1. (a) The library board of a public library may file with the township trustee and legislative body a proposal of expansion and an intent to file a petition for acceptance of the proposal of expansion. Not later than ten (10) days after the filing, the township trustee shall publish notice of the proposal of expansion in the manner provided in IC 5-3-1 . Publication of the notice must be in accordance with IC 5-3-1-4 in an appropriate publication of general circulation in the township. Beginning the first day after the notice is published, and during the period that ends sixty (60) days after the date of the publication of the notice, an individual who is a registered voter of the affected township or part of the affected township subject to expansion may sign one (1) or both of the following:

   1. (1) A petition for acceptance of the proposal of expansion that states that the registered voter is in favor of the establishment of an expanded library district.
   2. (2) A remonstrance in opposition to the proposal of expansion that states that the registered voter is opposed to the establishment of an expanded library district.
2. (b) A registered voter of the township or part of the township may file a petition or a remonstrance, if any, with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the township is located. A petition for acceptance of the proposal of expansion must be signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the registered voters of the township, or part of the township, as determined by the most recent general election.

3. (c) The following apply to a petition that is filed under this section or a remonstrance that is filed under subsection (b):

   1. (1) The petition or remonstrance must show the following:

      1. (A) The date on which each individual signed the petition or remonstrance.
      2. (B) The residence of each individual on the date the individual signed the petition or remonstrance.

   2. (2) The petition or remonstrance must include an affidavit of the individual circulating the petition or remonstrance, stating that each signature on the petition or remonstrance:

      1. (A) was affixed in the individual's presence; and
      2. (B) is the true signature of the individual who signed the petition or remonstrance.
   3. (3) Several copies of the petition or remonstrance may be executed. The total of the copies constitute a petition or remonstrance. A copy must include an affidavit described in subdivision (2). A signer may file the petition or remonstrance, or a copy of the petition or remonstrance. All copies constituting a petition or remonstrance must be filed on the same day.

   4. (4) The clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the township is located shall do the following:

      1. (A) If a name appears more than one (1) time on a petition or on a remonstrance, the clerk must strike any duplicates of the name until the name appears only one (1) time on a petition or a remonstrance, or both, if the individual signed both a petition and a remonstrance.

      2. (B) Strike the name from either the petition or the remonstrance of an individual who:

         1. (i) signed both the petition and the remonstrance; and
         2. (ii) personally, in the clerk's office, makes a voluntary written and signed request for the clerk to strike the individual's name from the petition or the remonstrance.

      3. (C) Certify the number of signatures on the petition and on any remonstrance that:

         1. (i) are not duplicates; and

         2. (ii) represent individuals who are registered voters in the township or the part of the township on the day the individuals signed the petition or remonstrance.

            The clerk of the circuit court may only strike an individual's name from a petition or a remonstrance as set forth in clauses (A) and (B).

4. (d) The clerk of the circuit court shall complete the certification required under subsection (c) not more than fifteen (15) days after the petition or remonstrance is filed. The clerk shall:

   1. (1) establish a record of certification in the clerk's office; and

   2. (2) file the original petition, the original remonstrance, if any, and a copy of the clerk's certification with the legislative body.

      [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-14-5-3.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.49. Amended by P.L.84-2012, SEC.28; P.L.13-2013, SEC.156; P.L.147-2016, SEC.9.