| HB1089 | VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS. (FRYE R) Requires the Indiana veterans' affairs commission to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislative council on matters concerning the welfare of veterans. Allows the mayor of a city to employ a service officer to serve the veterans of the city. Includes a county service officer appointed by the governor in the membership of the Indiana veterans' affairs commission. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee the topic of district service officers. Provides that the study committee shall issue a final report to the legislative council containing the study committee's findings and recommendations not later than November 1, 2016. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/17/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/15/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1089 |
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| HB1090 | LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEES. (FRYE R) Provides that membership on the emergency response commission (commission) is not a lucrative office for purposes of the constitutional prohibition against holding more than one lucrative office at the same time. Specifies that the commission appoints the members of the local emergency planning committee of each emergency planning district. Provides that the commission may decide how many members a local emergency planning committee is to have, and that a local emergency planning committee's members must include representatives of five particular categories. Provides that membership on a local emergency planning committee is not a lucrative office. Allows any member of a local emergency planning committee to appoint a designee to act on the committee member's behalf. (Under current law, only a local emergency planning committee member who is an employee of a county, municipality, or township can appoint a designee.) Authorizes the commission to revise its appointments to a local emergency planning committee. Provides that a local emergency planning committee is a county board, and that if an emergency planning district consists of multiple counties, the county of which the local emergency planning committee is a county board must be decided by agreement of the counties. |
| | Current Status: | 3/21/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/14/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/1/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1090 |
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| HB1187 | STOLEN VALOR. (MOSELEY C) Makes it committing stolen valor, a Class A misdemeanor, for a person to knowingly or intentionally, with the intent to obtain money, property, or another benefit: (1) fraudulently represent himself or herself to be an active member or veteran of the armed forces of the United States; (2) use falsified military identification; or (3) fraudulently claim to be the recipient of certain military honors. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/14/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/1/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1187 |
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| HB1248 | HIGHER EDUCATION MATTERS. (TRUITT R) Amends, applying in an academic year beginning after August 31, 2017, the definition of "accelerated progress" for purposes of additional awards for state financial aid for higher education. Removes a provision that provides that the commission for higher education may offer certain performance incentive awards only to students who initially enroll in an eligible institution for an academic year beginning after August 31, 2013. Amends, beginning in an academic year beginning after August 31, 2017, eligibility requirements for: (1) larger award amounts under the Frank O'Bannon grant; (2) renewal of Frank O'Bannon grant awards; and (3) renewal of scholarships under the twenty-first century scholars program. Removes a provision that allows the commission for higher education to increase, but not decrease, amounts of Frank O'Bannon grant awards. Amends an eligibility requirement for the Frank O'Bannon grant. Provides that a student who participates in a technical certificate or associate degree program at Vincennes University is eligible to receive a Frank O'Bannon grant. Restates and amends the eligibility requirements for the twenty-first century scholars program and scholarship. Requires that the expense of administering the adult student grant fund be paid from money in the fund. Amends eligibility requirements for the Mitch Daniels early graduation scholarship. Amends the definition of "eligible student" for purposes of the EARN Indiana program. Amends provisions regarding satisfactory academic progress requirements for higher education awards, the twenty-first century scholars program, and the adult student grant program. Provides that, for purposes of the higher education award fund and the freedom of choice grant fund, the expense of administering each fund may be paid from money in each fund. Adds buildings used for academic instruction and student dormitories and other residence facilities to types of buildings and equipment that may be developed and managed through an agreement between a state educational institution and a private entity. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/16/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1248 |
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| HB1271 | CHILD ABUSE MATTERS. (ZENT D) Requires the department of child services (department) to notify the United States Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program (program) if a child of an active duty member of the military is the subject of a substantiated investigation of abuse or neglect. Requires the department to make the assessment report available to the program upon request. Allows the department to seek assistance of the program in providing services. |
| | Current Status: | 3/21/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/14/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/11/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1271 |
