Sec. 2. (a) If one (1) county executive submits an ordinance and a written request for recognition of a proposed watershed development commission under section 1(c) of this chapter, the natural resources commission shall decide under subsections (c) through (e) whether to recognize the proposed commission.
(b) If the county executives of two (2) or more counties submit ordinances and written requests under section 1(c) of this chapter for recognition of a single proposed watershed development commission empowered to act in a single designated watershed that includes areas within both or all of the counties:
(1) the natural resources commission may not decide whether to recognize the proposed commission unless the provisions of the ordinances submitted under section 1(c)(1) of this chapter are essentially identical in:
(A) identifying the designated watershed; and
(B) stating the purposes of the proposed commission; and
(2) if the natural resources commission determines that the requirement set forth in subdivision (1) is met, the natural resources commission shall decide under subsections (c) through (e) whether to recognize the proposed commission.
(c) Before making a decision whether to recognize a proposed commission under this section, the division of water, on behalf of the natural resources commission, shall hold at least one (1) public hearing concerning the proposed commission in each county whose executive submitted an ordinance and a written request for recognition of the proposed commission under section 1(c) of this chapter. Any interested person attending a public hearing held under this subsection shall have the right to:
(1) address the natural resources commission; and
(2) provide written comments;
on whether the proposed commission should be established. The division of water, on behalf of the natural resources commission, may convene the meeting, record the testimony given, and receive the written comments provided.
(d) The division of water, on behalf of the natural resources commission, shall give notice of a public hearing to be held under subsection (c):
(1) by publication at least one (1) time in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the hearing will be held; and
(2) through the website of the natural resources commission.
(e) In deciding whether to recognize a proposed commission, the natural resources commission shall determine the answer to each of the following questions:
(1) Are the purposes for which the proposed commission would be established, as set forth in the ordinance or ordinances under section 1(b)(3) of this chapter, within the purposes set forth in IC 14-30.5-3-1 for which a watershed development commission may be established?
(2) Do the purposes of the proposed commission, as set forth in the ordinance or ordinances under section 1(b)(3) of this chapter, correspond to legitimate flood damage reduction, drainage, storm water management, recreation, or water infrastructure needs of each county seeking establishment of the commission, as set forth under section 1(b)(4) of this chapter?
(3) Is it reasonable to expect that the establishment of a commission having powers under this article only in the county or counties from which the ordinance or ordinances were submitted under section 1(c)(1) of this chapter would effectively address the flood damage reduction, drainage, storm water management, recreation, or water infrastructure needs of each county that submitted an ordinance under section 1(c)(1) of this chapter?
(4) Is it reasonable to expect that the establishment of a commission that has powers under this article only in the area or areas inside the geographic boundaries of the designated watershed would effectively address the flood damage reduction, drainage, storm water management, recreation, or water infrastructure needs of each county that submitted an ordinance under section 1(c)(1) of this chapter?
(5) Is the territory of the proposed commission at least as large as the entirety of the same eight (8) digit U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic unit code?
(6) Has a regional watershed study or watershed management plan been conducted in consultation with the Indiana finance authority and the department of natural resources that assesses water use, water quality, drinking water systems, wastewater management systems, storm water management, flood control, drainage management, recreational uses, natural resources, and water infrastructure needs of the watershed of the proposed commission? If so, can the establishment of the proposed commission be expected to address the needs identified in that study or management plan?
(f) If:
(1) one (1) county's executive submits an ordinance and a request for recognition of a proposed commission under section 1(c) of this chapter; and
(2) the natural resources commission answers all of the questions set forth in subsection (e) favorably;
the natural resources commission shall issue an order recognizing the watershed development commission and recognizing the county referred to in subdivision (1) as a member of the watershed development commission.
(g) If:
(1) executives of two (2) or more counties submit ordinances and requests for recognition of a proposed watershed development commission under section 1(c) of this chapter; and
(2) the natural resources commission answers all of the questions set forth in subsection (e) favorably with respect to at least one (1) of the counties;
the natural resources commission shall issue an order recognizing the watershed development commission and recognizing as a member of the watershed development commission each county with respect to which the natural resources commission answered all of the questions set forth in subsection (e) favorably.
(h) If the natural resources commission does not answer all of the questions set forth in subsection (e) favorably with respect to a county, the natural resources commission shall:
(1) inform the executive of the county in writing of its decision; and
(2) specify in the writing the reason or reasons for each unfavorable answer.
(i) The action of the natural resources commission under this section in declining to recognize a proposed watershed development commission for a particular watershed does not preclude the later submission of one (1) or more new ordinances and written requests for recognition of a proposed watershed development commission for the same designated watershed.
(j) An action of the natural resources commission under this section declining to recognize a particular county as a member of a watershed development commission does not preclude the later submission of:
(1) another ordinance and written request under section 1(c) of this chapter for recognition of the county as a member of another proposed watershed development commission; or
(2) an ordinance and written request under section 4 or 5 of this chapter proposing the county for membership in an established watershed development commission.
As added by P.L.251-2023, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.92-2025, SEC.50; P.L.123-2026, SEC.41.
