Ind. Code ch. 16-20-4

Ind. Code ch. 16-20-4
in effect

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-1 Application of chapter

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to city health departments in second class cities. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-1 part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-2 City health department defined

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "city health department" means a city health department in a second class city. The term includes a full-time local health department under this chapter. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-1 part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-3 Prohibition on establishing a city health department; continuing operation of existing city health departments

Sec. 3. (a) After December 31, 2022, a local official, city legislative body, city fiscal body, or county may not establish a city health department. (b) A city health department established before January 1, 2023, may continue to operate in accordance with this chapter. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-2.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.164-2023, SEC.32.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-4 Jurisdiction in city with full-time health department

Sec. 4. A county or multiple county health board and the board's officers do not have jurisdiction in any city having a full-time city health department. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-13.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-4.5 Establishment of fund; purposes; use

Sec. 4.5. (a) The city fiscal body in which a city health department has been authorized under this chapter shall establish a special fund known as the municipal health fund. (b) Money in the fund may be used only for the purposes of this title and shall be drawn upon by the proper officers of the city upon the properly authenticated vouchers of the city health department. (c) The city fiscal body shall appropriate from the municipal health fund money necessary to maintain the city health department. (d) Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the city general fund. As added by P.L.164-2023, SEC.33.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-5 Repealed

[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-14 part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.87-1994, SEC.8; P.L.95-1994, SEC.2; P.L.170-2002, SEC.101; P.L.119-2012, SEC.128; P.L.104-2022, SEC.104. Repealed by P.L.164-2023, SEC.34.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-5.5 Legalization of certain health ordinances by Tippecanoe County adopted after December 31, 1993, and before March 11, 1994

Sec. 5.5. A health ordinance adopted by the county executive of Tippecanoe County that: (1) was adopted after December 31, 1993, and before March 11, 1994; and (2) applies to the entire county; is legalized. As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.313. Amended by P.L.119-2012, SEC.129.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-6 Health board membership; qualifications

Sec. 6. The city health departments provided for by this chapter shall be managed by a board of health consisting of seven (7) members appointed by the city executive, not more than four (4) of whom belong to the same political party. At least three (3) of the members must be licensed physicians. At least one (1) of the members must be a licensed veterinarian. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(a) part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-7 Terms of office; vacancies

Sec. 7. (a) All members of the board shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years except that of the first appointees. The initial terms are as follows: (1) One (1) shall serve for a period of two (2) years. (2) Two (2) shall serve for a period of three (3) years. (3) Four (4) shall serve for a term of four (4) years. (b) At the expiration of the respective terms, appointments shall be made to fill the vacancies for the following four (4) years. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(a) part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-8 Vacancy; candidate list; qualifications

Sec. 8. (a) Whenever a vacancy occurs on a board, the city board of health shall provide to the appointing authority a list of five (5) individuals, at least three (3) of whom must have professional experience in one (1) of the following areas: (1) Medicine. (2) Nursing. (3) Health care administration. (4) Pharmacology. (5) Dentistry. (6) Veterinary medicine. (7) Engineering. (8) Environmental science. (9) Social work. (10) Legal profession. (11) School administration. (b) The list must include at least one (1) licensed physician. When filling a vacancy, the appointing authority may select from the list provided by the city board of health. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(b).] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-9 Removal; grounds

Sec. 9. A member of a city board of health may be removed by the appointing authority if the board member does any of the following: (1) Is absent from three (3) consecutive regular board meetings. (2) Is absent from four (4) regular board meetings in a calendar year. (3) Fails to perform the statutory duties of the office. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(c).] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-10 Conflicts of interest

Sec. 10. An individual who has a vested interest or may gain financially from any activity of the city health department or policy decision of the board is ineligible to serve on a city board of health. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(d).] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-11 Organizational meeting; officers

Sec. 11. The board of each full-time city health department shall, immediately after appointment, meet and organize by electing a chairman, vice chairman, and other officers the board considers necessary. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-21.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-12 Election meeting; regular meetings; special meetings

Sec. 12. (a) The board of each city health department shall hold a meeting in January of each year, at which meeting officers shall be elected for the following calendar year. (b) The board shall hold regular meetings quarterly in January, April, July, and October. (c) The board shall hold special meetings: (1) on a written request signed by three (3) members and filed with the local health officer; or (2) on request of the health officer. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-22.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-13 Powers and duties

Sec. 13. A board of health that manages a city health department under this chapter has the powers and duties prescribed for all health boards. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-15(a) part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-14 Procedural rules

Sec. 14. The board of each city health department may adopt procedural rules for the board's own guidance and as are necessary or desirable to protect, promote, or improve public health or to control disease not inconsistent with state statutes and rules of the state department. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-33.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-15 Offices and equipment

