reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 2. Procedure. › Sec. 29.05.110. Incorporation election.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission shall immediately notify the director of elections of its acceptance of an incorporation petition. Within 30 days after notification, the director of elections shall order an election in the proposed municipality to determine whether the voters desire incorporation and, if so, to elect the initial municipal officials. If incorporation is rejected, no officials are elected. The election shall be held not less than 30 or more than 90 days after the date of the election order. The election order must specify the dates during which nomination petitions for election of initial officials may be filed.
(b) A qualified voter who is registered to vote within the proposed municipality at least 30 days before the date of the election order may vote.
(c) Areawide borough powers included in an incorporation petition are considered to be part of the incorporation question. In an election for the incorporation of a second class borough, each nonareawide power to be exercised is placed separately on the ballot. Adoption of a nonareawide power requires a majority of the votes cast on the question, and the vote is limited to the qualified voters who are registered to vote in the proposed borough but outside all cities in the proposed borough.
(d) A home rule charter included in an incorporation petition under AS 29.05.060(13) is considered to be part of the incorporation question. The home rule charter is adopted if the voters approve incorporation of the city, borough, or unified municipality.
(e) The director of elections shall supervise the election in the general manner prescribed by AS 15 (Election Code). The state shall pay all election costs under this section.
(f) In this section, “qualified voter” has the meaning given in AS 15.80.010.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 2. Procedure. › Sec. 29.05.115. Incorporation with legislative review.

(a) If the Local Boundary Commission submits a proposal for borough incorporation to the legislature under art. X, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, AS 29.05.060 - 29.05.110 do not apply. However, before the proposal is submitted to the legislature, the Local Boundary Commission shall hold at least two public hearings in the area proposed for incorporation.
(b) This section may not be construed as granting authority to the Local Boundary Commission to propose a borough incorporation under art. X, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 2. Procedure. › Sec. 29.05.120. Election of initial officials.

(a) Nominations for initial municipal officials are made by petition. The petition shall be in the form prescribed by the director of elections and must include the name and address of the nominee and a statement of the nominee that the nominee is qualified under the provisions of this title for the office that is sought. A person may file for and occupy more than one office, but may not serve simultaneously as
(1) borough mayor and as a member of the assembly; or
(2) city mayor and as a member of the council in a first class city.
(b) Except for a proposed second class city, petitions to nominate initial officials must include the signature and resident address of 50 voters in the area of the proposed municipality, or that area of the proposed municipality from which the officials are to be elected under the composition and apportionment set out in the accepted incorporation petition.
(c) Petitions to nominate initial officials of a second class city must include the signature and resident address of 10 voters in the area of the proposed city.
(d) The director of elections shall supervise the election in the general manner prescribed by AS 15 (Election Code). The state shall pay all election costs.
(e) The initial elected officials take office on the first Monday following certification of their election.
(f) The initial elected members of the governing body shall determine by lot the length of their terms of office so that a proportionate number of terms expire each year, resulting in staggered terms of office for members subsequently elected.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 2. Procedure. › Sec. 29.05.130. Integration of special districts and service areas.

(a) A service area in a newly incorporated municipality shall be integrated into the municipality within two years after the date of incorporation. On integration the municipality succeeds to all the rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the service area. On integration all property in the service area subject to taxation to pay the principal and interest on bonds at the time of integration remains subject to taxation for that purpose.
(b) After integration, the municipality may exercise in a former service area all of the rights and powers exercised by the service area at the time of integration, and, as successor to the service area, may levy and collect special charges, taxes, or assessments to amortize bonded indebtedness incurred by the service area or by a municipality in which the service area was formerly located.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 2. Procedure. › Sec. 29.05.140. Transition.

