Citizen solid waste management advisory committee; membership; functions

Sec. 11. (a) The board of each district shall appoint and convene a solid waste management advisory committee of citizens not later than thirty (30) days after the board has been established. The committee must include the following: (1) Representatives of the solid waste management industry operating in the district. (2) Representatives of the environmental community and other citizens who are: (A) knowledgeable about and interested in environmental issues; and (B) not employed directly or indirectly by the solid waste management industry. (b) At least fifty percent (50%) of the members of an advisory committee must be made up of the representatives of the environmental community and other citizens. All members of the committee must be residents of the district. (c) In the resolution establishing an advisory committee, the board shall specify the terms of the members and the purposes of the committee. Each advisory committee shall do the following: (1) Study the subjects and problems specified by the board and recommend to the board additional problems in need of study and discussion. (2) If invited by the board to do so, participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the board. (d) An advisory committee shall report only to the board. Reports of the committee must: (1) accompany a final district plan when the plan is submitted to the commissioner under IC 13-21-5; and (2) be made available to members of the public. (e) An advisory committee may choose to study and report on matters that are not specified by the board if the committee determines a study is warranted. (f) An advisory committee and board shall conduct at least two (2) joint meetings each year to discuss current and future issues. The advisory committee shall submit into the record at the next meeting of the board advice on the topics discussed at the joint meeting. (g) An advisory committee shall do the following: (1) Meet after the first publication of the district's proposed annual budget. (2) Submit written comments concerning the proposed budget at a public hearing that is held to review the proposed budget.