Bill Text: IN SB0063 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Suspension of local officeholders from office.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-28 - First reading: referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform [SB0063 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-SB0063-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 5-8-1-35; IC 5-8-7; IC 35-44-1-8.
Synopsis: Suspension of local officeholders from office. Provides that
a local elected officeholder may be suspended from office if the
officeholder is charged with certain felonies or misdemeanors and a
two-thirds majority of the legislative body finds that the offense with
which the local elected official is charged is relevant to the official's
suitability for office and it is in the best interests of the unit that the
official be suspended from office. Specifies that the local elected
official will be reinstated with back pay if the official is acquitted or
charges are dropped. Provides that a local elected official who, without
a valid reason, knowingly or intentionally fails to perform the official's
duties on ten or more days during a calendar month commits
dereliction of duty, a Class D felony. Repeals an obsolete provision
concerning impeachment.
Effective: July 1, 2011.
January 5, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative
Procedure.
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
government.
Chapter 7. Suspension of Local Officeholders
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible offense" means:
(1) a felony under IC 35;
(2) a felony under IC 9-30-5;
(3) a felony concerning an election under IC 3; or
(4) a misdemeanor involving a breach of the peace that is committed while the local official is performing the official's official duties.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "legislative body" has the meaning set forth in IC 36-1-2-9.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "local elected official" means an elected official of a unit who is not a judge or a prosecuting attorney subject to discipline by the supreme court.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "unit" has the meaning set forth
in IC 36-1-2-23.
Sec. 5. A local elected official may be suspended from office as
described in this chapter if the official is charged with an eligible
offense.
Sec. 6. If:
(1) a prosecuting attorney charges a local elected official with
an eligible offense; and
(2) a court finds probable cause to believe that the offense has
been committed;
the prosecuting attorney shall notify the legislative body of the
appropriate unit.
Sec. 7. (a) If the appropriate legislative body adopts a resolution
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all of the members of the legislative
body finding that:
(1) the eligible offense with which the local elected official is
charged is relevant to the official's suitability for office; and
(2) it is in the best interests of the unit that the local elected
official be suspended from office;
the local elected official shall be suspended from office until the
official is convicted or acquitted, charges against the official are
dropped, or the end of the official's term of office.
(b) If the local elected official charged with the eligible offense
is a member of the legislative body of a unit, the local elected
official is ineligible to vote on the resolution described in subsection
(a).
(c) If the number of local elected officials who are members of
the legislative body of a unit charged with an eligible offense
results in the legislative body of the unit being unable to reach a
quorum or adopt a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all of the
members of the unit, the resolution may be adopted by a majority
of the voting members.
Sec. 8. (a) A local elected official who is suspended from office
under this chapter shall not act in the official's official capacity and
is not entitled to receive any salary or remuneration as a local
elected official during the suspension period.
(b) A local elected official who is suspended from office under
this chapter is entitled to continue to receive any health benefits the
local elected official would have been entitled to receive if the local
elected official had not been suspended.
Sec. 9. (a) This section does not apply if a legislative body
suspends a local elected official who is a member of the legislative
body.
(b) If a legislative body suspends a local elected official under section 7 of this chapter, the legislative body shall ensure that the duties of the suspended local elected official are carried out and may appoint an acting replacement for the suspended local elected official.
Sec. 10. If a local elected official suspended under section 7 of this chapter is convicted of an eligible offense, the local elected official shall be removed from office in accordance with IC 5-8-1-38.
Sec. 11. (a) If:
(1) a local elected official suspended under section 7 of this chapter is:
(A) acquitted; or
(B) charges are dropped;
(2) a local elected official was charged with a felony but is convicted only of a misdemeanor; or
(3) a local elected official was charged with a misdemeanor involving a breach of the peace that is committed while the local official is performing the official's official duties but is convicted only of a misdemeanor that does not involve a breach of the peace;
the official is reinstated in office by operation of law if the term of the official has not expired.
(b) If a local elected official suspended under section 7 of this chapter is acquitted or charges are dropped, the local elected official is entitled to back pay for the suspension period.
(c) If a local elected official suspended under section 7 of this chapter is convicted only of a misdemeanor as described in subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3), the legislative body may award full or partial back pay to the official, if the legislative body adopts a resolution finding that:
(1) the misdemeanor of which the local elected official is convicted does not reflect upon the official's suitability for office; and
(2) fairness and the best interests of the unit require that the local elected official be awarded back pay.
A local elected official who is convicted of a misdemeanor is not entitled to vote to award back pay under this subsection.
(b) A local elected official who:
(1) without being on medical, vacation, military, or other leave; or
(2) while not traveling on official business;
knowingly or intentionally fails to perform the official's duties for ten (10) or more days in any calendar month commits dereliction of duty, a Class D felony.
(c) In determining whether a local elected official has failed to perform the official's duties, the trier of fact may consider whether the official was absent from the official's assigned workplace.
(1) The faithful compliance of the municipal fiscal officer with this chapter.
(2) The faithful accounting for all money coming into the municipal fiscal officer's possession under the Barrett Law.
(b) A municipal fiscal officer who does any of the following is personally liable to a person suffering loss due to that action and may be
(1) Fails to collect the interest or penalties provided for by this chapter on delinquent assessments and installments of assessments.
(2) Fails to enforce the collection of the assessments by the sale of the property. However, this subdivision does not apply to a municipal fiscal officer of a municipality that has adopted an ordinance under section 24(a) of this chapter.
(3) Otherwise fails to comply with this chapter.
(c) The surety on the municipal fiscal officer's bond is also liable to the extent of the bond.