1720                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                                [Ch. 6

The only other changes made are in style.
SEC. 8-405. PROCEDURE TO TERMINATE DISTRICTS.
(A) PETITION TO TERMINATE.

AFTER A DISTRICT HAS BEEN ORGANIZED AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS, 25 OR MORE LAND OCCUPIERS WITHIN DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES MAY FILE A PETITION WITH THE COMMITTEE
PRAYING THAT THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT BE
TERMINATED AMD THE EXISTENCE OF THE DISTRICT BE
DISCONTINUED. THE COMMITTEE MAY NOT ENTERTAIN
PETITIONS FOR DISCONTINUANCE OF ANY DISTRICT OR
CONDUCT REFERENDA ON PETITIONS MORE THAN ONCE EVERY
FIVE YEARS.

(E) HEARING.

THE COMMITTEE MAY CONDUCT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND
PUBLIC HEARINGS UPON THE PETITION AS NECESSARY.

(C)   REFERENDUM.

WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE COMMITTEE RECEIVES THE
PETITION, IT SHALL GIVE DUE NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A
REFERENDUM, SHALL SUPERVISE THE REFERENDUM, AND ISSUE
APPROPRIATE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING ITS
CONDUCT. ONLY LAND OCCUPIERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM. NO
INFORMALITY IN THE CONDUCT OF THE REFERENDUM OR IN ANY
MATTER RELATING TO IT INVALIDATES THE REFERENDUM OR
ITS RESULTS, IF NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN SUBSTANTIALLY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION AND THE REFERENDUM HAS
BEEN FAIRLY CONDUCTED.

(D)    PUBLICATION OF RESULTS; DETERMINATION OF
FEASIBILITY OF DISCONTINUANCE.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL PUBLISH THE RESULTS OF THE
REFERENDUM AND SHALL CONSIDER AND DETERMINE WHETHER
THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT WITHIN THE
DEFINED BOUNDARIES IS ADMINISTRATIVELY FEASIBLE. IN
MAKING THE DETERMINATION THE COMMITTEE SHALL GIVE DUE
REGARD AND WEIGHT TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:

(1)   THE ATTITUDES OF LAND OCCUPIERS WITHIN
THE DISTRICT;

(2)  THE NUMBER OF LAND OCCUPIERS WHO VOTED IN
THE REFERENDUM;