A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Indiana Air Quality Improvement Act

This act allows towns, cities, or counties to create local air pollution control agencies that can work with and get help from the state's environmental department.

What This Bill Does

• Allows towns, cities, or counties to set up an agency to handle air quality issues locally.
• Requires the state’s Department of Environmental Management to make a contract with these local agencies if they want one.
• The contract must include help from the state in advising and providing technical support for the local agency.
• Local agencies can do tasks like enforcing rules about air pollution and getting money from the state to cover their costs.

Who It Names or Affects

• Towns, cities, or counties that want to create a local air pollution control agency.
• The Department of Environmental Management in Indiana.
• Local agencies working on air quality issues.

Terms To Know

Department of Environmental Management

A state agency responsible for managing and protecting the environment, including air quality.

Consumer Price Index

A measure that tracks changes in prices paid by consumers for goods and services over time.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money local agencies will receive.
• It is unclear which towns, cities, or counties might choose to create these local air pollution control agencies.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.
Air quality.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning environmental law.

Air quality.

Authorizes a town, city, or county to establish or designate an agency to act for the town, city, or county as a local air pollution control agency (agency). Requires the commissioner of the department of environmental management (department) to enter into a contract with the agency of a town, city, or county if the agency is willing to enter into the contract. Provides that a contract between the department and the agency of a town, city, or county must: (1) require the department to advise, consult, cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to the agency; (2) authorize the agency to undertake air pollution control activities on behalf of the department or initiate enforcement of ordinances of the town, city, or county; and (3) provide for the payment of fair monetary compensation for the air pollution control activities performed by the agency. Provides that: (1) the compensation paid to an agency under a contract must be at least sufficient to cover the agency's staffing and operating costs; and (2) the rate of compensation must be adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.