Sec. 15. The board of each city health department shall provide, equip, and maintain suitable offices, facilities, and appliances for the health department. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-23.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-16 Officers and employees; duties; compensation; approval

Sec. 16. (a) The board of each city health department shall prescribe the duties of all officers and employees. (b) The board shall fix compensation of all officers and employees. However, in counties having joint city-county full-time health departments, the prescription of duties and fixing of compensation is subject to prior approval by the city legislative body and the county executive of cities and counties maintaining the department. (c) The city board of health may recommend compensation for any officer or employee of the board subject to approval by the city fiscal body. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-29.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-17 Annual report; contents

Sec. 17. The board of each city health department shall publish annually in pamphlet form, within ninety (90) days after the second Tuesday in January, for free distribution, an annual report showing the following: (1) As of January 1 of that year, the amount of money received from all sources. (2) The name of any donor. (3) How all money has been expended and for what purpose. (4) Other statistics and information concerning the work of the city health department as the board considers to be of general interest. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-24.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-18 Communicable disease control; inspections

Sec. 18. (a) The board of each city health department has the responsibility and authority to take any action authorized by state statute or rule of the state department to control communicable diseases. (b) The board of each city health department or a designated representative may make sanitary and health inspections that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-25.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-19 Disease control powers and duties

Sec. 19. The board of each city health department shall do the following: (1) Investigate the existence of any contagious or infectious disease. (2) Adopt measures, not inconsistent with the rules of the state department, to arrest the progress of contagious or infectious disease. (3) Make all necessary sanitary and health investigations and inspections. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-26.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-20 Health officers; qualifications; term of office

Sec. 20. (a) The board of each city health department shall appoint a health officer who meets the requirements set forth in IC 16-20-1-9.5. The appointment is subject to the approval of the city legislative body. (b) The health officer is the executive officer for the department and shall serve as secretary of the local board. (c) The health officer must be a citizen of the United States. (d) If a city health department wants to employ a local health officer who is not a physician, but meets the requirements of IC 16-20-1-9.5(a)(2), the city health department must do the following: (1) Obtain the approval of the city executive. (2) Upon obtaining the approval under subdivision (1), submit a request to the executive board of the state department for approval to employ the individual. The request must detail how the city plans to ensure the appropriate clinical oversight for any provided medical services. (e) The executive board of the state department shall determine whether to approve a request under subsection (d)(2) based on the needs of the requesting city and the qualifications of the individual. (f) A local health officer may be appointed to serve simultaneously more than one (1) local board of health. (g) A health officer serves a term of four (4) years unless removed for cause as provided in this title. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-27.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.164-2023, SEC.35.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-21 Employment of personnel

Sec. 21. A city health officer may appoint and employ the professional, clerical, and other employees that are necessary and reasonable to carry out and perform the duties of the department. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-28.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-22 Department expenses and salaries; payment; authorization

Sec. 22. The board of each city health department shall authorize payment of salaries and all other department expenses from the proper fund. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-30.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-23 Professional employees; confirmation of appointment

Sec. 23. The board of each city health department shall confirm the appointment of professional employees who are appointed by the health officers and who meet the qualification requirements of the local board for the respective professional employee positions. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-31.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-24 Annual budget; submission for approval

Sec. 24. The board of each city health department shall submit an annual budget to the city fiscal body for approval of the annual budget at the regular time for consideration of annual budgets. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-32.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-25 Expenses appropriation; tax

Sec. 25. The fiscal body of the city shall annually make the necessary appropriation for expenses of the full-time city health department even though the appropriation may exceed existing limitations. However, the tax may not exceed one (1) mill on each dollar ($1) of assessed valuation of taxable property in addition to other health appropriations. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-14 part.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-26 Emergency appropriations

Sec. 26. An appropriation may be made, as emergency appropriations are made, to provide for the expenses of the operation of a full-time city health department, until appropriations are made available by the next regular annual budget after the full-time city health department has been authorized. [Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-1-7-34.] As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-20-4-27 Transfer of revenue by cities in certain counties to county community health clinic

Sec. 27. (a) This section applies to the following cities: (1) A city having a population of more than forty thousand (40,000) and less than forty-five thousand (45,000). (2) A city having a population of more than seventy thousand (70,000) and less than seventy-five thousand (75,000). (b) Each year the fiscal officer of each city shall transfer to the community health clinic located in the county in which the city is located an amount equal to the revenue raised from a property tax rate of sixty-seven hundredths of one cent ($0.0067) for each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation of the taxable property in the city. (c) The transfer shall be made in four (4) equal installments before the end of January, April, July, and October. The transfer shall be made without the necessity of an appropriation. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.130. Amended by P.L.6-1997, SEC.165; P.L.170-2002, SEC.102; P.L.119-2012, SEC.130; P.L.104-2022, SEC.105.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026