CHAPTER 25. INDIANA COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
IC 4-23-25
Chapter 25. Indiana Commission for Women
IC 4-23-25-1
"Agency" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "agency" refers to any agency of
the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government. The
term includes a state educational institution.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.57.
IC 4-23-25-2
"Commission" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the Indiana
commission for women established by section 3 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-3
Establishment; membership
Sec. 3. (a) The Indiana commission for women is established.
(b) The commission consists of the following members:
(1) Six (6) members appointed by the governor. Not more than
three (3) of the members appointed under this subdivision may
be members of the same political party. At least four (4) of the
members appointed under this subdivision must be women.
(2) Two (2) members appointed by the president pro tempore of
the senate who are not members of the general assembly.
Members appointed under this subdivision may not be members
of the same political party. At least one (1) of the members
appointed under this subdivision must be a woman.
(3) Two (2) members appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives who are not members of the general assembly.
Members appointed under this subdivision may not be members
of the same political party. At least one (1) of the members
appointed under this subdivision must be a woman.
(4) Two (2) senators appointed in the same manner as members
of senate standing committees are appointed. The appointed
senators may not be members of the same political party. At
least one (1) of the members appointed under this subdivision
must be a woman.
(5) Two (2) members of the house of representatives appointed
in the same manner as members of standing committees of the
house of representatives are appointed. The appointed
representatives may not be members of the same political party.
At least one (1) of the members appointed under this
subdivision must be a woman.
(6) The governor or the governor's designee serves as an ex
officio member of the commission.
(c) A member appointed to the commission under subsection
(b)(1) serves a term of four (4) years or until a successor is
appointed.
(d) A member appointed to the commission under subsection
(b)(2) or (b)(3) serves a term of three (3) years or until a successor
is appointed.
(e) A member appointed to the commission under subsection
(b)(4) or (b)(5) serves the remainder of the member's term in office.
(f) The governor or the governor's designee serves while the
governor remains in office.
(g) Notwithstanding subsections (c) through (d), if a member's
term expires before a successor is appointed, the member's term is
extended until a successor is appointed.
(h) Not more than four (4) members who are not members of the
general assembly may be employees of state agencies.
(i) Commission membership must reflect a diversity of
experience, skills, and backgrounds.
(j) A member's term may be renewed unless the member is:
(1) a member of the general assembly who no longer serves in
the general assembly; or
(2) the governor or the governor's designee, and the governor is
no longer in office.
(k) A member of the commission may be removed for cause.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-4
Vacancies
Sec. 4. (a) If there is a vacancy on the commission, a new member
must be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The
new member shall be appointed in the same manner as the vacating
member.
(b) A member of the general assembly who is appointed to an
unexpired term may not serve longer than the member's term in
office.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-5
Chairperson
Sec. 5. (a) The governor shall annually select one (1) member to
serve as chairperson.
(b) The commission may select other officers for the commission.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-6
Meetings; quorum
Sec. 6. (a) The commission shall meet at least one (1) time
quarterly.
(b) The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
(c) Eight (8) members of the commission constitute a quorum.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-7
Duties of commission
Sec. 7. The commission's duties include the following:
(1) Assessment of the needs of Indiana women and their
families and promotion of the full participation of Indiana
women in all aspects of society, including:
(A) government;
(B) the economy;
(C) employment;
(D) education;
(E) social and family development;
(F) health care;
(G) the justice system; and
(H) other aspects of society identified by the commission.
(2) Advocacy for the removal of legal and social barriers for
women.
(3) Cooperation with organizations and governmental agencies
to combat discrimination against women.
(4) Identification and recognition of contributions made by
Indiana women to their community, state, and nation.
(5) Representation of Indiana's commitment to improving the
quality of life for women and their families.
(6) Consultation with state agencies regarding the effect upon
women and their families of agency policies, emerging policies,
procedures, practices, laws, and administrative rules.
(7) Maintenance of information concerning:
(A) organizations and governmental agencies serving women
and their families; and
(B) the names, resumes, and other professional and career
information about women available to serve as agency
appointees.
(8) Evaluation of laws and governmental policies with respect
to the needs of women and their families.
(9) Monitoring of legislation and other legal developments in
order to make recommendations that support the commission's
purposes to the general assembly and the governor.
(10) Action as a central clearinghouse for information
concerning women and their families.
(11) Gathering, studying, and disseminating information on
women and their families through publications, public hearings,
conferences, and other means.
(12) Assessment of the needs of women and their families and
the promotion of, development of, and assistance to other
entities in providing programs and services to meet those needs.
(13) Provision of publicity concerning the purposes and
activities of the commission.
(14) Service as a liaison between government and private
interest groups concerned with serving the special needs of
women.
(15) Submission of an annual report on the commission's
activities to the governor and to the legislative council. An
annual report submitted to the legislative council must be in an
electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.28-2004, SEC.48.
IC 4-23-25-8
Powers of commission
Sec. 8. The commission may do the following:
(1) Appoint advisers or advisory committees.
(2) Transact business and enter into contracts that support the
commission's purposes.
(3) Apply for, receive, and disburse gifts, contributions, and
grants of funds or in-kind services.
(4) Adopt rules concerning the commission's operations and
procedures.
(5) Adopt, rescind, and amend bylaws to regulate the conduct
of the commission's business.
(6) Assign duties to the commission's officers under the
commission's bylaws.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-9
Administrative support
Sec. 9. The department of workforce development established by
IC 22-4.1-2 shall provide staff and administrative support to the
commission.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.291-2001,
SEC.167; P.L.126-2006, SEC.1; P.L.104-2008, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-10
Special fund
Sec. 10. (a) The Indiana commission for women special fund is
established for the purpose of providing money for special projects
of the commission. The fund shall be administered by the treasurer
of state.
(b) Expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money
in the fund. The fund consists of gifts, contributions, and funds
donated to the commission.
(c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest accrues to the
fund.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
revert to the state general fund.
As added by P.L.20-1996, SEC.1.
IC 4-23-25-11
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.104-2008, SEC.23.)