Note: This version of section effective 1-1-2025. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 1-1-2025.

     Sec. 17. (a) An operator that has underground facilities located in Indiana must be a member of the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service or its successor organization. The articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service or its successor organization shall do the following:

(1) Provide that the board of directors of the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service or its successor organization is composed of:

(A) five (5) members representing electric utilities other than municipal electric utilities, including corporations organized or operating under IC 8-1-13 or corporations organized under IC 23-17, some of whose members are local district corporations (as described in IC 8-1-13-23);

(B) five (5) members representing investor owned gas utilities, including pipelines;

(C) five (5) members representing communications service providers, at least one (1) of whom is a provider of cable television service;

(D) five (5) members representing water or sewer utilities other than municipal water or sewer utilities; and

(E) five (5) members representing political subdivisions, including municipal utilities, which must include a member representing the largest waterworks utility in Indiana that is owned by:

(i) a political subdivision; or

(ii) a department of public utilities created by IC 8-1-11.1.

(2) Require the affirmative vote of at least sixty percent (60%) of each category of members appointed under subdivision (1) to approve an increase, a decrease, or any other adjustment to the membership dues, rates, tariffs, locate fees, or any other charges imposed by the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service or its successor organization.

     (b) The association shall provide for mutual receipt of:

(1) notices of excavation or demolition operations under section 16 of this chapter; and

(2) design information notices under section 16.5 of this chapter.

     (c) The association shall:

(1) annually update the association’s base map data, including street addresses; and

(2) make reasonable efforts to reduce incorrect locate requests issued to the association’s members.

     (d) The association shall develop and implement guidelines to provide notice to an operator under section 16 or 16.5 of this chapter at the prevailing time the association receives notice from the person responsible for an excavation or demolition.

     (e) The association shall develop and adopt policies and procedures for processing design information notices under section 16.5 of this chapter. The policies and procedures adopted under this subsection must require the association to do the following upon receiving a design information notice under section 16.5 of this chapter:

(1) Immediately provide notice to each member operator that has underground facilities located in the project area that will be affected by the proposed excavation or demolition, in accordance with section 16.5(c) of this chapter.

(2) Immediately provide the person serving the design information notice a list of the identified operators receiving the notice under subdivision (1), in accordance with section 16.5(c) of this chapter.

As added by P.L.69-1990, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.114-2003, SEC.4; P.L.62-2009, SEC.14; P.L.200-2014, SEC.4; P.L.122-2017, SEC.5; P.L.53-2024, SEC.7.