§ 16-22-2-9 — Board organization; bond; meetings; quorum; compensation and reimbursements

(a) Each governing board member shall not
more than ten (10) days after appointment and before entering on
official duties take an oath to support the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution of the State of Indiana and to faithfully
discharge the duties of office. The board shall adopt bylaws that
provide for the election of one (1) member as chairman, one (1)
member as secretary, and other officers the board considers necessary
or advisable.
(b) The county treasurer of the county in which the hospital is
located shall be the treasurer of the governing board. Money in the
hospital fund shall be disbursed only on warrants issued by the county
auditor and countersigned by the county treasurer. However, the board,
with the approval of the county executive, may elect a treasurer who
shall also serve as the disbursing officer of the hospital. Checks drawn
by the treasurer must be countersigned by a person selected by the
board. Approval by the county executive for the board to elect a
treasurer is permanent, and the treasurer may not be a member of the
board.
(c) The executive director and all persons whose duty it is to handle
funds of the hospital must execute a corporate surety bond in an
amount and with conditions required by the board. If a treasurer is
elected by the board, the treasurer shall be separately bonded in an
amount fixed by the board but not less than twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000). The board may elect an assistant treasurer who may
not be a member of the board and who must be separately bonded in an
amount fixed by the board greater than twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000). The bond on all persons except the treasurer and assistant
treasurer may be a blanket corporate surety bond conditioned for the
faithful performance of duties. All bonds required by this subsection
must be approved by the board and filed with the county recorder. The
premiums shall be paid out of hospital funds.
(d) A majority of the members of the governing board constitutes a
quorum, and board action requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
those members present at a regular or special meeting of the board at
which a quorum is present. If a board member is absent from three (3)
consecutive regular board meetings or is absent from four (4) regular
board meetings during a year, upon recommendation by the board, the
member may be removed from office by the county executive and,
except as provided in section 7(b) of this chapter, the vacancy created
shall be filled as provided in section 11 of this chapter.
(e) Each board member shall be reimbursed for expenditures made
by the member in performing the duties of office, and an itemized
statement of expenses must be filed with the secretary and allowed by
the board. Each governing board member may receive annual
compensation not to exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000), with
compensation to be fixed by the board. The chair of the board may
receive additional compensation not to exceed one thousand two
hundred dollars ($1,200) annually, with compensation to be fixed by
the board.
(f) The governing board shall hold at least ten (10) regular meetings
each year, and special meetings of the board may be called at any time
by the chairman or two (2) members of the board. The secretary of the
board shall keep a complete record of all proceedings.
(g) A board member may receive group health and life insurance
benefits paid by the hospital. Health and life insurance benefits are not
considered compensation under subsection (e).
(h) A board member may attend meetings and seminars for the
benefit of the hospital, with the cost of the meetings and seminars paid
by the hospital. A payment made by the hospital under this subsection
to a board member is not considered compensation under subsection
(e).
[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-12.1-2-3.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.35-1997, SEC.5; P.L.24-2016, SEC.1.