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First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1292
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 36-7-41 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]:
Chapter 41. Professional Sports Development in Northwest
Indiana
Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the
northwest Indiana professional sports development commission
established by section 2 of this chapter.
(b) As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the local
professional sports development fund created by section 13 of this
chapter.
(c) As used in this chapter, "professional sports franchise"
refers to a club, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership,
limited liability company, association, or other legal entity
operating a professional sports team that belongs to one (1) of the
following:
(1) A professional football league established before 1930.
(2) A professional baseball league established before 1910.
(3) An association of professional basketball teams established
before 1960.
(4) A North American hockey league that has had at least one
(1) franchise in the United States since 1924.
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(5) A professional soccer league established in 1993.
Sec. 2. The northwest Indiana professional sports development
commission is established.
Sec. 3. (a) The commission consists of the following seventeen
(17) members:
(1) The mayor of East Chicago.
(2) The mayor of Gary.
(3) The mayor of Hammond.
(4) The mayor of Michigan City.
(5) The mayor of LaPorte.
(6) The mayor of Portage.
(7) The mayor of South Bend.
(8) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (b).
(9) Four (4) members appointed under subsection (c).
(10) One (1) member appointed by the executive director of
the northwest Indiana regional development authority.
(11) One (1) member appointed by the governor to represent
the Indiana economic development corporation.
(b) The board of county commissioners for each of the following
counties shall appoint to the commission one (1) member from
among the board's membership:
(1) Lake County.
(2) Porter County.
(3) LaPorte County.
(4) St. Joseph County.
(c) The county council for each of the following counties shall
appoint to the commission one (1) member from among the
council's membership:
(1) Lake County.
(2) Porter County.
(3) LaPorte County.
(4) St. Joseph County.
Sec. 4. A member of the commission may designate an
individual to serve on the commission in the member's place.
Sec. 5. (a) The term of each member is two (2) years and ends
June 30 of an odd-numbered year.
(b) A member may be reappointed.
Sec. 6. A vacancy occurring in the membership of the
commission shall be filled by the appointing authority to serve the
remainder of the term.
Sec. 7. (a) A quorum of the commission must be present to
conduct the commission's business. A quorum consists of nine (9)
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members of the commission.
(b) The affirmative votes of nine (9) members of the commission
are required for the commission to take action on any measure.
Sec. 8. (a) The commission shall hold its initial meeting before
September 1, 2025, at the call of the member appointed under
section 3(a)(10) of this chapter.
(b) The commission shall elect the following officers from
among the members of the commission:
(1) A chairperson.
(2) A vice chairperson.
(3) A treasurer.
(c) The term of each officer elected under subsection (b):
(1) is one (1) year; and
(2) ends on June 30.
(d) An officer may be reelected.
Sec. 9. The commission shall fix the time for regular meetings.
Sec. 10. The commission may do the following:
(1) Study various plans and recommendations that are
proposed with respect to attracting one (1) or more
professional sports franchises to northwest Indiana.
(2) Prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the
facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and
developing professional sports franchises in northwest
Indiana.
(3) Coordinate the implementation of the comprehensive
master plan.
(4) Monitor the progress of implementation of the
comprehensive master plan.
(5) Report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
Indiana economic development corporation, the legislative
council, and the budget committee on:
(A) the activities of the commission; and
(B) the progress of implementation of the comprehensive
master plan.
A report provided under this subdivision to the legislative
council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
Sec. 11. When necessary to accomplish the purposes of the
commission, the commission may do the following:
(1) Conduct studies necessary for the performance of the
commission's duties.
(2) Publicize, advertise, and distribute reports on the
commission's purposes, objectives, and findings.
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(3) Provide recommendations in matters related to the
commission's functions and objectives to the following:
(A) The governor and, in an electronic format under
IC 5-14-6, the general assembly.
(B) Political subdivisions that have territory within
northwest Indiana.
(C) Other public and private agencies.
(4) When requested, act as a coordinating agency for
programs and activities of other public and private agencies
that are related to the commission's objectives.
(5) Receive grants and appropriations from the following:
(A) Federal, state, and local governments.
(B) Individuals.
(C) Foundations.
(D) Other organizations.
(6) Enter into agreements or contracts regarding the
acceptance or use of these grants and appropriations for the
purpose of carrying out the commission's activities under this
chapter.
(7) Acquire and dispose of real or personal property by grant,
gift, purchase, lease, devise, or otherwise.
(8) Hold, use, improve, maintain, operate, own, manage, or
lease as lessor or lessee:
(A) real or personal property; or
(B) any interest in real or personal property.
(9) Contract for staff services with qualified agencies or
individuals.
Sec. 12. (a) After approval of the budget by the commission,
money may be expended only as budgeted, unless a majority vote
of the commission authorizes other expenditures.
(b) The treasurer of the commission is responsible for the
safekeeping and deposit of money the commission receives under
this chapter. The state board of accounts shall:
(1) prescribe the methods and forms for keeping; and
(2) periodically audit;
the accounts, records, and books of the commission.
(c) The treasurer of the commission may receive, disburse, and
handle money belonging to the commission, subject to the
following:
(1) Applicable statutes.
(2) Procedures established by the commission.
Sec. 13. (a) The local professional sports development fund is
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created. The commission may make expenditures from the fund
only to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The fund consists of the following:
(1) Grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the
fund.
(2) Interest that accrues from money in the fund.
(3) Money from any other source deposited in the fund.
(c) The commission shall do the following:
(1) Hold the fund in the name of the commission.
(2) Administer the fund.
(3) Make all expenditures from the fund.
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Speaker of the House of Representatives
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
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