(a) The powers and duties exercised by cities and service areas that are succeeded to by a newly incorporated municipality continue to be exercised by the cities and service areas until the new municipality assumes the powers and functions, which may not exceed two years after the date of incorporation. Ordinances, rules, resolutions, procedures, and orders in effect before the transfer remain in effect until superseded by the action of the new municipality.
(b) Before the assumption, the new municipality shall give written notice of its assumption of the rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities under this section and AS 29.05.130 to the city or service area concerned. Municipal officials shall consult with the officials of the city or service area concerned and arrange an orderly transfer.
(c) After the incorporation of a new municipality, a service area in it may not assume new bonded indebtedness, make a contract, or transfer an asset without the consent of the governing body.
(d) Upon incorporation, the home rule charter of a unified municipality operates to dissolve all municipalities in the area unified in accordance with the charter.
(e) Unless the incorporation takes effect on January 1, the newly incorporated municipality may not levy property taxes before January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the incorporation takes effect.
(f) This section applies to home rule and general law municipalities.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 3. Transitional Assistance. › Sec. 29.05.180. Organization grants to cities.

(a) To defray the cost of transition to city government and to provide for interim government operations, each city incorporated after December 31, 1985 is entitled to an organization grant of $50,000 for the first full or partial fiscal year after incorporation.
(b) To defray the cost of reclassification, each second class city in the unorganized borough incorporated before January 1, 1986 that reclassifies as a first class city or adopts a home rule charter after December 31, 1985 is entitled to an organization grant equal to $50,000 for the first full or partial fiscal year after reclassification.
(c) The department shall disburse an organization grant under (a) or (b) of this section within 30 days after certification of the incorporation, reclassification, or home rule charter election, or as soon after certification as money is appropriated and available for the purpose.
(d) A city entitled to an organization grant under (a) or (b) of this section is entitled to a second organization grant of $25,000. The department shall disburse the second organization grant within 30 days after the beginning of the city's second fiscal year after incorporation, reclassification, or adoption of a home rule charter or as soon after that time as money is appropriated and available for the purpose.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 3. Transitional Assistance. › Sec. 29.05.190. Organization grants to boroughs and unified municipalities.

(a) For the purpose of defraying the cost of transition to borough government and to provide for interim governmental operations, each borough or unified municipality incorporated after December 31, 1985, is entitled to organization grants as follows:
(1) $300,000 for the municipality's first full or partial fiscal year;
(2) $200,000 for the municipality's second fiscal year; and
(3) $100,000 for the municipality's third fiscal year.
(b) The department shall disburse the first organization grant to a borough or unified municipality within 30 days after certification of the election favoring incorporation, or as soon after that as money is appropriated and available for the purpose. The second grant shall be disbursed within 30 days after the beginning of the municipality's second fiscal year, or as soon after that as money is appropriated and available for the purpose. The third grant shall be disbursed within 30 days after the beginning of the municipality's third fiscal year, or as soon after that as money is appropriated and available for the purpose.
(c) Except as provided in (d) of this section, this section does not apply to a borough incorporated by consolidation or to a unified municipality that occupies the area formerly occupied by a borough.
(d) For the purpose of defraying the cost of government transition, each third class borough that merges or consolidates with a city after January 1, 2002, and each municipality that unifies after January 1, 2002, in an area formerly occupied by a third class borough is entitled to an organization grant of $200,000 for the municipality's first full or partial fiscal year after the merger or consolidation or after unification.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 3. Transitional Assistance. › Sec. 29.05.200. Organization grant program.

(a) The organization grant program is established in the department. An appropriation made to the program shall be used for organization grants to municipalities that qualify under AS 29.05.180 or 29.05.190.
(b) Before August 31 of each fiscal year, the department shall submit a report to the office of management and budget indicating
(1) each municipality expected to qualify to receive an organization grant during the next fiscal year;
(2) the amount of money needed to cover all organization grants expected to be awarded during the next fiscal year.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 05. Incorporation › Article 3. Transitional Assistance. › Sec. 29.05.210. Transitional assistance to boroughs and unified municipalities.

