Sec. 11. (a) A tax area must be initially established before July 1, 1999, according to the procedures set forth for the establishment of an economic development area under IC 36-7-15.1. A tax area may be changed (including to the exclusion or inclusion of a facility described in this chapter) or the terms governing the tax area may be revised in the same manner as the establishment of the initial tax area. However, a tax area may be changed as follows:

(1) After May 14, 2005, a tax area may be changed to include the site or future site of a facility that is or will be the subject of a lease or other agreement entered into between the capital improvement board and the Indiana stadium and convention building authority or any state agency under IC 5-1-17-26.

(2) A tax area may be changed to include the site or future site of a facility or complex of facilities described in section 10(b)(3) and 10(c) of this chapter.

(3) The terms governing a tax area may be revised only with respect to a facility or complex of facilities described in subdivision (1) or (2).

     (b) In establishing or changing the tax area or revising the terms governing the tax area, the commission must do the following:

(1) With respect to a tax area change described in subsection (a)(1), the commission must make the following findings instead of the findings required for the establishment of economic development areas:

(A) That a project to be undertaken or that has been undertaken in the tax area is for a facility at which a professional sporting event or a convention or similar event will be held.

(B) That the project to be undertaken or that has been undertaken in the tax area will benefit the public health and welfare and will be of public utility and benefit.

(C) That the project to be undertaken or that has been undertaken in the tax area will protect or increase state and local tax bases and tax revenues.

(2) With respect to a tax area change described in subsection (a)(2), the commission must make the following findings instead of the findings required for the establishment of an economic development area:

(A) That the facility or complex of facilities in the tax area provides both convenient accommodations for professional sporting events, conventions, or similar events and significant meeting and convention space that directly enhance events held in the capital improvements that are owned, leased, or operated by the capital improvement board.

(B) That the facility or complex of facilities in the tax area and the capital improvements that are owned, leased, or operated by the capital improvement board are integrally related to enhancing the convention opportunities that directly affect the success of both the facilities and capital improvements.

(C) That the facility or complex of facilities in the tax area provides the opportunity for the capital improvement board to hold events that would not otherwise be possible.

(D) That the facility or complex of facilities in the tax area protects or increases state and local tax bases and tax revenues.

     (c) The tax area established by the commission under this chapter is a special taxing district authorized by the general assembly to enable the county to provide special benefits to taxpayers in the tax area by promoting economic development that is of public use and benefit.

As added by P.L.255-1997(ss), SEC.19. Amended by P.L.214-2005, SEC.67; P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.410; P.L.109-2019, SEC.10.