requests  (a) that the department duly define the boundaries for the district,  (b) that a referendum be held within the territory so defined on the question of the creation of a soil and water conservation district in such territory and  (c) that the department determine that such a district be created.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-82; 1952 Code Section 63-82; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-530 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-530. Consolidation of overlapping petitions.

 When more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same territory the department may consolidate all or any of such petitions.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-83; 1952 Code Section 63-83; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-540 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-540. Hearing on petition.

 Within thirty days after such a petition has been filed with the department it shall cause due notice to be given of a proposed hearing upon the question of the desirability and necessity, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, of the creation of such district, upon the question of the appropriate boundaries to be assigned to such district, upon the propriety of the petition and other proceedings taken under this chapter and upon all questions relevant to such inquiries. All owners and occupiers of land within the limits of the territory described in the petition and of the lands within the limits of the territory considered for addition to such described territory and all other interested parties shall have the right to attend such hearings and to be heard. If it shall appear upon the hearing that it may be desirable to include within the proposed district territory outside of the area within which due notice of the hearing has been given, the hearing shall be adjourned and due notice of a further shall be given throughout the entire area considered for inclusion in the district and such further hearing held.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-84; 1952 Code Section 63-84; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-550 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-550. Determination against establishment; filing of subsequent petition.

 If the department shall determine after such hearing, after due consideration of the facts presented at such hearing and such other relevant facts and information as may be available, that there is no need for a soil and water conservation district to function in the territory considered at the hearing, it shall make and record such determination and shall deny the petition. After six months shall have expired from the date of the denial of any such petition, subsequent petitions covering the same or substantially the same territory may be filed as provided in Section 48-9-510 and new hearings held and determinations made thereon.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-85; 1952 Code Section 63-85; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-560 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-560. Determination of need for district; boundaries.

 After such hearing, if the department shall determine, upon the facts presented at such hearing and upon such other relevant facts and information as may be available, that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for a soil and water conservation district to function in the territory considered at the hearing, it shall make and record such determination and shall define, by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, the boundaries of such district. In making such determination and in defining such boundaries the department shall give due weight and consideration to the topography of the area considered and of the State, the composition of soils therein, the distribution of erosion, the prevailing land-use practices, the desirability and necessity of including within the boundaries the particular lands under consideration and the benefits such lands may receive from being included within such boundaries, the relation of the proposed area to existing watersheds and agricultural regions and to other soil and water conservation districts already organized or proposed for organization under the provisions of this chapter and such other physical, geographical and economic factors as are relevant, having due regard to the legislative determinations set forth in Section 48-9-20. The territory to be included within such boundaries need not be contiguous.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-86; 1952 Code Section 63-86; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-570 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-570. Boundaries to not include portions of other districts.

 The boundaries of any such district shall include the territory as determined by the department as provided in Section 48-9-560, but in no event shall they include any area included within the boundaries of another soil and water conservation district organized under the provisions of this chapter.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-87; 1952 Code Section 63-87; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-580 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-580. Referendum on establishment of district.

 After the department 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, within a reasonable time after entry of the finding that there is need for the organization of the proposed district and the determination of the boundaries thereof hold a referendum within the proposed district upon the proposition of the creation of the district and cause due notice of such referendum to be given. The question shall be submitted by ballots upon which the words "For creation of a soil and water conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of (and )" and "Against creation of a soil and water conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of (and )" shall appear with a square before each proposition and a direction to insert an X mark in the square before one or the other of said propositions as the voter may favor or oppose creation of such district. The ballot shall set forth the boundaries of such proposed district as determined by the department. All owners of lands lying within the boundaries of the territory, as determined by the department, shall be eligible to vote in such referendum. Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-88; 1952 Code Section 63-88; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-590 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-590. Conduct of hearings and referenda; expenses.

