Sec. 17. (a) After receiving, examining, and approving a letter of application and the accompanying documents that are presented under section 16 of this chapter, the secretary of state shall do the following:

(1) Issue to the appointed supervisors a certificate of organization indicating that the district is reestablished with boundaries incorporating the territory defined in the notarized letter of application presented under section 16 of this chapter.

(2) Record the certificate of organization with the letter of application and accompanying documents in an appropriate record.

(3) Issue to the supervisors of any existing district lying entirely within the boundaries of the newly reestablished district a certificate of dissolution of the existing district.

(4) Record the certificate of dissolution in an appropriate record.

     (b) On the date the secretary of state issues the certificates required by subsection (a):

(1) all property and responsibilities of any existing district lying entirely within the boundaries of the newly reestablished district are assumed by the reestablished district; and

(2) any existing district lying entirely within the boundaries of the newly reestablished district ceases to exist.

As added by P.L.136-1997, SEC.35.