Sec. 3. (a) The members of the commission shall meet and organize the commission. The commission may, subject to the approval of the governor, appoint a secretary of the commission.

     (b) The salaries of the members and secretary of the commission shall be fixed by the governor, subject to the approval of the budget agency; however, the salaries of the chairman and the members shall not be less than the following annual minimum amounts:

(1) For the chairman, sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000).

(2) For the members, sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) each.

     (c) The commission may appoint one (1) or more administrative law judges who shall be responsible to and serve at the will and pleasure of the commission. While serving, the administrative law judges shall devote full time to the duties of the commission and shall not be actively engaged in any other occupation, profession, or business that constitutes a conflict of interest or otherwise interferes with carrying out their duties as administrative law judges. The salary of each administrative law judge shall be fixed by the commission subject to the approval of the budget agency but may not be less than the following annual amounts:

(1) For the chief administrative law judge, forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000).

(2) For all other administrative law judges, forty thousand dollars ($40,000).

     (d) A majority of the commission members shall constitute a quorum.

     (e) On order of the commission any one (1) member of the commission, or an administrative law judge, may conduct a hearing or an investigation, and take evidence in the hearing or investigation, and report on the hearing or investigation to the commission for the commission’s consideration and action; however, a hearing concerning a request for a general increase in the basic rates and charges of a utility in an amount exceeding twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) may only be conducted by one (1) or more commission members.

     (f) Each member of the commission shall give bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the faithful performance of the member’s duties. Such bond shall be filed with the secretary of state.

     (g) The commission shall formulate rules necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter, and shall perform the duties imposed by law upon it.

     (h) The commission may:

(1) employ, with the approval of the governor and the state budget agency, sufficient professional staff, including specialists, technicians, and analysts, who are exempt from the job classifications and compensation schedules established under IC 4-15; and

(2) purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire for the commission’s internal use sufficient technical equipment necessary for the commission to carry out its statutory duties.

Formerly: Acts 1941, c.101, s.3; Acts 1943, c.211, s.1; Acts 1963, c.326, s.2. As amended by Acts 1979, P.L.84, SEC.1; P.L.43-1983, SEC.4; P.L.23-1988, SEC.13; P.L.92-1993, SEC.1; P.L.136-2018, SEC.43.