Sec. 17.1. (a) The authority may, after adopting a resolution and after receiving the governor’s approval, determine under IC 8-23-7 that any toll bridge constructed or operated by the authority should become a part of the system of state highways free of tolls or become a tollway under IC 8-15-3.

     (b) A resolution adopted under subsection (a) becomes effective when:

(1) all bonds to which the revenues of the toll bridge were pledged for payment, together with all interest, is paid, or a sufficient amount for the payment of all those bonds and the interest to maturity is set aside in trust for the benefit of bondholders; and

(2) to the extent authorized by the authority as provided in subsection (d), the Indiana interstate bridge fund or any other fund of the state is reimbursed for amounts expended from the fund for the purposes of this chapter, even if those expenditures were not made in connection with the bridge.

     (c) Until a resolution is adopted by the authority under subsection (a) and becomes effective under subsection (b), any toll bridge constructed by the authority or its predecessors remains under the jurisdiction of the authority and the authority shall continue to maintain and operate the toll bridge and levy and collect tolls as provided in this chapter. Subject to any agreement entered into by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States, acting by and through the federal highway administrator, and the state, acting by and through the department, tolls on any project may be continued from the date of the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds issued for the construction of the toll bridge.

     (d) The authority may use revenue received from tolls under subsection (c) to reimburse the Indiana interstate bridge fund or any other state fund for an expenditure made for the purposes of this chapter, whether or not the expenditure was made in connection with the bridge from which the tolls were received. Before reimbursing any fund under this subsection, the authority shall provide for the cost of maintaining, repairing, or operating the toll bridge. If the authority decides to make a reimbursement under this subsection, it shall first fully reimburse all other eligible funds before it may reimburse the interstate bridge fund. After the interstate bridge fund is reimbursed, the authority may transfer revenue received from tolls under subsection (c) to the state for deposit in the state highway fund for use as provided by law.

     (e) If the authority adopts a resolution under subsection (a) that becomes effective under subsection (b), the toll bridge becomes the property of the state without a deed of conveyance, and the bridge comes under the jurisdiction and control of the department as part of the Indiana state highway system or as a tollway, as designated in the resolution.

As added by P.L.386-1987(ss), SEC.15. Amended by P.L.18-1990, SEC.147.