Title 14, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Sec. 5. The recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly shall be construed as a recodification of prior natural resources law. If the literal meaning of the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly would result in a substan…

Sec. 6. Subject to section 7 of this chapter, a reference in a statute or rule to a statute that is repealed and replaced in the same or a different form in the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly shall be treated after the effective date of the…

Sec. 7. A citation reference in the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly to another provision of the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly shall be treated as including a reference to the provision of prior natura…

Sec. 8. (a) As used in the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly, a reference to rules adopted under any provision of this title or under any other provision of the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly refers to e…

Sec. 9. (a) A reference in the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly to a citation in the prior natural resources law before its repeal is added in certain sections of the recodification act of the 1995 regular session of the general assembly only…

Sec. 1. The following bureaus are created within the department: (1) The bureau of lands and cultural resources. (2) The bureau of administration. (3) The bureau of resource management. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3-6(a).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.2. Amended by P.L…

Sec. 2. Each bureau is headed by a deputy director. Each deputy director: (1) must be professionally or technically qualified for the position; and (2) shall be employed in accordance with IC 14-9-7. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3-6(b).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.2.…

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the property managers of each of the following divisions of the department: (1) State parks. (2) Forestry. (3) Fish and wildlife. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3.5-1(a).] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.167-2011, SEC.14; P.L…

Sec. 10. An individual employed under this chapter may not be required to declare the individual's political, religious, or fraternal affiliations. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3.5-2.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.100-2012, SEC.46.

Sec. 2. The procedures prescribed by this chapter shall be followed to enlist, train, hire, or terminate employment of individuals subject to this chapter. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3.5-1(b) part.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.3.

Sec. 3. The commission shall establish minimum aptitude, educational, and experience requirements for each position of management and supervision. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3.5-1(b) part.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.3.

Sec. 4. (a) The director of a division subject to this chapter shall inform the state personnel department and the general public of Indiana of the following: (1) That a position is or will be vacant within the division. (2) That applications for employment will be accepted for a…

Sec. 5. The director of the division with whom the application for employment is made shall: (1) review all applications; and (2) recommend to the commission at least one (1) individual for employment. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3.5-1(b) part.] As added by P.L.1-1995…

Sec. 0.3. As used in this chapter, "bureau" refers to the child support bureau (Title IV-D agency) established under IC 31-25-3. As added by P.L.257-1997(ss), SEC.26. Amended by P.L.145-2006, SEC.130.

Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter, "delinquent" means at least: (1) two thousand dollars ($2,000); or (2) three (3) months; past due on payment of court ordered child support. As added by P.L.257-1997(ss), SEC.27.

Sec. 1. (a) As used in this section, "license" means a license, a franchise, a permit, a certification, an approval, a registration, a charter, or a similar form of authorization that may be issued to a person by: (1) the department; (2) the commission; or (3) the director; under…

Sec. 2. (a) The commission shall hold all hearings under IC 4-22-2. (b) The office of administrative law proceedings shall conduct all administrative adjudications under IC 4-15-10.5. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-3-3-25.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.92-…

Sec. 4. (a) Upon receiving an order from the bureau under IC 31-25-4-32(j) or IC 31-25-4-34(e), the director shall place on probationary status any license issued under IC 14-22-12, IC 14-22-16, IC 14-22-19, IC 14-24-7, or IC 14-31-3 and held by the person who is the subject of t…

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "small lake" means a body of public water having a surface area that does not exceed three hundred (300) acres, excluding the following in determining the surface area: (1) An adjoining channel. (2) Any other small lake connected to the body of pu…

Sec. 10. (a) Subject to section 11 of this chapter, a person may not operate a motorboat upon a small lake at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour. (b) An individual may not operate a motorboat upon a small lake while engaging in wake boarding or wake surfing unless it is…

Sec. 11. (a) The commission may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to exempt a small lake containing more than seventy (70) acres from section 10 of this chapter if the following conditions exist: (1) A majority of the abutting property owners petitions the commission as provided in thi…

Sec. 11.1. A rule adopted under section 11 of this chapter before July 1, 2026, applies to wake boarding and wake surfing. As added by P.L.154-2026, SEC.6.

