Indiana Code Title 36. Local Government § 36-8-3.5-1.1

Sec. 1.1. (a) This section applies only to a district or territory.

(b) The governing board may, by resolution, establish a merit system under this chapter.  Before the merit system takes effect, however, the merit system must be approved by a majority of the active members of the department in a referendum as provided in section 4 of this chapter.  The governing board shall specify in the adopting resolution which provisions of this chapter are being adopted that are:

under this chapter.

(c) This chapter does not prevent a district or territory that has adopted a merit system under this chapter from later amending or deleting any provisions of the merit system contained in this chapter.  However, the merit system must include a provision under which the commission has at least one-third ( 1/3 ) of its members elected by the active full-time members of the department, as set forth in section 8 of this chapter and a provision that incorporates the requirements of section 6(c) of this chapter.  This subsection does not require the governing board under subsection (b) to establish a new merit system when the governing board exercises its power to amend under this subsection.