Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a reorganization approved under this chapter takes effect when all of the following have occurred:

(1) The later of:

(A) the date that a copy of a joint certification from the county election board in each county in which reorganizing political subdivisions are located that indicates that:

(i) the reorganization has been approved by the voters of each reorganizing political subdivision; or

(ii) in the case of a reorganization described in section 1(a)(7) or 1(a)(9) of this chapter, the reorganization has been approved as set forth in section 32(b) or 32(c) of this chapter;

is recorded as required by section 31 of this chapter; or

(B) the date specified in the finally adopted plan of reorganization.

(2) The appointed or elected officers of the reorganized political subdivision are elected (as prescribed by section 36 of this chapter) or appointed and qualified, if:

(A) the reorganized political subdivision is a new political subdivision and reorganizing political subdivisions are not being consolidated into one (1) of the reorganizing political subdivisions;

(B) the reorganized political subdivision will have different boundaries than any of the reorganizing political subdivisions;

(C) the reorganized political subdivision will have different appointment or election districts than any of the reorganizing political subdivisions; or

(D) the finally adopted plan of reorganization requires new appointed or elected officers before the reorganization becomes effective.

(b) A reorganization approved under this chapter may not take effect during the year preceding a year in which a federal decennial census is conducted. A consolidation that would otherwise take effect during the year preceding a year in which a federal decennial census is conducted takes effect January 1 of the year in which a federal decennial census is conducted.

As added by P.L.186-2006, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.113-2010, SEC.109; P.L.202-2013, SEC.2; P.L.233-2015, SEC.334.