Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 351
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 36-10-3-4.
Synopsis: Third class city parks and recreation board. Allows a
resident of the library district to be appointed to the parks and
recreation board of a third class city.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Gaskill
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
2025 IN 351—LS 6919/DI 87 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 351
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 36-10-3-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.75-2019,
2 SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. (a) This subsection applies only in a third class
4 city. A city board consists of four (4) members to be appointed by the
5 city executive. The members shall be appointed on the basis of their
6 interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation. In addition, the
7 creating ordinance may provide for one (1) or two (2) additional
8 members, those being:
9 (1) either: a member selected by the governing body of the
10 school corporation who is:
11 (A) a member of the governing body of the school corporation,
12 serving ex officio; selected by the governing body of the
13 school corporation; or
14 (B) an individual who resides in the school corporation;
15 selected by the governing body of the school corporation;
16 (2) a member selected by the governing body of the library
17 district who is:
2025 IN 351—LS 6919/DI 87 2
1 (A) a member of the governing body of the library district,
2 serving ex officio; selected by that body; or
3 (B) an individual who resides in the library district; or
4 (3) individuals under both subdivisions (1) and (2).
5 (b) This subsection applies in a county containing a consolidated
6 city and in a second class city. A city board consists of four (4)
7 members to be appointed by the city executive. The members shall be
8 appointed on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and
9 recreation, but no more than two (2) members may be affiliated with
10 the same political party. In addition, the creating ordinance may
11 provide for one (1) or two (2) additional members, those being:
12 (1) either:
13 (A) a member of the governing body of the school corporation,
14 serving ex officio, selected by the governing body of the
15 school corporation; or
16 (B) an individual who resides in the school corporation,
17 selected by the governing body of the school corporation;
18 (2) a member of the governing body of the library district, serving
19 ex officio, selected by that body; or
20 (3) individuals described in both subdivisions (1) and (2).
21 (c) A town board consists of four (4) members to be appointed by
22 the town legislative body. The members shall be appointed on the basis
23 of their interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation. Except as
24 provided in section 4.1 of this chapter, not more than two (2) members
25 may be affiliated with the same political party. Members of the board
26 must be residents of the district. In addition, the creating ordinance
27 may provide for one (1) or two (2) additional members, those being:
28 (1) a member:
29 (A) of the governing body of the school corporation, serving
30 ex officio, selected by that body; or
31 (B) designated by the governing body of the school
32 corporation;
33 (2) a member of the governing body of the library district, serving
34 ex officio, selected by that body; or
35 (3) both subdivisions (1) and (2).
36 (d) A county board shall be appointed as follows:
37 (1) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the judge of the
38 circuit court.
39 (2) One (1) member shall be appointed by the county executive.
40 (3) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the county fiscal
41 body.
42 The members appointed under subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) shall be
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1 appointed on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and
2 recreation, but no more than one (1) member appointed under
3 subdivisions (1) and (3) may be affiliated with the same political party.
4 In a county having at least one (1) first or second class city, the creating
5 ordinance must provide for one (1) ex officio board member to be
6 appointed by the executive of that city. The member appointed by the
7 city executive must be affiliated with a different political party than the
8 member appointed by the county executive. However, if a county has
9 more than one (1) such city, the executives of those cities shall agree
10 on the member. The member serves for a term coterminous with the
11 term of the appointing executive or executives.
12 (e) Ex officio members have all the rights of regular members,
13 including the right to vote. A vacancy in an ex officio position shall be
14 filled by the appointing authority. All members serving on a county,
15 city, or town board have the same rights, including the right to vote. A
16 vacancy in the seat of a member shall be filled by the appointing
17 authority.
18 (f) A municipal executive, a member of a county fiscal body, a
19 member of the county executive, or a member of the municipal fiscal
20 body may not serve on a board.
21 (g) The creating ordinance in any county may provide for:
22 (1) the county cooperative extension coordinator;
23 (2) the county extension educator; or
24 (3) a member of the county extension committee selected by the
25 committee;
26 to serve as an ex officio member of the county board, in addition to the
27 members provided for under subsection (d).
28 (h) The creating ordinance in a county having no first or second
29 class cities may provide for a member of the county board to be
30 selected by the board of supervisors of a soil and water conservation
31 district in which a facility of the county board is located. The member
32 selected under this subsection is in addition to the members provided
33 for under subsections (d) and (g).
2025 IN 351—LS 6919/DI 87