(a) Within 30 days after the date of incorporation of a borough or unified municipality incorporated after December 31, 1985, the department shall determine the population of the borough or unified municipality.
(b) The department shall provide assistance to each borough and unified municipality incorporated after December 31, 1985, in
(1) establishing the initial sales and use tax assessment and collection department if the borough or unified municipality has adopted a sales or use tax;
(2) determining the initial property tax assessment roll if the borough or unified municipality has adopted a property tax, including contracting for appraisals of property needed to complete the initial assessment.
(c) This section does not apply to a borough incorporated by consolidation or to a unified municipality that occupies the area formerly occupied by a borough.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 1. Change of Name. › Sec. 29.06.010. Change of municipal name.

(a) A municipality may change its official name by adopting an ordinance for the purpose that is ratified by the voters and filing the ordinance with the office of the lieutenant governor. Upon receipt of an ordinance ratified by the voters, the lieutenant governor shall issue an order to the municipality changing its name. The name change shall become effective on a date fixed in the order and occurring within 45 days after receipt of the ordinance. A copy of the order shall be transmitted to the department.
(b) If an ordinance adopted under (a) of this section that results in a change of the municipal name is subsequently repealed, the lieutenant governor shall issue an order reinstating the former name within 45 days after the date of the order, unless a different name is adopted as provided in (a) of this section.
(c) When a municipal name change takes effect by means of an order issued under (a) or (b) of this section, a civil or criminal suit, application, petition, hearing or other proceeding to which the municipality is a party and that is pending at or brought after the date the name change takes effect shall proceed in the municipal name as changed by the order.
(d) This section applies to home rule and general law municipalities.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 2. Annexation and Detachment. › Sec. 29.06.040. Municipal boundary changes.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission may consider any proposed municipal boundary change. The commission may amend the proposed change and may impose conditions on the proposed change. If the commission determines that the proposed change, as amended or conditioned if appropriate, meets applicable standards under the state constitution and commission regulations and is in the best interests of the state, it may accept the proposed change. Otherwise, it shall reject the proposed change. A Local Boundary Commission decision under this subsection may be appealed under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
(b) The Local Boundary Commission may present a proposed municipal boundary change to the legislature during the first 10 days of a regular session. The change becomes effective 45 days after presentation or at the end of the session, whichever is earlier, unless disapproved by a resolution concurred in by a majority of the members of each house.
(c) In addition to the regulations governing annexation by local action adopted under AS 44.33.812, the Local Boundary Commission shall establish procedures for annexation and detachment of territory by municipalities by local action. The procedures established under this subsection must include a provision that
(1) a proposed annexation must be approved by a majority of votes on the question cast by voters residing in the annexing municipality;
(2) a proposed annexation or detachment must be approved by a majority of votes on the question cast by voters residing in the area proposed to be annexed or detached;
(3) municipally owned property adjoining the municipality may be annexed by ordinance without voter approval; and
(4) an area adjoining the municipality may be annexed by ordinance without an election if all property owners and voters in the area petition the governing body.
(d) A boundary change effected under (a) and (b) of this section prevails over a boundary change initiated by local action, without regard to priority in time.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 2. Annexation and Detachment. › Sec. 29.06.050. Annexation of military reservations.

A military reservation may be annexed to a municipality in the same manner as prescribed for other territory under AS 29.06.040. If a city in a borough annexes a military reservation under this section, the area encompassing the military reservation automatically is annexed to the borough in which the city is located.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 2. Annexation and Detachment. › Sec. 29.06.055. Property taxes in annexed or detached areas.

(a) Unless the annexation takes effect on January 1, the annexing municipality may not levy property taxes in an annexed area before January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the annexation takes effect. However, notwithstanding other provisions of law, the municipality may provide services in the annexed area that are funded wholly or partially with property taxes during the period before the municipality may levy property taxes in the annexed area.
(b) If an area is detached from a municipality, all property taxes that are levied by that municipality on property in the detached area based on an assessment that occurred before the effective date of the detachment remain valid. AS 29.45.290 - 29.45.500 apply to the enforcement of those taxes.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.090. Merger and consolidation.

