Ind. Code ch. 36-7-39

Ind. Code ch. 36-7-39
in effect

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-1 "Commission"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" means the northeast Indiana strategic development commission established by section 3 of this chapter. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-2 "Development area"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "development area" means the area consisting of the following counties: (1) Adams County. (2) Allen County. (3) DeKalb County. (4) Huntington County. (5) Kosciusko County. (6) LaGrange County. (7) Noble County. (8) Steuben County. (9) Wabash County. (10) Wells County. (11) Whitley County. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-3 Establishment

Sec. 3. The northeast Indiana strategic development commission is established for the development area described in section 2 of this chapter. The commission is a separate body corporate and politic, constituting an instrumentality of the state for the public purpose set out in this chapter, but not a state agency. The commission is separate from the state in its corporate and sovereign capacity. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-3.5 Fund

Sec. 3.5. (a) The northeast Indiana strategic development fund is established for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The fund shall be administered by the commission. (b) The fund consists of the following: (1) Fees collected under this chapter. (2) Appropriations. (3) Gifts, contributions, and grants. (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund. (d) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund. (e) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund. (f) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes set forth in this chapter. (g) Money in the fund may not be used for the purposes of expanding or increasing access to broadband. As added by P.L.186-2023, SEC.1 and P.L.201-2023, SEC.278.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-4 Purposes of the commission

Sec. 4. The commission is established to develop and implement plans and policies intended to achieve the following purposes in the development area: (1) Increase the per capita personal income relative to the national average. (2) Increase the population in the development area. (3) Increase postsecondary education and credential attainment among residents in the development area. (4) Increase the number of new business startups and programs to support entrepreneurs. (5) Incentivize collaboration between K-12 school systems, institutions of higher education, and industry in the development area. (6) Expand access and availability of infrastructure needed to facilitate development and population density in the development area. (7) Perform strategic planning involving all regional efforts for economic development. The strategic planning process shall include collaboration with local economic development organizations as well as all interested parties within the region. The strategic plan shall be completed before September 30, 2021, and each five (5) years thereafter, or more often if the commission deems necessary. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.186-2023, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-5 Membership of the commission

Sec. 5. (a) The commission consists of the following thirteen (13) members: (1) Eleven (11) members who serve two (2) year terms as follows: (A) Three (3) members appointed by the governor. The members appointed under this clause may not all be from the same political party. (B) One (1) member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (C) One (1) member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. (D) One (1) member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. (E) One (1) member appointed by the minority leader of the senate. (F) Four (4) members appointed by the mayors and commissioners caucus of the northeast Indiana regional development authority established under IC 36-7.6. Of the members appointed under this clause, at least two (2) members must be individuals who: (i) are involved in a local economic development organization; and (ii) reside in a county that is located within the development area, with one (1) member from a county that has a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000) and one (1) member from a county that has a population of more than fifty thousand (50,000). (2) The chief executive officer of the northeast Indiana regional partnership, who serves as a nonvoting member. (3) The president of the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana, who serves as a nonvoting member. (b) Each member of the commission must reside within the development area. (c) Not more than three (3) members may reside in the same county. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.186-2023, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-6 Expiration of term

Sec. 6. (a) Upon the expiration of the term of an appointed member of the commission, the member's successor shall be appointed for a four (4) year term. (b) A member may be reappointed. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-7 Vacancies

Sec. 7. If a vacancy occurs among the appointed membership of the commission, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner and under the same conditions as the original appointment. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-8 Election of chairperson; vice chairperson; treasurer; term

Sec. 8. (a) Each year the commission shall elect the following from among the members of the commission: (1) A chairperson. (2) A vice chairperson. (3) A treasurer. (b) An individual elected as a chairperson or a vice chairperson: (1) serves a term of one (1) year beginning July 1 following the date the individual is elected; and (2) may be reelected. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-9 Commission meetings

Sec. 9. (a) The commission: (1) shall fix the time for regular meetings; and (2) may hold special meetings at the call of the chairperson with seven (7) days written notice. (b) A member may waive written notice of a specific meeting by filing a written notice with the commission. (c) Written notice is considered to have been given under this section when the written notice is: (1) placed in the United States mail, first class postage prepaid; and (2) sent to the business address of the members of the commission. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-10 Non-state employee members; no per diem; no travel allowance

Sec. 10. A member of the commission who is not a state employee is not entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1. The member is also not entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-11 Commission authority; commission may sue or be sued; audit

Sec. 11. (a) The commission shall: (1) accept grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance from any source and disburse them for the purposes of the commission; and (2) provide recommendations in matters related to the commission's purposes to political subdivisions in the development area. (b) The commission may sue and be sued. (c) The commission shall have an audit of its books and accounts made at least once in each year by a certified public accounting firm or the state board of accounts. If the audit is to be conducted by a certified public accounting firm, the firm may not be selected without a review of the firm's proposal and approval of the firm by the state board of accounts. The cost of the audit shall be considered an expense of the commission, and a copy of the audit shall be made available to the public. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 36-7-39-12 Commission report

Sec. 12. Before November 1 of each year, the commission shall make a report of the commission's activities to the following: (1) The legislative body of each county located in the development area. (2) The legislative body of each municipality located in the development area. (3) The governor. (4) The general assembly. The report must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. As added by P.L.58-2021, SEC.1.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/36Fetched: 10/17/2026