Indiana-Ireland trade commission., the official text

First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)

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  HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1489

   AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and
administration.

   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

   SECTION 1. IC 4-3-28.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
UPON PASSAGE]:

   Chapter 28.5. Indiana-Ireland Trade Commission
   Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the
Indiana-Ireland trade commission established by section 2 of this
chapter.
   Sec. 2. The Indiana-Ireland trade commission is established as
a temporary commission under the executive branch of state
government to:

      (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between Indiana
      and Ireland;
      (2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to
      Indiana and Ireland;
      (3) promote business and academic exchanges between
      Indiana and Ireland;
      (4) encourage mutual economic support between Indiana and
      Ireland;
      (5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of
      Indiana and Ireland; and
      (6) address such other issues as determined by the

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      commission.
   Sec. 3. The governor's office shall provide staff support to the
commission.
   Sec. 4. (a) The commission consists of the following thirteen (13)
members:

      (1) Nine (9) members, all of whom are voting members,
      appointed by the governor and subject to the following
      requirements:

         (A) At least one (1) member must be a member of the
         Indiana chamber of commerce.
         (B) At least one (1) member must be a representative of an
         institution of higher education located in Indiana.
         (C) At least two (2) members must be members of the
         public who represent Irish American communities or
         interests.
         (D) At least two (2) members must have civic experience in
         either public service or leading an organization
         representing Irish Americans.
      Not more than two (2) members appointed under clauses (C)
      and (D) may be members of the same political party as the
      governor. A member appointed under this subdivision may
      not be a member of the general assembly.
      (2) Four (4) legislative members, all of whom are nonvoting
      advisory members, appointed as follows:
         (A) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the
         president pro tempore of the senate.
         (B) One (1) member of the house of representatives
         appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
         (C) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the
         minority leader of the senate.
         (D) One (1) member of the house of representatives
         appointed by the minority leader of the house of
         representatives.
      Each legislative member appointed under this subdivision
      must have knowledge of or current or past involvement in
      organizations that promote Irish affairs or must have interest
      in the well-being of trade relations between Indiana and
      Ireland.
   (b) A member of the commission serves for a four (4) year term
that ends on June 30 of an odd-numbered year. A member serves
at the will of the appointing authority. However, if a legislative
member of the commission ceases being a member of the body

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from which the member was appointed, the member's position on
the commission is vacant and shall be filled in accordance with
subsection (c).

   (c) If a vacancy exists on the commission, the appointing
authority who appointed the member whose position has become
vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy. An individual
appointed to fill a vacancy serves on the commission for the
remainder of the unexpired term of the individual's predecessor.

   Sec. 5. (a) The governor shall call the first meeting of the
commission before July 1, 2025. At the first meeting, the voting
members appointed to the commission shall select a voting member
to serve as chairperson of the commission. The chairperson serves
a two (2) year term ending on June 30 of an odd-numbered year.
The chairperson is eligible for reappointment.

   (b) After selecting the chairperson at the first meeting held
under subsection (a), the commission shall meet at the call of the
chairperson and must meet at least three (3) times in each calendar
year.

   (c) The chairperson may create subcommittees composed of the
members of the commission.

   Sec. 6. (a) A majority of all members appointed to the
commission constitutes a quorum.

   (b) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
appointed to the commission are required for the commission to
take action on any measure.

   Sec. 7. A member's service on the commission is voluntary, and
a member of the commission is not entitled to:

      (1) the minimum salary per diem provided by
      IC 4-10-11-2.1(b); or
      (2) reimbursement for mileage, traveling expenses under
      IC 4-13-1-4, and other expenses actually incurred in
      connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
      policies and procedures established by the Indiana
      department of administration and approved by the budget
      agency.
   Sec. 8. All meetings of the commission are open to the public in
accordance with and subject to IC 5-14-1.5. All records of the
commission are subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-3.
   Sec. 9. The commission may accept gifts, grants, and bequests
from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental
agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions.
   Sec. 10. (a) The commission may:

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      (1) expend money received under section 9 of this chapter to
      defray the commission's expenses; and
      (2) perform any action necessary to carry out its purposes
      under this chapter.
   (b) Expenditures under this section must be approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the
commission.
   (c) The commission shall:
      (1) keep accurate accounts of all commission income and
      expenditures in the manner prescribed by the state board of
      accounts; and
      (2) submit an accounting of the income and expenditures for
      the previous state fiscal year to the department of local
      government finance before September 1 of each year.
   Sec. 11. The department of local government finance shall
ensure that each accounting received under section 10 of this
chapter is accessible through the computer gateway administered
by the office of technology.
   Sec. 12. Before January 1, 2026, and before January 1 of each
year thereafter, the commission shall annually report its activities
to the governor and to the general assembly. The report must
include any recommendations necessary to carry out the
commission's purposes under this chapter. The report to the
general assembly must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
   Sec. 13. This chapter expires June 30, 2029.
   SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.

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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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