Montana Title 81. Livestock § 81-4-305. Changing time when herd districts will be in effect--petition--notice--hearing

The time of year or period when any herd district heretofore or hereafter created under the provisions of the laws of this state is effective or will be in effect may be changed as herein provided, by the board of county commissioners of the county in which such herd district has been created, upon the presentation and filing with the clerk and recorder of such county a petition signed by the owners or possessors of 55% of the land in such district. Such petition shall designate the months of the year when such herd district is effective and designate the contemplated change. Upon receipt thereof, the county commissioners of such county shall set a date for hearing protests and verifying the signatures thereto and shall give not less than 20 days' notice of the same by posting five notices of hearing in five public places in the county, one of which shall be at the place such hearing is to be held and at least two of such notices to be posted within such herd district. Should it appear to the board of county commissioners after such hearing that the signatures attached to such petition are genuine, they shall immediately make an order changing the period of time such herd district will be in effect, as designated in such petition; after which the county commissioners must give notice by four weekly publications in some newspaper in the county nearest such district, stating the period such district will be in effect. The change of time shall not become effective until such notice has been published as herein provided. Upon the fourth publication of such notice, such change of time shall become effective and violation thereof shall be punished as provided under the laws of the state of Montana relative to herd districts.