Creation; purpose; membership; appointment; term; qualifications; vacancies; per diem and expenses; tax exempt property of commission

Sec. 5. (a) The Indiana political subdivision risk management commission is created as a separate body corporate and politic, constituting an instrumentality of the state for the public purposes set out in this chapter, but not a state agency. The commission is separate from the state in its corporate and sovereign capacity. The purpose of the commission is aiding political subdivisions in protecting themselves against liabilities. The commission is not subject to IC 27-6-8, and the Indiana guaranty association created by IC 27-6-8-5 has no obligation to insureds or claimants of the commission. (b) The commission consists of the insurance commissioner, who shall serve as chairman, and nine (9) other commission members. Except for the insurance commissioner, the members of the commission shall be appointed by the governor for a term of four (4) years. No more than five (5) commission members appointed by the governor under this section may be members of the same political party. The commission members appointed by the governor under this section must include one (1) resident of each congressional district in Indiana. The commission shall elect one (1) of the appointed commission members as secretary of the commission. (c) A commission member may be reappointed to the commission. (d) In appointing commission members under this section, the governor shall consider the qualifications, expertise, and background that would provide the proper talent to administer this chapter. To the degree possible, the members must have backgrounds in educational administration, risk management, and governance of a political subdivision and must include persons with knowledge of insurance matters. (e) A vacancy occurring on the commission shall be filled through the appointment of a resident of the same congressional district as the vacating commission member for the unexpired term of the commission member leaving the commission. (f) Each member of the commission who is not a state employee is entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). Such a commission member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties, as provided in the state travel policies and procedures established by the department of administration and approved by the state budget agency. (g) Each member of the commission who is a state employee is entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the commission member's duties, as provided in the state travel policies and procedures established by the department of administration and approved by the state budget agency. (h) All property of the commission is public property devoted to an essential public and governmental function and purpose and is exempt from all taxes and special assessments of the state or a political subdivision of the state. (i) The term of a member of the commission expires upon the expiration of this chapter under section 29 of this chapter.