Sec. 5.5. The commission's program for review of adopted ordinances and other regulations of political subdivisions submitted for approval by the commission under section 5 of this chapter shall be conducted by the commission staff as follows:
(1) A request may be made to the commission for preliminary staff review at any time. The results of the staff review must be furnished to the requester within a reasonable time.
(2) A submission by a political subdivision for approval of an ordinance or other regulation by the commission shall be made in hard copy or electronic form acceptable to the commission. The staff shall place the submission on the agenda for the first commission meeting scheduled later than five (5) working days after the receipt of the submission. An opportunity for public testimony may be afforded at the meeting of the commission. If the commission does not issue an order approving or denying the ordinance or other regulation at the first commission meeting, or at any of the next three (3) commission meetings, the ordinance or other regulation is automatically approved and effective without an order of the commission.
(3) A member of the commission may submit an adopted ordinance or other regulation to the commission for review under subdivisions (1) and (2) if the political subdivision did not submit the adopted ordinance or other regulation within thirty (30) days of adoption by the political subdivision as required by section 5(b) of this chapter.
(4) The commission's order regarding the ordinance or other regulation shall be issued following the requirements set forth under IC 4-21.5-3-5. If a petition for review is subsequently granted under IC 4-21.5-3-7, the commission's order shall be deemed merely to have been a preliminary determination.
(5) One (1) copy of each approved ordinance or other regulation, endorsed by the chair of the commission, shall be returned to the political subdivision or, if the submission was made by a member of the commission, to the member, with the order approving the ordinance or other regulation.
(6) If the commission denies an ordinance or other regulation, the commission's denial must specify the defects in the ordinance or other regulation that are the basis for the denial. The defects referred to in the commission's denial must include a citation to specific provisions of the state fire safety laws and the state building laws that are the basis for the denial.
As added by P.L.101-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.72-2018, SEC.13.