An Act to clarify signature requirements on petitions regarding the change of form of government in municipalities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 9-11-6 be AMENDED:

9-11-6. If a petition signed by fifteen percent of the registered voters of any municipality, as determined by the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, is presented to the governing body, requesting that an election be called for the purpose of voting upon a question of change of form of government or upon a question of the number of wards, commissioners, or trustees, the governing body shall call an election to be held within fifty days from the date of the filing of the petition with the municipal finance officer. At that election, the question of the change of form of government or the number of wards, commissioners, or trustees, or both, shall must be submitted to the voters. No signature on the petition is valid if signed more than six months prior to the filing of the petitions after the circulation start date noted on the petition forms. If the petition is filed on or after January first prior to the annual municipal election and within sufficient time to comply with the provisions of § 9-13-14, the question may be submitted at that annual municipal election.

The election shall must be held upon the same notice and conducted in the same manner as other city elections.