CHAPTER 2. SOIL CONSERVATION BOARD
IC 14-32-2
Chapter 2. Soil Conservation Board
IC 14-32-2-1
Establishment
Sec. 1. The soil conservation board is established within theIndiana state department of agriculture established by IC 15-11-2-1as the policy making body for soil and water conservation.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.218;P.L.175-2006, SEC.4; P.L.2-2008, SEC.33; P.L.120-2008, SEC.11.
IC 14-32-2-2
Members
Sec. 2. The board consists of the following seven (7) members:
(1) Four (4) members who must be land occupiers with farminginterests, appointed by the governor.
(2) Three (3) members who must be land occupiers withnonfarming interests, appointed by the governor.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997, SEC.9;P.L.1-2006, SEC.219; P.L.175-2006, SEC.5.
IC 14-32-2-3
Qualifications of members
Sec. 3. (a) A majority of the seven (7) appointed members of theboard must have experience as district supervisors.
(b) In making appointments to the board, the governor may inviteand consider the recommendations of the following:
(1) The Purdue University cooperative extension service.
(2) The Indiana state department of agriculture.
(3) The Indiana Association of Soil and Water ConservationDistricts.
(c) All appointments to the board shall be made without regard topolitical affiliation.
(d) The members appointed to the board under section 2(1) and2(2) of this chapter must be residents of at least four (4) differentgeographic regions of Indiana.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.10; P.L.1-2006, SEC.220; P.L.175-2006, SEC.6; P.L.120-2008,SEC.12.
IC 14-32-2-4
Term for members
Sec. 4. The term of an appointed member of the board is four (4)years. An appointed member shall serve until a successor isappointed and has qualified. The terms shall be staggered so that atleast three (3) members are appointed every two (2) years.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.11; P.L.175-2006, SEC.7.
IC 14-32-2-5 Travel expenses and per diem salary
Sec. 5. The appointed members of the board are entitled to thefollowing:
(1) Reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, and otherexpenses as provided in the state travel policies and proceduresestablished by the Indiana department of administration andapproved by the budget agency.
(2) The minimum salary per diem as provided inIC 4-10-11-2.1(b) for each day that the members are engaged inthe official business of the board.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-2-6
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.136-1997, SEC.43.)
IC 14-32-2-7
Appointment of advisory members
Sec. 7. (a) The governor may appoint advisory members fromother organizations that promote conservation, including local, state,and federal agencies upon the recommendation of the board.
(b) The governor shall appoint members to the advisory board thatrepresent the following:
(1) The Indiana state department of agriculture.
(2) The department of natural resources.
(3) The department of environmental management.
(4) The Purdue University cooperative extension service.
(5) The Indiana Association of Soil and Water ConservationDistricts.
(6) The Farm Service Agency of the United States Departmentof Agriculture.
(7) The Natural Resources Conservation Service of the UnitedStates Department of Agriculture.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.175-2006, SEC.8;P.L.120-2008, SEC.13.
IC 14-32-2-8
Election of chairman of the board
Sec. 8. (a) The members of the board shall elect a member as thechairman of the board.
(b) The director of the division of soil conservation establishedwithin the Indiana state department of agriculture by IC 15-11-4-1 isthe secretary of the board.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.12; P.L.1-2006, SEC.221; P.L.2-2008, SEC.34; P.L.120-2008,SEC.14.
IC 14-32-2-9
Quorum
Sec. 9. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a
quorum. The concurrence of a majority of the members is requiredfor the board to take any action.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-2-10
Delegation of powers and duties
Sec. 10. The board may delegate the powers and duties that theboard considers proper to:
(1) the chairman of the board;
(2) any of the members of the board; or
(3) the division of soil conservation.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-2-11
Attorney general providing legal services
Sec. 11. (a) The board may call upon the attorney general for thelegal services that the board requires.
(b) For the purpose of carrying out any of the board's functions,the supervising officers of a state agency or of a state educationalinstitution shall, upon request of the board, do the following:
(1) Assign or detail to the board any personnel of the agency oreducational institution, taking into account availableappropriations and the needs of the entity to which the requestis directed.
(2) Make the special reports, surveys, or studies that the boardrequests.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.13.
IC 14-32-2-12
Duties of board
Sec. 12. The board shall do the following:
(1) Provide for the execution of surety bonds for all boardemployees and officers who are entrusted with money orproperty.
(2) Provide for the keeping of a full and accurate record of allboard proceedings and of all resolutions and rules the boardissues or adopts. The accounts of receipts and disbursements aresubject to examination by the state board of accounts.
(3) Offer appropriate assistance to the supervisors of soil andwater conservation districts to carry out district powers andprograms.
(4) Keep the supervisors of districts informed of the activitiesand experience of all other districts and facilitate cooperationand an interchange of advice and experience among districts.
(5) Coordinate the programs of the districts as far as this may bedone by advice and consultation.
(6) Secure the cooperation and assistance of the United Statesand state agencies in the work of the districts. However, thissubdivision does not authorize either of the following: (A) The transfer or control of authority over districts to afederal agency.
(B) The transfer of title of land or control to the UnitedStates.
(7) Disseminate information throughout Indiana concerning theactivities and programs of the districts and encourage theformation of districts in areas where organization is desirable.
(8) Coordinate the erosion and sediment part of 33 U.S.C. 1288(Public Law 92-500, Section 208) and other erosion andsediment reduction programs that affect water quality, incooperation with state and federal agencies and through districtsas provided under IC 14-32-5-1.
(9) Develop a statewide regulatory program to be initiated afterall reasonable voluntary approaches to erosion and sedimentreduction have been exhausted.
(10) Conduct an inventory of conservation needs for planningpurposes and to inform the general assembly.
(11) Hold meetings in locations throughout Indiana.
(12) Adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.14; P.L.175-2006, SEC.9.
IC 14-32-2-13
Public hearings
Sec. 13. The board may perform the acts and hold the publichearings that are necessary for the execution of the board's functionsunder this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.