Sec. 6.1. (a) This section applies only in a county containing a consolidated city. If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied, the fire departments of the following are consolidated into the fire department of a consolidated city (referred to as "the consolidated fire department"):

(1) A township for which the consolidation is approved by the township legislative body and trustee and the legislative body and mayor of the consolidated city.

(2) Any fire protection territory established under IC 36-8-19 that is located in a township described in subdivision (1).

(b) If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied, the consolidated fire department shall provide fire protection services within an entity described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) in which the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied on the date agreed to in the resolution of the township legislative body and the ordinance of the legislative body of the consolidated city.

(c) If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied and the fire department of an entity listed in subsection (a) is consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city, all of the property, equipment, records, rights, and contracts of the department consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city are:

(1) transferred to; or

(2) assumed by;

the consolidated city on the effective date of the consolidation. However, real property other than real property used as a fire station may be transferred only on terms mutually agreed to by the legislative body and mayor of the consolidated city and the trustee and legislative body of the township in which that real property is located.

(d) If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied and the fire department of an entity listed in subsection (a) is consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city, the employees of the fire department consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city cease employment with the department of the entity listed in subsection (a) and become employees of the consolidated fire department on the effective date of the consolidation. The consolidated city shall assume all agreements with labor organizations that:

(1) are in effect on the effective date of the consolidation; and

(2) apply to employees of the department consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city who become employees of the consolidated fire department.

(e) If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied and the fire department of an entity listed in subsection (a) is consolidated into the fire department of a consolidated city, the indebtedness related to fire protection services incurred before the effective date of the consolidation by the entity or a building, holding, or leasing corporation on behalf of the entity whose fire department is consolidated into the consolidated fire department under subsection (a) shall remain the debt of the entity and does not become and may not be assumed by the consolidated city. Indebtedness related to fire protection services that is incurred by the consolidated city before the effective date of the consolidation shall remain the debt of the consolidated city and property taxes levied to pay the debt may only be levied by the fire special service district.

(f) If the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied and the fire department of an entity listed in subsection (a) is consolidated into the fire department of a consolidated city, the merit board and the merit system of the fire department that is consolidated are dissolved on the effective date of the consolidation, and the duties of the merit board are transferred to and assumed by the merit board for the consolidated fire department on the effective date of the consolidation.

(g) A township legislative body, after approval by the township trustee, may adopt a resolution approving the consolidation of the township's fire department with the fire department of the consolidated city. A township legislative body may adopt a resolution under this subsection only after the township legislative body has held a public hearing concerning the proposed consolidation. The township legislative body shall hold the hearing not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date the resolution is introduced. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with IC 5-14-1.5 and notice of the hearing shall be published in accordance with IC 5-3-1. If the township legislative body has adopted a resolution under this subsection, the township legislative body shall, after approval from the township trustee, forward the resolution to the legislative body of the consolidated city. If such a resolution is forwarded to the legislative body of the consolidated city and the legislative body of the consolidated city adopts an ordinance, approved by the mayor of the consolidated city, approving the consolidation of the fire department of the township into the fire department of the consolidated city, the requirements of this subsection are satisfied. The consolidation shall take effect on the date agreed to by the township legislative body in its resolution and by the legislative body of the consolidated city in its ordinance approving the consolidation.

(h) The following apply if the requirements of subsection (g) are satisfied:

(1) The consolidation of the fire department of that township is effective on the date agreed to by the township legislative body in the resolution and by the legislative body of the consolidated city in its ordinance approving the consolidation.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision, a firefighter:

(A) who is a member of the 1977 fund before the effective date of a consolidation under this section; and

(B) who, after the consolidation, becomes an employee of the fire department of a consolidated city under this section;

remains a member of the 1977 fund without being required to meet the requirements under IC 36-8-8-19 and IC 36-8-8-21. The firefighter shall receive credit for any service as a member of the 1977 fund before the consolidation to determine the firefighter's eligibility for benefits under IC 36-8-8.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision, a firefighter:

(A) who is a member of the 1937 fund before the effective date of a consolidation under this section; and

(B) who, after the consolidation, becomes an employee of the fire department of a consolidated city under this section;

remains a member of the 1937 fund. The firefighter shall receive credit for any service as a member of the 1937 fund before the consolidation to determine the firefighter's eligibility for benefits under IC 36-8-7.

(4) For property taxes first due and payable in the year in which the consolidation is effective, the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy under IC 6-1.1-18.5:

(A) is increased for the consolidated city by an amount equal to the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy in the year preceding the year in which the consolidation is effective for fire protection and related services by the township whose fire department is consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city under this section; and

(B) is reduced for the township whose fire department is consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city under this section by the amount equal to the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy in the year preceding the year in which the consolidation is effective for fire protection and related services for the township.

(5) The amount levied in the year preceding the year in which the consolidation is effective by the township whose fire department is consolidated into the fire department of the consolidated city for the township's cumulative building and equipment fund for fire protection and related services is transferred on the effective date of the consolidation to the consolidated city's cumulative building and equipment fund for fire protection and related services, which is hereby established. The consolidated city is exempted from the requirements of IC 36-8-14 and IC 6-1.1-41 regarding establishment of the cumulative building and equipment fund for fire protection and related services.

(6) The local boards for the 1937 firefighters' pension fund and the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund of the township are dissolved, and their services are terminated not later than the effective date of the consolidation. The duties performed by the local boards under IC 36-8-7 and IC 36-8-8, respectively, are assumed by the consolidated city's local board for the 1937 firefighters' pension fund and local board for the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund, respectively. Notwithstanding any other provision, the legislative body of the consolidated city may adopt an ordinance to adjust the membership of the consolidated city's local board to reflect the consolidation.

(7) The consolidated city may levy property taxes within the consolidated city's maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy limit to provide for the payment of the expenses for the operation of the consolidated fire department. However, property taxes to fund the pension obligation under IC 36-8-7 for members of the 1937 firefighters fund who were employees of the consolidated city at the time of the consolidation may be levied only by the fire special service district within the fire special service district. The fire special service district established under IC 36-3-1-6 may levy property taxes to provide for the payment of expenses for the operation of the consolidated fire department within the territory of the fire special service district. Property taxes to fund the pension obligation under IC 36-8-8 for members of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who were members of the fire department of the consolidated city on the effective date of the consolidation may be levied only by the fire special service district within the fire special service district. Property taxes to fund the pension obligation for members of the 1937 firefighters fund who were not members of the fire department of the consolidated city on the effective date of the consolidation and members of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who were not members of the fire department of the consolidated city on the effective date of the consolidation may be levied by the consolidated city within the city's maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy. However, these taxes may be levied only within the fire special service district and any townships that have consolidated fire departments under this section.

(8) The executive of the consolidated city shall provide for an independent evaluation and performance audit, due before March 1 of the year in which the consolidation is effective and before March 1 in each of the following two (2) years, to determine:

(A) the amount of any cost savings, operational efficiencies, or improved service levels; and

(B) any tax shifts among taxpayers;

that result from the consolidation. The independent evaluation and performance audit must be provided to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 and to the state budget committee.

As added by P.L.227-2005, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.560.