(1) An optional plan proposing an alternate form of government for a county may be adopted as provided in this chapter.

(2) The process to adopt an optional plan establishing an alternate form of county government may be initiated by: (a) the county legislative body as provided in Section 17-52a-302; or (b) registered voters of the county as provided in Section 17-52a-303.

(a) the county legislative body as provided in Section 17-52a-302; or

(b) registered voters of the county as provided in Section 17-52a-303.

(3) (a) If the process to adopt an optional plan is initiated under Laws of Utah 1973, Chapter 26, Section 3, 4, or 5, or Section 17-52a-302 or 17-52a-303, or under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(2), the county legislative body may not initiate the process again under Section 17-52a-302, and registered voters may not initiate the process again under Section 17-52a-303, until: (i) the first initiated process concludes with an election under Section 17-52a-501; (ii) the first initiated process concludes under Subsection 17-52a-403(7) because the study committee recommended that the county's form of government not change; (iii) the first initiated process has not concluded but has been pending for at least two years after the day on which the voters approved the appointment of a study committee in an election described in Section 17-52a-304; (iv) notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a)(iii), if an election on an optional plan under the first initiated process is scheduled under Section 17-52a-501, the conclusion of that election; (v) the first initiated process concludes because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-303(2)(c); or (vi) for a process governed by Section 17-52a-104, the first initiated process concludes: (A) because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-104(3); or (B) under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(1)(b). (b) A county legislative body may not initiate the process to adopt an optional plan under Section 17-52a-302 within four years of an election at which voters approved or rejected an optional plan proposed as a result of a process initiated by the county legislative body. (c) Registered voters of a county may not initiate the process to adopt an optional plan under Section 17-52a-303 within four years of an election at which voters approved or rejected an optional plan proposed as a result of a process initiated by registered voters.

(a) If the process to adopt an optional plan is initiated under Laws of Utah 1973, Chapter 26, Section 3, 4, or 5, or Section 17-52a-302 or 17-52a-303, or under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(2), the county legislative body may not initiate the process again under Section 17-52a-302, and registered voters may not initiate the process again under Section 17-52a-303, until: (i) the first initiated process concludes with an election under Section 17-52a-501; (ii) the first initiated process concludes under Subsection 17-52a-403(7) because the study committee recommended that the county's form of government not change; (iii) the first initiated process has not concluded but has been pending for at least two years after the day on which the voters approved the appointment of a study committee in an election described in Section 17-52a-304; (iv) notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a)(iii), if an election on an optional plan under the first initiated process is scheduled under Section 17-52a-501, the conclusion of that election; (v) the first initiated process concludes because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-303(2)(c); or (vi) for a process governed by Section 17-52a-104, the first initiated process concludes: (A) because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-104(3); or (B) under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(1)(b).

(i) the first initiated process concludes with an election under Section 17-52a-501;

(ii) the first initiated process concludes under Subsection 17-52a-403(7) because the study committee recommended that the county's form of government not change;

(iii) the first initiated process has not concluded but has been pending for at least two years after the day on which the voters approved the appointment of a study committee in an election described in Section 17-52a-304;

(iv) notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a)(iii), if an election on an optional plan under the first initiated process is scheduled under Section 17-52a-501, the conclusion of that election;

(v) the first initiated process concludes because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-303(2)(c); or

(vi) for a process governed by Section 17-52a-104, the first initiated process concludes: (A) because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-104(3); or (B) under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(1)(b).

(A) because registered voters fail to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures for a petition before the deadline described in Subsection 17-52a-104(3); or

(B) under a provision described in Subsection 17-52a-104(1)(b).

(b) A county legislative body may not initiate the process to adopt an optional plan under Section 17-52a-302 within four years of an election at which voters approved or rejected an optional plan proposed as a result of a process initiated by the county legislative body.

(c) Registered voters of a county may not initiate the process to adopt an optional plan under Section 17-52a-303 within four years of an election at which voters approved or rejected an optional plan proposed as a result of a process initiated by registered voters.