HB 1177 Summary

• Changes the utility consumer counselor from a governor-appointed position to an elected state office, with elections every four years beginning in 2010.

• Establishes the utility consumer counselor salary at $100,000 per year, with automatic increases matching other state elected officials beginning January 1, 2012.

• Adds the utility consumer counselor to all relevant Indiana Code sections governing state officers, including provisions for financial disclosure statements, statement of economic interests, and general election ballot placement.

• Requires political parties to nominate utility consumer counselor candidates at state conventions, consistent with other statewide elected offices.

• Sets the current appointed utility consumer counselor's term to expire January 1, 2011, with the first elected utility consumer counselor taking office that same date.