(a) Two or more municipalities may merge or consolidate to form a single general law or home rule municipality, except a third class borough may not be formed through merger or consolidation.
(b) Two methods may be used to initiate merger or consolidation of municipalities:
(1) petition to the Local Boundary Commission under regulations adopted by the commission; or
(2) the local option method specified in AS 29.06.100 - 29.06.160.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.100. Petition.

(a) Residents of two or more municipalities may file a merger or consolidation petition with the department. The petition must be signed by a number of voters of each existing municipality equal to at least 25 percent of the number of votes cast in each municipality's last regular election.
(b) The petition includes
(1) the name and class of each existing municipality;
(2) the name and class of the proposed municipality;
(3) the proposed composition and apportionment of the governing body;
(4) maps, documents, and other information that shows that the proposed municipality meets the standards for municipal incorporation;
(5) for a home rule municipality, a proposed home rule charter.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.110. Review.

(a) The department shall review a merger or consolidation petition for content and signatures and shall return a deficient petition for correction or completion.
(b) If the petition contains the required information and signatures, the department shall investigate the proposal.
(c) The department shall report its findings to the Local Boundary Commission with its recommendations regarding the merger or consolidation.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.120. Hearing.

After receipt of the report by the department on a merger or consolidation petition, the Local Boundary Commission shall hold at least one public hearing in each of the existing municipalities included in the petition, unless officials of the municipalities agree to a single hearing.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.130. Decision.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission may amend the petition and may impose conditions for the merger or consolidation. If the commission determines that the merger or consolidation, as amended or conditioned if appropriate, meets applicable standards under the state constitution and commission regulations, the municipality after the merger or consolidation would meet the standards for incorporation under AS 29.05.011 or 29.05.031, and the merger or consolidation is in the best interests of the state, it may accept the petition. Otherwise, it shall reject the petition.
(b) A Local Boundary Commission decision under this section may be appealed under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.140. Election.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission shall immediately notify the director of elections of its acceptance of a merger or consolidation petition. Within 30 days after notification, the director of elections shall order an election in the area to be included in the new municipality to determine whether the voters desire merger or consolidation. The election shall be held not less than 30 or more than 90 days after the election order. A voter who is a resident of the area to be included in the proposed municipality may vote.
(b) A home rule charter in a merger or consolidation petition submitted under AS 29.06.100(b)(5) is part of the merger or consolidation question. The charter is adopted if the voters approve the merger or consolidation. The director of elections shall supervise the election in the general manner prescribed by AS 15 (Election Code). The state shall pay all election costs.
(c) The director of elections shall certify the election results. If merger or consolidation is approved, the director of elections shall, within 10 days, set a date for election of officials of the new municipality. The election date shall be not less than 60 or more than 90 days after the election order and it is the effective date for the merger or consolidation.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 3. Merger and Consolidation. › Sec. 29.06.150. Succession to rights and liabilities.

(a) When two or more municipalities merge, one succeeds to the rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the others.
(b) When two or more municipalities consolidate, the newly incorporated municipality succeeds to the rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the consolidated municipalities.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.190. Unification of municipalities authorized.

(a) A borough and all cities in the borough may unite to form a single unit of home rule government by complying with AS 29.06.190 - 29.06.410.
(b) An area that is not incorporated as a borough, including any cities in the area, may incorporate as a unified municipality under AS 29.05.031.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.200. Unification petition.

(a) Formation of a charter commission to prepare a unification charter shall be proposed by resolution of the assembly or by petition. The question of formation of a charter commission may be submitted to the voters not more often than once every 24 months.
(b) An assembly, a council, or a person living in the area proposed for unification may initiate a unification petition.
(c) In a general law borough, a unification petition shall be prepared by the borough clerk upon receipt of an application meeting the requirements of AS 29.26.110, except that instead of containing an ordinance or resolution the application shall contain the question under AS 29.06.210(a). The petition shall be prepared in accordance with AS 29.26.120, except material required under (a)(1) and (2) of that section shall be replaced with the question under AS 29.06.210(a). The signature requirements of AS 29.26.130(a), (c), and (d) apply to a unification petition. The completed petition shall be submitted to the clerk who shall deliver it to the assembly with a report of the number of valid signatures determined by the clerk to be on the petition.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.210. Petition requirements.