 The department shall pay all expenses for the issuance of such notices and the conduct of such hearings and referenda and shall supervise the conduct of such hearings and referenda. It shall issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct of such 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 such referendum. No informalities in the conduct of such referendum or in any matters relating thereto shall invalidate the referendum or the result thereof if notice thereof shall have been given substantially as provided in Section 48-9-540 and such referendum shall have been fairly conducted.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-89; 1952 Code Section 63-89; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-600 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-600. Final determination as to establishment of district.

 The department shall publish the result of such referendum and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible. If the department shall determine that the operation of such district is not administratively practicable and feasible it shall record such determination and deny the petition. If the department shall determine that the operation of such district is administratively practicable and feasible it shall record such determination and shall proceed with the organization of the district in the manner provided in Sections 48-9-610 to 48-9-630. In making such determination the department shall give due regard and weight to the attitudes of the owners and occupiers of lands lying within the defined boundaries, the number of landowners eligible to vote in such referendum who shall have voted, the proportion of the votes cast in such referendum in favor of the creation of the district to the total number of votes cast, the approximate wealth and income of the landowners and occupiers of the proposed district, the probable expense of carrying on erosion-control operations within such district and such other economic and social factors as may be relevant to such determination, having due regard to the legislative determinations set forth in Section 48-9-20. The department 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 a majority of the votes cast in the referendum upon the proposition of creation of the district shall have been cast in favor of the creation of such district.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-90; 1952 Code Section 63-90; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-610 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-610. Appointment of two commissioners of new district.

 If the department shall determine that the operation of the proposed district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible it shall appoint two commissioners to act with the three commissioners elected as provided in Article 11 of this chapter as the governing body of the district.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-91; 1952 Code Section 63-91; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-620 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-620. Filing and contents of application by appointed commissioners with Secretary of State.

 The two appointed commissioners shall present to the Secretary of State an application signed by them, which shall set forth (and such application need contain no detail other than the mere recitals) that:  (1) A petition for the creation of the district was filed with the department pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and that the proceedings specified in this chapter were taken pursuant to such petition;  (2) The application is being filed in order to complete the organization of the district under this chapter and the department has appointed the signers as commissioners;  (3) The name and official residence of each of the commissioners, together with a certified copy of the appointments evidencing their right to office;  (4) The term of office of each of the commissioners;  (5) The name which is proposed for the district; and  (6) The location of the principal office of the commissioners of the district.  The application shall be subscribed and sworn to by each of the commissioners before an officer authorized by the laws of this State to take and certify oaths, who shall certify upon the application that he personally knows the commissioners and knows them to be the officers as affirmed in the application and that each has subscribed thereto in the officer's presence. The application shall be accompanied by a statement by the department which shall certify (and such statement need contain no detail other than the mere recitals) that a petition was filed, notice issued and hearing held as provided in Sections 48-9-510 and 48-9-540; that the department did duly determine that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for a soil and water conservation district to function in the proposed territory and did define the boundaries thereof; that notice was given and a referendum held on the question of the creation of such district and that the result of such referendum showed a majority of the votes cast in such referendum to be in favor of the creation of the district; and that thereafter the department did duly determine that the operation of the proposed district is administratively practicable and feasible. Such statement shall set forth the boundaries of the district as defined by the department.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-92; 1952 Code Section 63-92; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-630 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-630. Action by Secretary of State on application.

 The Secretary of State shall examine the application and statement and, if he finds that the name proposed for the district is not identical with that of any other soil and water conservation district of this State or so nearly similar as to lead to confusion or uncertainty, he shall receive and file them and shall record them in an appropriate book of record in his office. If the Secretary of State shall find that the name proposed for the district is identical with that of any other soil and water conservation district of this State or so nearly similar as to lead to confusion and uncertainty, he shall certify such fact to the department, which shall thereupon submit to the Secretary of State a new name for the district, which shall not be subject to such defects. Upon receipt of such new name, free of such defects, the Secretary of State shall record the application and statement, with the name so modified, in an appropriate book of record in his office. When the application and statement have been made, filed and recorded, as provided in Section 48-9-620 and this section, the district shall constitute a governmental subdivision of this State and a public body corporate and politic exercising public powers. The Secretary of State shall make and issue to the commissioners a certificate, under the seal of the State, of the due organization of the district and shall record such certificate with the application and statement.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-93; 1952 Code Section 63-93; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-640 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-640. Subsequent petition if previous determination was against feasibility of district.

