STATEHOUSE (April 11, 2017) — Legislation authored by State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) to establish the Infrastructure Assistance Fund is now headed to the governor for final consideration.
Senate Enrolled Act 416, establishes the Infrastructure Assistance Fund to provide grants, loans, and other financial assistance for the planning, acquisition, construction, renovation and expansion of public water systems. SEA 416 recently passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 97-0 and the Senate 46-2.
“Over the last five years, the General Assembly has been actively engaged in reviewing, assessing, debating and acting to ensure the waters of Indiana are safe, clean and protected for all Hoosiers to use and enjoy,” Charbonneau said. “Water is an invaluable, limited resource that we cannot afford to take for granted. This bill implements recommendations made in the most recent Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) study. We have been cautious and taken incremental steps as we’ve moved through the process of creating a comprehensive water plan for Indiana.”
SEA 416 requires the IFA to study the ability of Indiana utilities to provide safe and clean drinking water. This bill would require the Indiana Environmental Rules Board to adopt rules to carry out the intent of the law concerning the safety of the public water supply. It also would add a testing requirement when a water system’s collection point is being relocated.
SEA 416 will now go to Gov. Eric Holcomb for final consideration. To view the bills that are on the governor’s desk, click here.
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A high-resolution photo of Charbonneau is available by clicking here.