(a) A unification petition shall read:
“PETITION FOR ELECTION OF CHARTER COMMISSION TO PROPOSE UNIFICATION CHARTER. We, the undersigned, qualified voters of the borough do hereby petition that the following proposition be placed before the voters as provided by law: 'Shall a charter commission be formed (and charter commission members be elected as elsewhere provided on this ballot) to prepare, adopt, and submit to the voters for their approval or rejection a proposed charter uniting the borough and all cities within it as a single unit of home rule government having the powers, duties and functions of a unified municipality as authorized by law? Yes [ ] No [ ]'
Inside First Outside First
Class or Class or
Signature Address Home Rule City [ ] Home Rule City [ ]”
(b) The petition shall be signed by at least
(1) the number of voters residing outside all home rule and first class cities in the borough equal to 25 percent of the votes cast in that area in the last regular borough election; and
(2) the number of voters residing in each home rule and first class city in the borough equal to 25 percent of the votes cast in each of these cities in the last regular borough election.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.220. Review of petition.

The assembly shall review a unification petition within 15 days to determine whether it complies with AS 29.06.210. If the petition does not meet the designated requirements, it shall be immediately returned to the person who initiated the petition with a statement indicating which requirements have not been satisfied.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.240. Composition of charter commission.

The charter commission shall consist of 11 voters, three of whom are residents elected at large from the borough and eight of whom, proportionate to the population as determined by the department, are
(1) residents of and elected from the area outside all home rule and first class cities in the borough; or
(2) residents of and elected from home rule or first class cities in the borough.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.250. Charter commission nominations.

(a) If the assembly determines that a unification petition meets the requirements of AS 29.06.210, or the assembly by its resolution proposes an election on formation of a charter commission, the assembly shall issue a call for the nomination of commission candidates, specifying the filing deadline and the procedure for making nominations.
(b) Charter commission candidates shall be nominated by petition signed by at least 50 voters of the area from which the candidate seeks election, or by a number of voters from that area equal to at least 10 percent of the number of votes cast from that area in the last regular borough election, whichever is less.
(c) Nomination petitions shall be filed with the borough clerk at least 30 days after notice of the call for nominations has been given and on or before a date fixed by the assembly.
(d) If at least one nomination of a qualified charter commission candidate for each available seat is not filed, the unification petition or resolution to propose formation of a charter commission is void and an election on the question may not be held.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.260. Qualifications of candidates.

A person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate for the charter commission if that person is a voter of the area from which election is sought and has been a voter of the area for at least one year immediately preceding the date the nomination petition is filed.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.270. Election of charter commission.

(a) After receipt of a valid unification petition or adoption of an assembly resolution to propose formation of a charter commission, the assembly shall submit to the voters the question of whether a charter commission shall be formed to prepare a proposed unification charter. The vote shall be held at the next regular borough election scheduled at least 90 days after receipt of the petition or adoption of the resolution. The ballot shall be worded exactly as in AS 29.06.210(a).
(b) The election of charter commission members shall take place at the same time as the election on the question of formation of the commission.
(c) All costs incurred in conducting an election under AS 29.06.190 - 29.06.410 shall be paid by the borough.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.280. Requirements for approval of formation and election of charter commission.

(a) The votes on the question of formation of a charter commission shall be tabulated in separate classifications. If the question is approved by majority vote in each home rule and first class city in the borough and by a majority vote in the area of the borough outside of all home rule or first class cities, the question is approved. If the question is not approved by majority vote in each home rule and first class city, a favorable vote by at least 55 percent of all the voters voting on the question in home rule and first class cities and by a majority of the voters outside those cities constitutes approval of the question.
(b) If formation of a charter commission is approved, the candidates who received the highest number of votes from their respective areas shall serve as members of the commission.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.290. Charter commission organization and procedure.

