Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1424
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 36-8-17-7.5.
Synopsis: Law enforcement powers of fire investigators. Allows a fire
investigator who is a member of a fire department that provides service
to a first or second class city (city) to exercise police powers for the city
if the city police chief and county sheriff receive written notification
from the chief of the city fire department or the fire department
providing service to the city. (Under current law, a fire investigator
must be a member of the city fire department and must be authorized
to exercise police powers in the city by the chiefs of the city police
department and fire department.)
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Mayfield
January 16, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public
Safety.
2024 IN 1424—LS 6688/DI 87 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1424
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
government.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 36-8-17-7.5, AS ADDED BY P.L.90-2017,
2 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 7.5. (a) As used in this section, "city" means a
4 first or second class city.
5 (b) As used in this section, "fire investigator" means a fire
6 investigator who serves a city as a member of:
7 (1) the city fire department; or
8 (2) a fire department that provides service to the city.
9 (a) (c) As used in this section, "police powers" means the power to:
10 (1) make an arrest;
11 (2) conduct a search or seizure of a person or property; or
12 (3) carry a firearm.
13 (b) (d) A fire investigator of a first class or second class city may
14 exercise police powers for a city if the fire investigator meets all of the
15 following requirements:
16 (1) The fire investigator has been authorized to exercise police
17 powers by the:
2024 IN 1424—LS 6688/DI 87 2
1 (A) police chief; and (B) fire chief; of the first class or second
2 class city. The fire chief of the city fire department or the fire
3 department that provides service to the city has provided
4 written notification to:
5 (A) the city police chief; and
6 (B) the sheriff of each county in which the city is located;
7 that the fire investigator is authorized by the fire chief to
8 exercise police powers.
9 (2) The fire investigator has successfully completed the pre-basic
10 training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f).
11 (3) The fire investigator has successfully completed the minimum
12 basic training and educational requirements adopted by the law
13 enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9 as necessary for
14 employment as a law enforcement officer.
2024 IN 1424—LS 6688/DI 87