HB1206: Voting by small water and wastewater utilities.

Legislative Summary

Voting by small water and wastewater utilities. Amends as follows the statute setting forth the procedures by which certain small water or wastewater utilities may withdraw from and return to the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC): (1) Specifies that a sewage disposal company that is subject to the jurisdiction of the IURC for having been issued more than one enforcement order from the department of environmental management (department) may not seek to withdraw from the IURC's jurisdiction during the rate regulation period prescribed in the statute setting forth various requirements with respect to wastewater utilities that have been issued one or more enforcement orders by the department. (2) Authorizes a member or shareholder of the utility to cast a vote by secret absentee ballot on the question of the IURC's jurisdiction over the utility. (3) Provides that notice of the meeting on the question of the IURC's jurisdiction over the utility must be sent not less than 45 days (instead of 30 days, under current law) before the meeting and must include: (A) instructions regarding how a member or shareholder who wishes to cast a vote by absentee ballot may request an absentee ballot; (B) a statement that a request for an absentee ballot precludes a member or shareholder from voting in person at the meeting held on the question of withdrawal from the IURC's jurisdiction; (C) instructions for returning or delivering an absentee ballot; and (D) the deadline for returning an absentee ballot, which must be: (i) not earlier than 10 calendar days; and (ii) not later than five calendar days; before the meeting on the question, along with information as to when an absentee ballot will be considered received by the board. (4) Provides that the 5% quorum required for members or shareholders to transact business and to take official action regarding the question of the IURC's jurisdiction over the utility includes votes cast by absentee ballot. (5) Provides that if: (A) a utility successfully withdraws from the IURC's jurisdiction; (B) after the withdrawal, a referendum is held on the question of the utility returning to the IURC's jurisdiction; and (C) less than a majority of the votes cast are in favor of returning to the IURC's jurisdiction; another referendum on the question of returning to the IURC's jurisdiction may not be conducted for two years (instead of four years, under current law) following the date of the meeting at which the vote is conducted. (6) Makes conforming changes.