1. (a) As used in this section, "committee" refers to the small precinct committee established by subsection (b).
2. (b) Effective May 1, 2017, the small precinct committee is established in the county.

3. (c) The committee consists of the following:

   1. (1) The director of the board.
   2. (2) The assistant director of the board.

   3. (3) Any additional members appointed by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board. If an additional member is appointed under this subdivision, the following apply:

      1. (A) The additional member must be an employee of the board.

      2. (B) A second additional member must be appointed under this subdivision who is:

         1. (i) an employee of the board; and
         2. (ii) a member of the major political party in the county other than the political party of the member described in clause (A).

4. (d) The committee shall determine the following:

   1. (1) Which precincts within the county had fewer than six hundred
   2. (600) active voters (as defined in IC 3-11-18.1-2 ) as of November 1, 2016.
   3. (2) Whether compliance with the precinct boundary standards set forth in IC 3-11-1.5-4 or IC 3-11-1.5-5 would prevent the combination of a precinct described in subdivision (1) with one
   4. (1) or more adjoining precincts.

   5. (3) The potential savings in the administration of elections resulting from the combination of precincts under this section.

      The committee shall establish a proposed plan to consolidate precincts within the county that is consistent with the standards stated in this subsection.

5. (e) Not later than noon June 1, 2017, the board shall:

   1. (1) adopt a proposed precinct establishment order implementing the committee's proposed plan under subsection (d); and
   2. (2) file the proposed order with the election division not later than noon August 1, 2017.

6. (f) If a proposed precinct establishment order is not filed as provided under subsection (e), the commission shall adopt a precinct establishment order for the county not later than September 1, 2017, based on the committee's proposed plan. If the commission does not have the committee's plan and findings available, the commission shall adopt an order the commission considers will do both of the following:

   1. (1) Realize savings for the county.
   2. (2) Not impose unreasonable obstacles on the ability of the voters of the county to vote at the polls.
7. (g) If the proposed precinct establishment order is approved under this chapter, the order takes effect January 1, 2018. However, if an objection to the proposed order is filed under IC 3-11-1.5-18 , the proposed precinct establishment order takes effect January 1, 2018, unless at least three (3) members of the commission affirmatively vote to sustain the objection.
8. (h) This section expires January 1, 2020.

As added by P.L.262-2017, SEC.1.