SCS/HB 1937 - This act bifurcates the term "qualified electors" so that the term has two different meanings depending upon the context in which it is used. Under one form of the definition, the term means any persons residing in a district formed by one or more groups of registered voters or by one or more local transportation authorities. Under the alternative use of the term, "qualified electors" are all the property owners in a district which has no registered voters residing therein. If a registered voter becomes a resident of the district after its creation and obtains property ownership within the district, the registered voter must elect whether to vote as an owner of real property or as a registered voter. Once an election is made it cannot be changed (Section 238.202). The act modifies the procedure for forming a transportation development district for a district to be established within 2 or more counties. Under the act, 50 or more registered voters from each of the counties may sign a petition calling for the creation of joint establishment of a district for a project to be located in multiple counties. The petition may be filed in the circuit court of any of the petitioner counties. The district and proposed funding shall be subject to voter approval under one election, rather than a bifurcated process (Sections 238.207 and 238.210). This act is similar to SCS/SB 1057 (2008). STEPHEN WITTE
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