HB 1233 Summary

• Establishes a joint committee on appointment of major agency heads consisting of eight members of the general assembly (four from House, four from Senate) with balanced party representation.

• Defines "major agency appointments" subject to committee review as gubernatorial appointments to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Department of Transportation Commissioner, Secretary of Family and Social Services, Environmental Management Commissioner, and Labor Commissioner.

• Requires the committee to convene within 10 business days of receiving notice of a major agency appointment to evaluate the appointee's fitness and competence, then report findings to the governor and legislative council.

• Imposes a 45-day waiting period before appointees to major agency positions can take office, measured from when the governor notifies the committee chair of the appointment.

• Repeals the existing Utility Regulatory Commission Nominating Committee statute (IC 8-1-1.5), replacing the previous nomination process with the new legislative evaluation procedure.