KRS 67C.135: Division of county into legislative council districts after election approving

consolidation -- Requirements for district plan -- Right of registered voter to

bring action in Circuit Court -- Notification to voters following

reapportionment.

(1) After certification of the election at which the voters of a county containing a city

of the first class have approved the consolidation of a city of the first class and the

county and after receipt of the 2000 census data, a plan to divide the county into

twenty-six (26) legislative council districts shall be submitted to the fiscal court in

order to establish the initial boundaries of the legislative council districts for the

newly consolidated government.

(2) The district plan for the legislative cou ncil shall be prepared and submitted by

representatives of a department of geography from the largest public university that

exists within the county.

(3) Upon submission of the plan that lays out the initial boundaries of the legislative

council districts, the fiscal court shall approve the plan within thirty (30) days as

submitted and without amendment.

(4) The boundaries of the districts shall be drawn so that the districts are compact and

contiguous, and the population of each district shall be as nearl y equal as is

reasonably possible.

(5) Thereafter, and not less than every ten (10) years, the legislative council shall

initiate reapportionment proceedings in May of the first year following the

decennial census of the United States to review the distric ts and reapportion them if

necessary.

(6) To initiate a reapportionment proceeding, the legislative council shall publish notice

of the planned reapportionment in accordance with KRS Chapter 424.

(7) In no event shall districts be reapportioned during the period from thirty (30) days

prior to the last date for filing for candidacy for local government office as provided

in KRS 118.165 and the regular election for candidates for local government office.

(8) Precinct lines shall be drawn when necessary in acc ordance with the provisions of

law. No precinct shall be in more than one (1) district.

(9) Within twenty (20) days of the establishment of the districts by the legislative

council, any registered voter of the county may bring an action in the Circuit Cour t

to enforce the provisions of this section. The Circuit Court shall hear the action and,

on a finding that the legislative council has violated the provisions of this section,

remand the matter to the legislative council. The Circuit Court, in its discret ion,

may allow the prevailing party, other than the legislative council, a reasonable

attorney's fee, to be paid from the treasury of the local government, as part of the

costs.

(10) Upon the completion of reapportionment, if legislative council district b oundaries

have changed, the county clerk shall mail each voter a notice of his or her current

district number and council member.