(a) The charter commission shall hold its first meeting within 30 days after certification of its election. The commission shall elect from among its members a chairman and a deputy chairman.
(b) A majority of the total membership of the charter commission constitutes a quorum. A decision of the commission is not valid or binding unless approved by the number of members necessary to constitute a quorum.
(c) The charter commission may elect other officials from among its membership, adopt rules governing its procedures that are consistent with AS 29.06.190 - 29.06.410 and hire and discharge employees.
(d) Meetings of the charter commission shall be open to the public at all times. A journal of commission proceedings shall be kept and made available for public inspection at the borough office.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.300. Vacancies.

(a) Vacancies on the charter commission shall be filled by a majority vote of the commission, except the assembly shall appoint members to fill vacancies if, after a proposed charter is rejected by the voters, more than one-half of the members resign.
(b) A person who fills a vacancy on the charter commission must be a voter of the same area as the person succeeded and must have been a voter of that area for at least one year immediately preceding the date the vacancy is filled.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.310. Per diem.

The assembly may grant a per diem allowance to members of the charter commission and may reimburse the members for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties prescribed by AS 29.06.190 - 29.06.410. Costs, fees, and other expenses incurred by the commission are a debt of the borough and shall be paid upon proper verification.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.320. Charter provisions.

The charter must include
(1) provision for
(A) the adjustment of existing bonded indebtedness and other obligations in a manner that will assure a fair and equitable burden of taxation for debt service, subject to AS 29.06.380;
(B) the establishment of service areas;
(C) if election of members of the governing body is not areawide, the establishment of districts for the election of members of the governing body of the proposed unified municipality and procedures by which to reapportion the election districts;
(D) the reapportionment of districts if they are established;
(E) nonpartisan government, and the selection, organization, authority, and responsibilities of the governing body and its executive and administrator;
(F) the transfer or other disposition of property and other rights, claims, assets, and franchises of the municipalities to be unified under the charter;
(G) the exercise of the rights of initiative and referendum in accordance with AS 29.10.030;
(H) amending the charter in accordance with AS 29.10.100;
(2) the date on which the charter, if approved at the charter election, is effective;
(3) designation of the proposed unified municipality's official name; and
(4) other charter provisions that may be included in a home rule charter.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.340. Filing of proposed charter.

Upon the adoption of a proposed home rule charter by the charter commission, the charter shall be signed by at least a majority of the total membership of the commission and shall be filed with the borough clerk. A copy of the charter with signatures affixed shall also be filed with the clerk of each city in the borough.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.350. Publication and posting of proposed charter.

Within 10 days after filing the proposed home rule charter, the borough clerk shall have it published. In addition, the clerk shall have a copy of the proposed charter posted in at least three public places in each city and each unincorporated community in the borough. Copies of the proposed charter shall be made available by the assembly to the public at both the office of the borough clerk and the office of the clerk of each city in the borough. The clerk shall have notice of the publication, posting, and availability of the proposed charter published.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.360. Election on charter.

(a) The proposed home rule charter adopted by the charter commission shall be submitted to the voters at a borough election held within 60 days of the date of publication and posting of the proposed charter. The borough clerk shall prepare the ballots for use in the election and shall give notice of the election by radio and television in a manner intended to apprise the entire borough population of the election. The election shall be conducted under procedures applicable to regular elections.
(b) A person who is a voter of the borough may vote in the election on the proposed charter.
(c) If the charter is approved by a majority of the votes in each home rule and first class city in the borough and the charter is approved by a majority of all the votes in the area of the borough outside all home rule or first class cities, the charter is ratified. If the charter is not approved by a majority of the votes in each home rule and first class city, the charter is ratified only if at least 55 percent of all the voters voting on the question in home rule and first class cities approve it and if a majority of the voters outside those cities approve it. If the charter is ratified, election results shall be certified to the commission and two copies of the charter shall be filed with
(1) the lieutenant governor;
(2) the department;
(3) the district recorder for the area of the borough;
(4) the clerk of the borough;
(5) the clerk of each city in the borough.
(d) If a proposed charter is rejected, the charter commission shall prepare, adopt, and submit another proposed charter to the voters at a borough election held within one year after the date of the first charter election. If the second proposed charter is also rejected, the charter commission shall be dissolved and the question of unification shall be treated as if it had never been proposed or approved.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.380. Succession to assets and liabilities; bonded indebtedness.