Sec. 12. (a) A petition filed by a majority of the abutting property owners of a small lake continues in effect and may not be rescinded by a subsequent petition to amend, alter, or abolish for two (2) years from the date of certification of the last filed petition. (b) To amend,…

Sec. 12.5. Notwithstanding sections 10, 11, and 12 of this chapter, any exemption to the motorboat speed limit that was: (1) granted by the department in response to a petition from a majority of abutting property owners; and (2) in effect on August 31, 1985; remains in effect. H…

Sec. 13. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter, a person operating a boat competing in and during: (1) a boat race; (2) a water ski event; or (3) any other organized boating activity; over a fixed and marked course for which a permit has been issued by the departm…

Sec. 14. A person operating a boat shall observe all traffic rules under 33 CFR 83, if applicable. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-26.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.69-2009, SEC.3; P.L.94-2026, SEC.66.

Sec. 15. A person operating a motorboat may not approach or pass another boat: (1) in such a manner; or (2) at such a rate of speed; as to create a hazardous wake or wash. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-27.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

prohibited Sec. 16. A person may not operate a motorboat in a circular course around any of the following: (1) Another boat with an occupant engaged in fishing. (2) A person swimming. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-28.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.…

Sec. 17. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not operate a motorboat within two hundred (200) feet of the shore line of a lake or channel of the lake at a speed greater than idle speed. (b) This subsection applies to lakes formed by hydroelectric dams in either…

Sec. 18. (a) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to: (1) establish speed limits for watercraft; and (2) prescribe areas for special use; on those lakes and reservoirs financed either wholly or in part with state or federal money. (b) The rules adopted under subsection …

Sec. 19. Provisions of this chapter concerning the operation of boats or motorboats apply as follows: (1) Whether or not the boat or motorboat is towing any object. (2) To each object and person. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-31.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amende…

Sec. 2. A person may not operate a boat upon public waters: (1) in any manner; (2) under any circumstances; or (3) at any rate of speed; prohibited by this article. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-15.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Sec. 20. A person operating a motorboat may not tow a water ski, a watersled, a wakeboard, barefoot water skis, an aquaplane, or a similar object, including a person on the waterski, watersled, wakeboard, barefoot water skis, aquaplane, or similar object, unless: (1) the motorboa…

Sec. 22. A person other than a law enforcement officer may not operate or sound a siren. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-34.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.

Sec. 23. A person may not operate or permit operation of a watercraft if a reasonably prudent person would believe the total load aboard or the total horsepower of any motor or engine of the watercraft presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, having due regard for…

Sec. 24. (a) A person operating a motorboat may not permit an occupant to sit, stand, or lie on the gunwales. (b) A person operating a motorboat less than twenty-one (21) feet in length may not permit an occupant to sit, stand, or lie on the bow decking of the motorboat, except f…

Sec. 25. A person may not: (1) moor or attach a boat to; or (2) move, remove, displace, tamper with, damage, or destroy; a buoy, beacon, light marker, stake, flag, or other aid to safe operation placed upon public water by or by others under the authority of the United States or …

Sec. 26. A person may not anchor a boat in the traveled part of a river or channel so as to: (1) prevent; (2) impede; or (3) interfere with; the safe passage of another boat through the river or channel. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-38.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8…

Sec. 27. A person may not participate or compete in a boat race unless: (1) the race is over a fixed and marked course; and (2) a permit for the race has been issued by the department under this article. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-39.] As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8…

Sec. 28. A person who is: (1) the owner of a boat; (2) in possession of a boat; or (3) entitled to the possession of a boat, whether by reason of legal title, lease, license, rental arrangement, lease with option to purchase, contract of conditional sale, or otherwise; may not au…

Sec. 29. A person may not: (1) take possession of; (2) assume control of; or (3) operate upon public water; a boat of which any other person is entitled to the possession, whether by reason of legal title, lease, license, rental arrangement, lease with option to purchase, contrac…

Sec. 3. A person operating a boat shall operate the boat in a careful and prudent manner, having due regard for the following: (1) The rights, safety, and property of other persons. (2) The conditions and hazards, actual and potential, then existing, including weather and density…

Sec. 30. (a) A person may not abandon a watercraft at any time on Indiana water. A watercraft found unattended in a sunken, beached, or drifting condition is considered to have been abandoned by the owner. In the interest of public safety, such a watercraft may be removed and imp…

Sec. 31. (a) A person who violates section 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 8.1, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 of this chapter commits a Class C infraction. (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally violates section 6 of this chapter commits a Class C misdemean…

Sec. 5. A person may not operate a boat if all or part of the boat is: (1) designed or constructed in a manner; or (2) in a condition or state of repair; that endangers the person or property of any other person. [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 14-1-1-19.] As added by P.L.1-19…

Sec. 6. A person may not operate a boat in a manner that does any of the following: (1) Unnecessarily endangers the person or property of another person. (2) Unnecessarily interferes with the safe and lawful use of public waters by another person. (3) Unnecessarily interferes wit…