Sec. 21. (a) If a county seeks to withdraw from a joint district or a joint district seeks to remove a county from the joint district under IC 13-21-4 and the county:

(1) designates itself as a county district;

(2) joins into an existing joint district; or

(3) joins with one (1) or more other counties in establishing a new joint district;

the county district or the joint district shall comply with this section.

(b) If a county that withdraws from a joint district designates itself as a county district, the board appointed for the new county district under IC 13-21-3-4 shall file a district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the date the identical resolutions adopted under IC 13-21-4-2 for the county's withdrawal from the joint district take effect. The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new county district to the extent the terms of the plan apply to the new county district until the plan of the new county district is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the effective date of the identical resolutions, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new county district.

(c) If a county that is removed by a joint district designates itself as a county district, the board appointed for the new county district under IC 13-21-3-4 shall file a district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the date the identical resolutions adopted under IC 13-21-4-2 for the county's removal from the joint district take effect. The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new county district to the extent the terms of the plan apply to the new county district until the plan of the new county district is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the effective date of the identical resolutions, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new county district.

(d) If a county joins into an existing joint district, the board of the joint district:

(1) must approve the addition of the county to the district;

(2) shall amend the district plan to include the additional county; and

(3) shall file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the addition of the county to the district.

The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new joint district until the date the amended district plan is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the addition of the county to the district, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new joint district.

(e) If a county joins in establishing a new joint district, the board of the new joint district shall, not later than one (1) year after:

(1) the adoption of an ordinance establishing the joint district; and

(2) approving an agreement governing the operation of the joint district;

file a new district plan with the commissioner. If the board fails to file the new district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the adoption and approval under subdivisions (1) and (2), the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new joint district.

(f) If a county withdraws from a joint district that consists of more than two (2) counties, the board of the joint district shall:

(1) restructure the joint district's board under IC 13-21-3 not later than forty-five (45) days; and

(2) amend the district plan under sections 1 through 7 of this chapter and file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year;

after the date the identical resolutions adopted under IC 13-21-4-2 for the county's withdrawal from the joint district take effect. The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new joint district to the extent the terms of the plan apply to the new joint district until the amended plan of the new joint district is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the effective date of the identical resolutions, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new joint district.

(g) If a county is removed from a joint district that consists of more than two (2) counties, the board of the joint district shall:

(1) restructure the joint district's board under IC 13-21-3 not later than forty-five (45) days; and

(2) amend the district plan under sections 1 through 7 of this chapter and file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year;

after the date the identical resolutions adopted under IC 13-21-4-2 for the county's removal from the joint district take effect. The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new joint district to the extent the terms of the plan apply to the new joint district until the amended plan of the new joint district is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the amended district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the effective date of the identical resolutions, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new joint district.

(h) A district plan adopted under this section is considered approved unless the commissioner notifies the district in writing not later than thirty (30) days after the district plan is filed with the commissioner that the district plan fails to comply with the state plan. The notice provided by the commissioner must include comments concerning changes to the district plan that would make the district plan acceptable.

(i) With respect to a joint district that consists of only two (2) counties, if the county other than the county that withdraws from the joint district designates itself as a county district, the board appointed for the new county district under IC 13-21-3-4 shall file a district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the date the identical resolutions adopted under IC 13-21-4-2 for the withdrawal from the joint district take effect. The district plan of the joint district continues to serve as the plan for the new county district to the extent the terms of the plan apply to the new county district until the plan of the new county district is approved under this chapter. If the board fails to file the district plan with the commissioner not later than one (1) year after the effective date of the identical resolutions, the commissioner may adopt a district plan for the new county district.

[Pre-1996 Recodification Citation: 13-9.5-4-13.]

As added by P.L.1-1996, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.74-2002, SEC.10.