A unified municipality shall succeed to all the assets and liabilities of the municipalities it unified. A bonded indebtedness or other debt incurred before unification remains the tax obligation of the area that contracted the debt, except that by ordinance the tax obligation may be assumed by a larger area if the governing body determines that the asset for which the bonded indebtedness or other debt was incurred benefited the larger area before unification, or benefits the larger area after unification. However, bonded indebtedness or other debt for sewage collection systems, water distribution systems, and streets, even if determined to be benefiting a larger area than that which incurred the debt, remains the tax obligation of the area that incurred the debt.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.390. Transition.

Within two years after ratification of the home rule charter, the unified municipality shall revise, repeal, or reaffirm all municipal ordinances, resolutions, and orders in effect in the area of the unified municipality on the date of unification. Each ordinance, resolution, regulation, or order in effect on the date of unification remains in effect until superseded by action of the unified municipality.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 4. Unification of Municipalities. › Sec. 29.06.410. Powers of a unified municipality.

A municipality unified under AS 29.06.190 - 29.06.410 has all powers
(1) not prohibited by law or charter; and
(2) granted to a home rule borough.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.450. Methods of dissolution.

(a) Two petition methods may be used to initiate dissolution of a municipality:
(1) petition to the Local Boundary Commission under regulations adopted by the commission; or
(2) the local option method specified in AS 29.06.460 - 29.06.510.
(b) The department shall investigate a municipality that it considers to be inactive and shall report to the Local Boundary Commission on the status of the municipality. The commission may submit its recommendation to the legislature that the municipality be dissolved in the manner provided for submission of boundary changes in art. X, § 12 of the state constitution.
(c) A borough is dissolved when its entire territory is included in a home rule or first class city or cities. A city is dissolved when all its powers become areawide borough powers.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.460. Petition.

(a) Voters of a municipality may file a dissolution petition with the department in the form prescribed by the department. The petition must be signed by a number of voters equal to at least 25 percent of the number of votes cast in the last regular election in that municipality.
(b) The petition must include
(1) the name of the municipality;
(2) maps, documents, and other information showing that the municipality meets the standards for dissolution.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.470. Standards.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, voters of a municipality may petition for dissolution when the municipality is free of debt, or, if in debt, each of its creditors is satisfied with a method of repayment and
(1) the municipality no longer meets the minimum standards prescribed for incorporation by AS 29.05, or former AS 29.18.030 if it is a third class borough;
(2) the municipality ceases to use each of its mandatory powers; or
(3) the dissolution petition filed under AS 29.06.460 is signed by a number of voters of the municipality proposed to be dissolved greater than 50 percent of the number of votes cast in the last regular election in that municipality.
(b) Voters of a city in a borough may petition for dissolution of the city if the borough consents to assume the city's rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities. The consent must be ratified by a majority of borough voters voting on the question.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.500. Decision.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission may amend the petition and may impose conditions for the dissolution. If the commission determines that the dissolution, as amended or conditioned if appropriate, meets applicable standards under the state constitution and commission regulations, meets the standards for dissolution under AS 29.06.470, and is in the best interest of the state, it may accept the petition. Otherwise, it shall reject the petition.
(b) A Local Boundary Commission decision under this section may be appealed under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.510. Election.

