(a) The bureau may:

1. (1) accept and use gifts, grants, and contributions from any public or private source, under terms and conditions that the bureau considers necessary and desirable;
2. (2) sue and be sued;
3. (3) enter into contracts and agreements;
4. (4) make rules necessary for the conduct of its business and the accomplishment of its purposes;
5. (5) receive and approve, alter, or reject requests and proposals for funding by corporations qualified under subdivision (6);
6. (6) after its approval of a proposal, transfer money from any fund established by the bureau, the promotion fund, or the alternate revenue fund to any Indiana nonprofit corporation to promote and encourage conventions, trade shows, visitors, or special events in the county;
7. (7) require financial or other reports from any corporation that receives funds under this chapter;
8. (8) enter into leases under IC 36-1-10 for the construction, acquisition, and equipping of a visitor center; and
9. (9) exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property to promote and encourage conventions, trade shows, special events, recreation, and visitors within the county.

(b) All expenses of the bureau shall be paid from funds established by the bureau. Before December 20 of each year, the bureau shall prepare a budget for expenditures during the following year, taking into consideration the recommendations made by a corporation qualified under subsection (a)(6) and submit the budget to the county council for its review and approval. An expenditure may not be made under this chapter unless it is in accordance with an appropriation made by the county council in the manner provided by law. A budget prepared by the bureau and approved by the county council under this section must be:

1. (1) submitted to the department of local government finance;
2. (2) published on the department's interactive and searchable website containing local government information (the Indiana gateway for governmental units); and
3. (3) placed on file with the county auditor.

(c) All money in the bureau's funds shall be deposited, held, secured, invested, and paid in accordance with statutes relating to the handling of public funds. The handling and expenditure of money in the bureau's funds are subject to audit and supervision by the state board of accounts.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.67, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.46-1998, SEC.1; P.L.168-2005, SEC.3; P.L.223-2007, SEC.8; P.L.172-2011, SEC.93; P.L.190-2014, SEC.27; P.L.102-2024, SEC.2.