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| HB1312 | VETERAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. (GUTWEIN D) Defines "veteran", for the purpose of qualifying as a veteran owned small business by the Indiana department of administration, as an individual who previously: (1) served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States or their reserves, (2) the National Guard, or (3) the Indiana National Guard; and received an honorable discharge from service. Includes in the definition of "veteran" for the purpose of qualifying as a veteran owned small business by the Indiana department of administration an individual who is serving in any branch of the armed forces of the United States or their reserves, the national guard, or the Indiana National Guard. Requires that a business seeking to qualify as a small business owned and operated by veterans have current certification as a veteran owned small business by the Indiana department of administration. Removes the requirement that a veteran be a resident of Indiana for at least one year before making an offer to bid on a state contract. Provides that certain information submitted by an applicant for certification as a veteran owned small business is confidential. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1312 |
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| HB1313 | HOOSIER VETERANS. (MAYFIELD P) Establishes a definition for "Hoosier veteran" that is applicable throughout the Indiana Code when used in reference to state programs for veterans. Amends the definition of Hoosier veteran to include an individual who: (1) is a resident of Indiana; (2) served in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the Indiana National Guard; and (3) completed any required military occupational specialty training and was not discharged or separated from the armed forces or the Indiana National Guard under dishonorable or other than honorable conditions. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1313 |
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| HB1359 | EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS AS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS; 1977 FUND RETIREMENT AGE. (MORRIS R) Waives the maximum hiring age restrictions that apply to the appointment and hiring of police officers and firefighters for an individual who is a veteran of the armed forces and who meets certain requirements. Provides that an individual who is appointed as a police officer or a firefighter as the result of a waiver is eligible to become a member of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund (1977 fund). Requires a member of the 1977 fund to retire at 70 years of age. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/2/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1359 |
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| HB1373 | VETERANS MATTERS. (BORDERS B) Extends employment protections under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and extends the rights, benefits, and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to members of the national guard of another state during state sponsored activation. Allows an individual (and the individual's dependent) who is: (1) an active member of the armed services of the United States or the national guard; (2) a legal Indiana resident; (3) assigned for duty or deployed outside Indiana; and (4) eligible for Medicaid waiver services or Medicaid assistance; to resume Medicaid eligibility and remain on Medicaid waiver waiting lists. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1373 |
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| SB145 | UNCLAIMED REMAINS OF VETERANS. (BANKS J) Requires the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to: (1) establish standards for approval of veterans' service organizations; (2) maintain a list of approved veterans' service organizations; and (3) publish the list on the department's Internet web site. Allows a licensed funeral director to release: (1) verification information as to whether a veteran or dependent of a veteran is eligible for burial in a state or national cemetery; and (2) cremated remains; to a veterans' service organization if certain conditions apply. Requires a veterans' service organization to: (1) transport cremated remains to a state or national cemetery; (2) inter, entomb, or inurn cremated remains in a state or national cemetery in accordance with applicable state and federal law; and (3) provide written information concerning the location of the cremated remains to a funeral director. Establishes certain immunity from civil liability for veterans' service organizations and funeral directors. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/2/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | SB145 |
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| SB151 | EXCLUDED CITY MILITARY BASE REUSE AUTHORITY. (MERRITT J) Provides absent an agreement in effect, the Fort Harrison reuse authority (authority) shall pay the city of Lawrence for: (1) police and fire protection at the same tax rate; and (2) utility services at the same rates and charges; imposed upon taxpayers in the excluded city. Provides that payments for city services are subordinate to debt service payments for bonds of the authority issued before January 1, 2016. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
2/16/2016 - Returned to the Senate without amendments
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| | State Bill Page: | SB151 |
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| SB154 | INDIANA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN FUNERAL ALLOWANCE. (STEELE B) Increases from $4,000 to $8,800 the funeral allowance for a member of the Indiana national guard who dies in the active service of the state. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/2/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | SB154 |
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| SB189 | IDENTIFIER FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. (KRUSE D) Provides that information concerning attendance records and academic progress for a student attending an adult high school who is a member of the military or children in military families must be submitted to the department of education by each school corporation and charter school. Provides that the information collected by a school corporation or charter school is considered confidential and shall be collected by the school corporation or charter school under guidelines for maintaining confidentiality established by the department. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/1/2016 - Senator Ford added as coauthor
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| | State Bill Page: | SB189 |
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| SB219 | EXPEDITED LICENSES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES. (GLICK S) Requires certain profession and occupation boards (boards) to adopt rules that establish procedures to expedite the issuance or renewal of a license, certificate, registration, or permit to a military spouse whose husband or wife is assigned to a duty station in Indiana. Repeals superseded provisions that allowed (but did not require) the boards to adopt expedited issuance and renewal rules. Provides that any rules adopted under the repealed statutes remain effective until the board adopts a rule that supersedes the original rule in whole or in part. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/2/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | SB219 |