 After six months shall have expired from the date of entry of a determination by the department that the operation of a proposed district is not administratively practicable and feasible and a denial of a petition pursuant to such determination, subsequent petitions may be filed as provided in Section 48-9-510 and action taken thereon in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-94; 1952 Code Section 63-94; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-650 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-650. Certificate conclusive as to establishment of district; admissibility of certificate as evidence.

 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 the certificate by the Secretary of State as provided in Section 48-9-630. A copy of such certificate duly certified by the Secretary of State shall be admissible in evidence in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall be proof of the filing and contents thereof.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-95; 1952 Code Section 63-95; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937(40) 242; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1188.
SC Code § 48-9-810 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-810. Petition for enlarging existing district.

 Petitions for including additional territory within an existing district may be filed with the department and the proceedings provided for in Article 5 of this chapter in the case of petitions to organize a district shall be observed in the case of petitions for such inclusion. The department shall prescribe the form for such petition, which shall be as nearly as may be in the form prescribed in Article 5 of this chapter for petitions to organize a district. When the total number of landowners in the area proposed for inclusion shall be less than twenty-five, the petition may be filed when signed by a majority of the landowners of such area and in such case no referendum need be held. In referenda upon petitions for such inclusion, all owners of land lying within the proposed additional area shall be eligible to vote.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-101; 1952 Code Section 63-101; 1942 Code Section 5806-105; 1937 (40) 242; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1189.
SC Code § 48-9-820 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-820. Petition for subdivision of district.

 A portion of a soil and water conservation district, such portion being composed of one or more entire counties, may withdraw from such district and constitute itself a separate soil and water conservation district by the procedure set forth in this section and Sections 48-9-830 and 48-9-840. A petition signed by a majority of the members of the governing body of the soil and water conservation district or a petition signed by twenty-five landowners of the county or counties wishing to withdraw and constitute themselves a separate district may be filed with the department asking that the subdivision be made and constitute a district. Such petition shall (a) set forth the name of the district, (b) describe the existing boundary lines of the district and boundary lines of the proposed district (subdivision) and (c) request that the department hold a public hearing upon the question of the proposed subdivision and that the department duly define the boundary lines as set out in the petition.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-102; 1952 Code Section 63-102; 1946 (44) 1537; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1189.
SC Code § 48-9-830 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-830. Hearing on petition for subdivision of district.

 Within thirty days after such a petition has been filed with the department, it shall cause due notice to be given of a proposed hearing upon the question of the proposed subdivision. All occupiers of land lying within the proposed district and all other interested parties shall have the right to attend such hearing and to be heard.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-103; 1952 Code Section 63-103; 1946 (44) 1537; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1189.
SC Code § 48-9-840 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 48 - Environmental Protection and Conservation|Chapter 9 - Soil And Water Conservation Districts Law|Section 48-9-840. Determination as to subdivisions.

 After such hearing the department shall determine, upon the facts presented at such hearing and upon such other relevant facts and information as may be available, whether there is need in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare for the proposed subdivision and whether the operation of the districts within the proposed boundaries will be administratively practicable and feasible. In making such determination, the department shall give due weight and consideration to the legislative determinations set forth in Section 48-9-20 and to the standards provided in Sections 48-9-560 and 48-9-600 for the guidance of the department in making its determinations in connection with the organization of districts. If the department determines that the proposed subdivision is not necessary in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, or that the operation of the districts within the proposed boundaries would not be administratively practicable or feasible, it shall record such determination and deny the petition. If the department shall determine in favor of the proposed subdivision, it shall record such determination and define the boundary lines between the districts and shall notify the chairman of the governing body of the district to be divided of its determination.  HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-104; 1952 Code Section 63-104; 1946 (44) 1537; 1970 (56) 2331; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1189.