RCW 70.44.380
Dividing a district -- Election -- Creation of new
districts -- Challenges.Following the entry of the court order
pursuant to RCW 70.44.370, the county officer authorized to call
and conduct elections in the county in which the existing district
is located shall call a special election as provided by the
resolution of the board of commissioners of such district for the
purpose of submitting to the voters in each of the proposed new
districts the proposition of whether the plan of division should be
approved and carried out. Notice of the election describing the
boundaries of the proposed new districts and stating the objects of
the election shall be given and the election conducted in
accordance with the general election laws. The proposition
expressed on the ballots at such election shall be substantially as
follows:
"Shall the plan of division of public hospital district
No. . . . ., approved by the Superior Court on
. . . . . . (insert date), be approved and carried out?
At such election three commissioners for each of the proposed new
districts nominated by petition pursuant to RCW 54.12.010 shall be
elected to hold office pursuant to RCW 70.44.040. If at such
election a majority of the voters voting on the proposition in each
of the proposed new districts shall vote in favor of the plan of
division, the county canvassing board shall so declare in its
canvass of the returns of such election and upon the filing of the
certificate of such canvass: The division of the existing district
shall be effective; such original district shall cease to exist;
the creation of the two new public hospital districts shall be
complete; all assets of the original district shall vest in and
become the property of the new districts, respectively, pursuant to
the plan of division; all the outstanding obligations of the
original district shall be assumed by the new districts,
respectively, pursuant to such plan; the commissioners of the
original district shall cease to hold office; and the affairs of
the new districts shall be governed by the newly elected
commissioners of such respective new districts. Unless commenced
within thirty days after the date of the filing of the certificate
of the canvass of such election, no lawsuit whatever may be
maintained challenging in any way the legal existence of the
resulting new districts, the validity of the proceedings had for
the organization and creation thereof, or the lawfulness of the
plan of division. Upon the petition of either or both new
districts, the superior court in the county where they are located
may take whatever actions are reasonable and necessary to complete
or confirm the carrying out of such plan.[1982 c 84 § 8.]