Oklahoma § 19-1221 - Consolidation of districts

§ 19-1221. Consolidation of districts

A. Two or more districts organized under the Ambulance Service

Districts Act may be consolidated into a single district by

complying with the procedures prescribed in this section.

B. The proposal for consolidation shall be prepared in written

form and shall set forth in detail the reasons for consolidation and

the advantages which would accrue to each district from the

proposal. The written proposal shall be considered and acted upon

by the board of directors from each district affected at a duly

called meeting. If the board of directors of each district approves

the proposal by resolution, the proposal shall then be submitted to

a vote of the residents of each district present at a regular or

special meeting. If the consolidation proposal is not approved by

such residents of each district affected such districts may not be

consolidated.

C. If the proposal is approved by such residents of each

district, the boards of directors of the districts desiring to be

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

consolidated shall join in filing a petition, addressed to the board

of county commissioners having jurisdiction as provided by this

section, for a hearing to consolidate such districts into a single

district. The petition shall set forth the necessity for such

consolidation of two or more districts, and that the consolidation

of the districts shall be conducive to the public health, safety,

and welfare, and the purposes for which the districts were

organized. The consolidation proposal as approved by the residents

and the boards of directors of each district shall be attached to

the petition as exhibits.

D. If the districts seeking consolidation are situated in one

county, the petition shall be filed with the county clerk of the

county, and the board of county commissioners of the county shall

have jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition.

E. If the districts seeking consolidation are situated in

different counties the petition shall be filed with the county clerk

of the county in which the greatest portion of the area of the

proposed consolidated district is located, and the board to

determine the question of consolidation shall consist of the board

of county commissioners from each of the counties, and a majority of

the combined boards shall be necessary to render a decision.

F. Upon receipt of the petition, the county clerk shall

thereupon give notice to the board or boards of county commissioners

of the filing and pendency of the petition, whereupon the county

commissioners of the county wherein the petition is filed shall

enter its order setting hearing, and giving notice of the hearing,

all in accordance with the provisions of this act for the creation

of districts in the first instance. After the hearing, should the

board find that the averments of the petition are true and that the

districts, or any of them, should be consolidated, the board shall

enter its order directing the consolidation of the districts. The

order shall set forth the corporate name of the consolidated

district under the name of "Consolidated Ambulance Service District

No. __________, __________ County(ies), Oklahoma". The order shall

further provide that the consolidated district shall assume and

become legally liable for all of the obligations of the districts

consolidated into the single district.

G. Following the entry of the order, an organizational meeting

of the combined residents of each of the districts shall be held for

the purpose of electing directors and officers and adopting bylaws.

This organizational meeting shall be held in accordance with the

provisions pertaining to the creation and organization of districts.

H. From any order of the board, an appeal may be taken in the

manner as provided for appeals from decision of the board of county

commissioners. All legal proceedings already instituted by or

against any district involved in a consolidation proceeding may be

revived and continued by or against the consolidated district by an

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

order of the court substituting the name of such consolidated

district.

Added by Laws 1974, c. 86, § 21, emerg. eff. April 19, 1974.

Amended by Laws 2010, c. 295, § 20, emerg. eff. June 6, 2010.