1. (a) A local justice reinvestment advisory council is established in each county in Indiana. The local advisory council of two (2) or more counties may vote to consolidate into a regional advisory council. Membership of a regional advisory council must consist of the members listed in this subsection, which can be filled by a representative from any of the participating counties. A local advisory council consists of at least the following members:

   1. (1) In counties with a chief public defender, the county chief public defender or the county chief public defender's designee. In counties without a chief public defender, a public defender who practices public defense within the county appointed by the local public defense board. If there is no local public defense board, then a public defender who practices public defense within the county appointed by the circuit court judge.
   2. (2) The elected prosecuting attorney or the elected prosecuting attorney's designee.
   3. (3) In counties with a local community mental health center, the director of the center or the director's designee.
   4. (4) The county sheriff or the county sheriff's designee.
   5. (5) In counties with a community corrections program, the director of the county's community corrections program or the director's designee.
   6. (6) The chief probation officer or the chief probation officer's designee.
   7. (7) The president of the county executive (as defined in IC 36-1-2-5 ) or the president's designee.
   8. (8) The president of the county fiscal body (as defined in IC 36-1-2-6 ) or the president's designee.

   9. (9) A circuit or superior court judge exercising criminal jurisdiction in the county, selected as follows:

      1. (A) If only one (1) circuit or superior judge exercises criminal jurisdiction in the county, that judge serves as a member of the council.
      2. (B) If more than one (1) circuit or superior court judge exercises criminal jurisdiction in the county, the judge selected by a majority of the circuit and superior court judges exercising criminal jurisdiction in the county shall select a judge exercising criminal jurisdiction to serve as a member of the council.
      3. (C) If the judges exercising criminal jurisdiction in the county are unable to select a judge to serve as a member under clause (B), the chief justice of Indiana shall appoint a judge exercising criminal jurisdiction in the county as a member of the council.
      4. (D) In a county having a consolidated city, the chief judge selected under IC 33-33-49-14.1 (c) if the chief judge exercises criminal jurisdiction. If the chief judge does not exercise criminal jurisdiction, the chief judge shall appoint a judge exercising criminal jurisdiction in the county.

2. (b) The chair and vice chair of a local or regional advisory council are selected as follows:

   1. (1) In a county that does not have a consolidated city, the members of a local or regional advisory council shall annually elect one (1) member as chair and one (1) member as vice chair.
   2. (2) In a county having a consolidated city, the chief judge or the judge appointed by the chief judge described in subsection (a)(9)(D) shall serve as the chair and the members of the local or regional advisory council shall annually elect one (1) member as vice chair.
3. (c) A local or regional advisory council shall meet at least quarterly.
4. (d) The community corrections advisory board may vote to serve as the local or regional advisory council described in this section. Meeting agendas may include business related to both community correction advisory board and local or regional advisory council duties.
5. (e) The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of a local or regional advisory council is required for the local or regional advisory council to take action on any measure. A voting member of the local or regional advisory council must cast a vote in person under this subsection.

As added by P.L.30-2021, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.76-2026, SEC.24.