Sec. 7. The task force shall develop a long term plan for addressing wastewater needs in Indiana. The long term plan must include recommendations to the general assembly and the governor concerning the following:
(1) Outcomes that must be achieved in order to overcome challenges facing Indiana's local wastewater infrastructure, and the benchmarks and timelines that must be met in order to achieve these outcomes.
(2) Metrics to be used in assessing the current status of wastewater management systems and in tracking the progress made toward accomplishing all goals, benchmarks, and recommended standards.
(3) Funding and financing mechanisms that should be used to achieve necessary improvements in wastewater management systems, including the appropriate level of regulatory oversight to ensure that proper investment in wastewater infrastructure assets occurs on a regular and sustained life cycle.
(4) A determination of who should bear the financial burden of:
(A) improving wastewater management systems; and
(B) providing wastewater service to underserved areas in Indiana;
and how the financial burden should be apportioned among those bearing the financial burden, taking into consideration the impact on affordability of wastewater rates. The task force shall include recommendations, if any, concerning the topic set forth in section 6(8) of this chapter.
(5) The connection of unserved properties to sanitary sewer systems in rural or developed underserved areas in Indiana.
(6) Appropriate legislation for the 2022 legislative session based on the recommendations of the long term plan set forth in subdivisions (1) through (5).
As added by P.L.154-2021, SEC.1.