Sec. 6. The task force shall do the following:
(1) Examine recommended standards and best practices for the maintenance and life cycle management of wastewater management systems.
(2) Analyze whether individual wastewater management systems in Indiana are achieving the recommended standards referred to in subdivision (1).
(3) Assess the adequacy of present sources of funding for the maintenance and life cycle management of wastewater management systems and, if necessary, identify additional sources of funding or investment opportunities, including the benefit to customers of wastewater management system:
(A) consolidation; or
(B) regionalization;
that creates an increased customer base and economies of scale to enable increased infrastructure investment.
(4) Evaluate existing policies concerning the regulation of wastewater management systems, and consider whether certain regulation of unregulated wastewater management systems could:
(A) improve system management and performance; and
(B) create a more sustained level of infrastructure investment.
(5) Assess the value that an improved system of wastewater infrastructure would add to economic development in Indiana.
(6) Assess the difficulties in connecting unserved properties to sanitary sewer systems owned or operated by any of the following:
(A) A public utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-1(a)).
(B) A municipality under IC 36-9-23 or IC 36-9-25.
(C) A not-for-profit utility (as defined in IC 8-1-2-125(a)).
(D) A cooperatively owned corporation.
(E) A conservancy district established under IC 14-33.
(F) A regional sewer district established under IC 13-26.
(7) Evaluate available financing options:
(A) to fund the extension of wastewater service to rural or developed underserved areas in Indiana; and
(B) that make the service extension affordable for property owners without placing undue burden on:
(i) the wastewater system operator; or
(ii) other customers of the wastewater system operator.
(8) Evaluate available financing options in connection with wastewater utility acquisitions and related system improvements, including the authorization for an acquiring utility company that provides both water and wastewater service to allocate a portion of the costs of the utility company's wastewater utility property to the utility company's water customers.
(9) Examine:
(A) the roles and responsibilities of state agencies related to wastewater regulation; and
(B) opportunities for coordination and data sharing among those agencies.
(10) Consider the appropriateness of and circumstances for allowing municipalities or municipally owned utilities to sell water or wastewater services outside their corporate boundaries.
(11) Evaluate the priority ranking system used by the Indiana finance authority under IC 5-1.2-10-14.
As added by P.L.154-2021, SEC.1.