Sec. 4. (a) Within sixty (60) days after the adoption of an ordinance or resolution establishing a merit system, the safety board or governing board shall give at least three (3) weeks’ notice to all active members of the department that a meeting will be held to approve or reject the merit system. The notice shall be given by posting it in prominent places in all stations of the department. The notice must designate the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

     (b) A copy of the ordinance or resolution shall be distributed to each active member of the department at least one (1) week before the date of the meeting.

     (c) Only active members of the department may attend the meeting, and at the meeting one (1) of them shall be selected as chair. All voting must be by secret written ballot. The other procedures for holding the meeting may be determined by the safety board or governing board and shall be posted in accordance with subsection (a).

     (d) If a majority of the active members of the department vote to approve the merit system, the merit system takes effect on January 1 following the vote. Appointments to the merit commission shall be made by March 1 following that January 1.

     (e) If a majority of the active members of the department vote to reject the merit system, another proposal may not be put to a vote within one (1) year after the day the meeting is held.

[Local Government Recodification Citation: New.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.316, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.180-2002, SEC.3; P.L.127-2017, SEC.227; P.L.207-2023, SEC.11.