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| SB234 | EDUCATION OF COACHES OF STUDENT ATHLETES. (LANANE T) Provides that, beginning July 1, 2017, the completion of a certified player safety education course: (1) is required for a head coach or assistant coach of an interscholastic sport; and (2) is optional for a head coach or assistant coach of an intramural sport. Provides that the course must be approved by the department of education, in consultation with a physician who has expertise in the area of concussions and brain injuries. Provides civil immunity for coaches of student athletes who: (1) comply with the training and other applicable player safety provisions regarding concussions and head injuries; and (2) provide coaching services in good faith; from damages as a result of a concussion or head injury incurred by a student athlete. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/16/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | SB234 |
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| SB295 | REQUIRES THAT STATE INCOME TAX FORMS BE MODIFIED TO ENABLE A TAXPAYER TO DONATE ALL OR PART OF THE TAXPAYER'S TAX REFUND TO THE MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND (FUND). (BANKS J) Requires the Indiana veterans' affairs commission to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislative council on matters concerning the welfare of veterans. Requires an individual employed as a county or city service officer to become accredited by a national veterans service organization through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel not later than one year from the date of the individual's employment, in order to represent veterans. Amends the definition of "qualified service member" for purposes of the fund. Amends the purpose of the fund to provide only for short term financial assistance to families of qualified service members for hardships that result from the qualified service members' military service. Specifies that the assistance from the fund may include an emergency one time grant. Specifies statutory eligibility provisions concerning grants from the fund, to be supplemented with rules adopted by the Indiana veterans' affairs commission (commission). Provides that the commission shall adopt income eligibility standards, asset limit eligibility standards, and other standards concerning when assistance may be provided from the fund. Provides that the commission's rules must provide for a consideration of the extent to which an individual has used assistance available from other assistance programs before assistance may be provided to the individual from the fund. Specifies that the veterans' affairs trust fund is considered a trust fund for purposes of the statute prohibiting the state board of finance from transferring money from a trust fund. Includes a county service officer appointed by the governor in the membership of the Indiana veterans' affairs commission. Provides that the commission shall annually determine by formula whether there is excess money in the veterans' affairs trust fund and transfer that excess, if any, to the fund. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee the topic of whether or not grants for assistance from the military family relief fund should be paid directly to vendors on behalf of a qualified service member or dependents of the qualified service member. Provides that the study committee shall issue a final report to the legislative council containing the study committee's findings and recommendations not later than November 1, 2016. Makes technical corrections. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/17/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/15/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | SB295 |
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| SB330 | SCHOOL FUNDING. (MISHLER R) Amends the statute allowing transfers from the state tuition reserve account to the state general fund to be made during the state fiscal year beginning in 2015 and in the state fiscal year beginning in 2016 if distributions for choice scholarships cause a reduction in state tuition support. Provides that the budget agency may transfer money from the state tuition reserve account to the state general fund if the budget director, after review by the budget committee, makes a determination that the tuition support distribution for the state fiscal year has been reduced because the amount of the distributions for choice scholarships for the state fiscal year exceeds the amount that the legislative services agency before May 1, 2015, estimated would be made for such distributions for that state fiscal year. Provides for funding for new charter schools using an enrollment estimate. Requires a new charter school to submit an enrollment estimate to the department of education before April 1 of the year the new charter school will be open for enrollment. Provides that in each odd-numbered year, the department of education shall provide the new charter school's estimated ADM to the legislative services agency before April 10 of that year. Provides that certain innovation network charter schools are to be treated the same as a charter school for state funding purposes. |
| | Current Status: | 3/24/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/17/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/16/2016 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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| | State Bill Page: | SB330 |
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| SB362 | NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND VETERANS. (BANKS J) Extends employment protections under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and extends the rights, benefits, and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to members of the national guard of another state during state sponsored activation. Expands the definition of "photographic identification" to include identification documents issued by the United States or a state or territory of the United States. Allows military discharge records to be released to a person in possession of photographic identification and: (1) a power of attorney; (2) a court order appointing a guardian; or (3) a court order appointing a personal representative. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | Recent Status: | 3/15/2016 - Signed by the President of the Senate
3/10/2016 - Signed by the Speaker
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| | State Bill Page: | SB362 |
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