1. (a) At the hearing on a petition for the establishment of a district, the court shall determine whether the petition:

   1. (1) bears the necessary signatures; and
   2. (2) complies with the requirements as to form and content.
2. (b) The court may not dismiss a petition with the requisite signatures because of alleged defects without permitting, in this or subsequent proceedings, amendments to correct errors in form or content. The court shall hear any interested person on the question.

3. (c) The following are prima facie evidence concerning the requirements for signatures on a petition:

   1. (1) Verified certification, based on personal knowledge or information and belief, by:

      1. (A) the persons who carried the petition; or
      2. (B) other persons knowing the facts as to the identity of the persons signing the petition and as to the ownership by those persons of land within the proposed district.
   2. (2) The records of the county auditor or county treasurer.

4. (d) The determination of:

   1. (1) the number of freeholds; and

   2. (2) the necessary number and identity of freeholders;

      shall be made as of the date of filing a petition. If the petition as of that date bears the necessary number of signatures, the petition may not be dismissed because petitioners withdraw signatures that reduces the number of signatures below the required amount unless the withdrawals constitute more than fifty percent (50%) of the signers as of the date of filing.

      [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-3-3-21.]

As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.26.