(a) The board of county commissioners of any county may levy a tax not to exceed 1/2 mill on all taxable tangible property within the county for the purpose of assisting in the provision of services for persons with physically handicapping conditions, but such tax shall not be used for the purposes for which a tax is authorized under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 12-1680, 19-4004, 19-4011, 65-212 and 65-215, and amendments thereto. The board shall adopt a resolution stating its intent to levy the tax and the purpose therefor. The resolution shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. If a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters of the county is filed with the county election officer, the board shall submit the proposition for approval by a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting at an election thereon. The election shall be called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law.

(b) If a petition signed by not less than 5% of the registered voters of any county is filed with the county election officer requesting an election on the question of whether a tax levy not to exceed 1/2 mill on all taxable tangible property within the county shall be made for the purpose of assisting in the provision of services for persons with physically handicapping conditions, the board of county commissioners shall submit the proposition for approval by a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting at an election thereon. The election shall be called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law. If such proposition is approved, the board of county commissioners shall levy such tax for such purpose. No such tax shall be used for the purposes for which a tax is authorized under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 12-1680, 19-4004, 19-4011, 65-212 and 65-215, and amendments thereto.

(c) As used in this section, “physically handicapping condition” means the physical condition of a person, whether congenital or acquired by accident, injury or disease that constitutes a substantial disability, including but not limited to blindness and hearing loss.