(a) The Local Boundary Commission shall immediately notify the director of elections of its acceptance of a dissolution petition. Within 30 days after notification, the director of elections shall order an election in the municipality to determine whether the voters desire dissolution. The election must be held at least 30 and not more than 90 days after the election order unless such timing would cause the election to be held between May 1 and November 1. If the director of elections receives notification after April 1, but before October 1, the election shall be held within 60 days after November 1. A person who is a voter of the municipality may vote in the dissolution election.
(b) The director of elections shall supervise the election in the general manner prescribed by AS 15 (Election Code). The state shall pay all election costs.
(c) The director of elections shall certify the election results. If dissolution is approved by a number of voters greater than 50 percent of the number of people registered to vote in the municipality, the director of elections shall declare that the municipality is dissolved effective on the date of certification.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 06. Alteration of Municipalities › Article 5. Dissolution. › Sec. 29.06.520. Succession.

A municipality succeeding to a dissolved municipality succeeds to all rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the dissolved municipality. Otherwise, the state succeeds to those rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities. If the state succeeds to a dissolved municipality, the state may enter into a contract for the performance of duties or powers in the area of the dissolved municipality. However, a contract with an organization for the performance of duties or powers entered into under this section does not constitute recognition by the state of governmental powers of that organization.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 10. Home Rule Municipalities › Article 1. Charters. › Sec. 29.10.010. Municipal charter adoption.

(a) A general law borough or first class city may adopt a charter for its own government.
(b) [Repealed, § 31 ch 58 SLA 1994.]
(c) At an incorporation, merger, or consolidation election a municipality may adopt a charter for its own government and incorporate, merge, or consolidate as a home rule city, borough, or unified municipality.
(d) A home rule municipality may adopt a new charter.
(e) A proposed charter for an existing municipality is prepared by a charter commission of seven elected members. A charter commission election is called by filing a petition with the governing body or by resolution of the governing body. The petition shall be signed by a number of voters equal to 15 percent of the votes cast in the last regular election in the municipality. The petition shall be prepared by the municipal clerk upon receipt of an application meeting the requirements of AS 29.26.110 except that instead of containing an ordinance or resolution the application shall request a charter commission election. The petition shall be prepared in accordance with AS 29.26.120, except material required under AS 29.26.120(a)(1) and (2) shall be replaced with the question of whether a charter commission shall be formed. The signature requirements of AS 29.26.130(a), (c), and (d) apply to the petition. The completed petition shall be submitted to the clerk who shall deliver it to the governing body with a report of the number of valid signatures determined by the clerk to be on the petition.
(f) The proposed charter for a home rule municipality to be formed by incorporation, merger, or consolidation shall be prepared by the petitioners and filed with the petition to incorporate, merge, or consolidate a home rule city, borough, or unified municipality.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 10. Home Rule Municipalities › Article 1. Charters. › Sec. 29.10.020. Model charters.

The department shall prepare at least one model home rule charter for a city, borough, and unified municipality. The model charters shall be made available to persons interested in filing a petition to form a home rule municipality under AS 29.05.060 or AS 29.06.090.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 10. Home Rule Municipalities › Article 1. Charters. › Sec. 29.10.030. Initiative and referendum.

(a) A home rule charter shall provide procedures for initiative and referendum.
(b) A charter may not require an initiative or referendum petition to have a number of signatures greater than 25 percent of the total votes cast in the municipality at the last regular election.
(c) A charter may not permit the initiative and referendum to be used for a purpose prohibited by art. XI, § 7 of the state constitution.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 29. Municipal Government › Chapter 10. Home Rule Municipalities › Article 1. Charters. › Sec. 29.10.040. Charter commission candidates.

(a) A candidate for a charter commission of an existing municipality shall have been qualified to vote in municipality for at least one year immediately preceding the charter commission election.
(b) A charter commission candidate is nominated by a petition signed by at least 50 voters or the number of voters equal to 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the municipality during the last regular election, whichever is less. A nomination petition shall be filed with the municipal clerk on or before a date fixed by the governing body.
(c) If at least seven nominations for qualified charter commission candidates are not filed, the petition or resolution calling for a charter commission is void and an election on the question may not be held.