SB2804 Summary

• Establishes the New Harmony River Bridge Authority as a state body to rehabilitate and maintain the New Harmony Bridge crossing the Wabash River between Illinois and Indiana.

• Authority composed of 5 members: 3 appointed by the Governor (no more than 2 from same party), 1 by White County Board, and 1 by Mayor of Phillipstown; members serve 4-year terms without salary but may receive expense reimbursement.

• Grants authority powers to accept bridge assets, establish and collect tolls, borrow money and issue bonds, and rehabilitate the bridge for vehicles and pedestrians; authority cannot levy taxes.

• Authorizes Governor to appoint 3 commissioners to negotiate an interstate compact with Indiana creating the New Harmony Bridge Bi-State Commission with 10 voting members (5 from each state) to jointly manage bridge operations and financing.

• Bi-State Commission requires at least 2 members from each state present for binding actions and majority approval from each state; commission restricted from assessing taxes and debt cannot be secured by state tax revenues without identical laws in both states.