HB 1201 Summary

• Expands county drainage board and county surveyor authority to include artificial watercourses (manmade drainageways) in addition to existing authority over drains and natural watercourses for obstruction removal and right of entry.

• Adds definitions for artificial watercourse, channel, conveyance, runoff, storm water conveyance system, and swale to Indiana Code Chapter 36-9-27.4.

• Extends obstruction removal procedures under drainage petitions to include artificial watercourses, allowing property owners to seek removal of obstructions that impede drainage of their land.

• Grants county surveyors and drainage board members right of entry up to 75 feet from artificial watercourses to investigate and address obstructions, with same protections and notice requirements as for natural watercourses.

• Requires counties with stormwater runoff management policies to designate the county surveyor's office as the initial point of contact for all stormwater-related issues.