(a) In all cases where there has been an attempt to create or incorporate a park and recreation authority or park and recreation board, but the attempted creation or incorporation is or may be invalid because of an irregularity in the procedure followed or invalidity of or defect in the statute under which the attempted creation or incorporation of the authority or board was made, a minimum of three natural persons residing in the county in which the authority is to be incorporated may file a written application with the probate judge of the county in which the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board has been incorporated or attempted to be created or incorporated, which application shall:
(1) Contain a statement that the incorporators propose to reincorporate an authority pursuant to this chapter.
(2) State that each of the applicants is a resident of the county of incorporation.
(3) Request that the county commission of the county of incorporation and of each participating municipality adopt a resolution declaring that it is expedient that the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board be reincorporated, approving the written application, and authorizing the incorporators to proceed to reincorporate the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board by filing for record articles in accordance with this chapter.
(b) An application shall be accompanied by the form of articles of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board proposed to be reincorporated.
(c) The governing body of the county of incorporation and of each participating municipality shall review the contents of the application and the accompanying form of articles and shall adopt a resolution either to deny the application or declare that it is expedient that the proposed reincorporation occur, approving the form of articles, and authorizing the incorporators to proceed to reincorporate the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board by filing for record the articles in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-86A-5, except that the articles shall specify the name of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board being reincorporated.
(d) It shall not be necessary that any resolution be published in any newspaper or posted or be offered for more than one reading.
(e) One of the participating municipalities shall be a Class 4 municipality, as defined by Section 11-40-12, which has within 90 days of March 9, 2000, opted by ordinance to be a participating municipality.
(f) Upon the filing for record of the articles of the authority with the probate judge, the authority shall be reincorporated and the existence and validity of the authority validated and ratified retroactive to the initial incorporation or creation or attempted incorporation or creation thereof with all authorities and powers granted to an authority under this chapter. All actions taken, policies observed, contracts, agreements, and understandings entered, property owned, acquired, received, or conveyed, any civil actions pending or concluded, any employee rights or benefits granted, and all other matters with respect to the park and recreation board or park and recreation authority occurring or existing prior to the date of reincorporation shall be deemed transferred, assigned, and conveyed to, and received, accepted, and adopted by, the authority as of the date of reincorporation, and shall be deemed valid, binding, effective, legal, and constitutional with respect to the authority after the date of reincorporation if such matters would have been valid, binding, legal, effective, or constitutional if occurring after the date of reincorporation under the terms of this chapter.
(g) Upon reincorporation, the directors of the authority shall consist of those persons who were members of the board of directors of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board prior to reincorporation. In the event that the articles specify a board of directors having fewer members than the board of directors of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board which has been reincorporated, the members of the board of directors who were most recently appointed shall constitute the board of directors of the reincorporated authority. The members of the board of directors of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board which has been reincorporated having the least recent appointment shall cease to be members of the board of directors of the park and recreation authority or park and recreation board. Those persons becoming members of the board of directors of the reincorporated authority shall serve for such term or terms as specified in the articles, notwithstanding that the term or terms may exceed the term or terms for which a person was originally appointed to the position.
Last modified: May 3, 2021