Establishes the low barrier homeless shelter task force. Beginning July 1, 2022: (1) allows a township trustee to place a homeless individual temporarily in a county home or provide temporary township assistance; and (2) requires the township trustees within a county to collaborate and prepare a list of public and private resources available to the homeless population that is distributed and published on the county's Internet web site, if the county has a web site, not later than March 1 of each year. Provides that a person commits the offense of criminal trespass if: (1) the person, who does not have a contractual interest in the property, knowingly or intentionally enters or refuses to leave the property of another person after having been prohibited from entering or asked to leave the property by a law enforcement officer when the property is designated by a municipality or county enforcement authority to be an unsafe building or premises; or (2) the person knowingly or intentionally enters the property of another person after being denied entry by a court order that has been issued to the person or issued to the general public by conspicuous posting on or around the premises in areas where a person can observe the order when the property has been designated by a municipality or county enforcement authority to be an unsafe building or premises; unless the person has the written permission of the owner, the owner's agent, an enforcement authority, or a court to come onto the property for purposes of performing maintenance, repair, or demolition. Provides that an individual who harasses another person with the intent to obtain property from the other person commits aggressive harassment, a Class C misdemeanor. Defines "harasses". Repeals the chapter concerning panhandling.
Provides that if a petition for an order for protection is filed by a person or on behalf of an unemancipated minor, the court shall determine, after reviewing the petition or making an inquiry, whether issuing the order for protection may impact a school corporation's ability to provide in-person instruction for the person or the unemancipated minor. Creates a procedure that requires a school corporation to receive notice if the court determines that issuing the order for protection may impact the school corporation's ability to provide in-person instruction for the person or the unemancipated minor. Enhances the penalty for domestic battery to a Level 6 felony if the offense is committed against a family or household member: (1) who has been issued a protection order that protects the family or household member from the person and the protection order was in effect at the time the person committed the offense; or (2) while a no contact order issued by the court directing the person to refrain from having any direct or indirect contact with the family or household member was in effect at the time the person committed the offense. Enhances the penalty for domestic battery to a Level 5 felony when the offender has a prior conviction for strangulation against the same family or household member.
Reinstates provisions that were repealed in the 2016 session in Senate Bill 309 regarding eligibility for the property tax exemption for improvements on real property that are constructed, rehabilitated, or acquired for the purpose of providing low income housing. Provides that payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) may be required from a property owner claiming such an exemption.
Increases the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the Allen County PSCDA from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. Provides for distribution of the covered taxes in the Allen County PSCDA as follows: (1) The first $2,600,000 to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. (2) The next $400,000 to the Allen County-Fort Wayne capital improvement board (board) for the Grand Wayne Center. (3) The remaining amount to the board to be split evenly between the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and the Grand Wayne Center. Specifies the termination date of the Allen County PSCDA. Provides that the Evansville PSCDA (which is currently expired) is renewed beginning after June 30, 2021, for an additional 20 years, including the addition of the downtown convention center hotel to the Evansville PSCDA. Provides that the South Bend PSCDA (which is currently expired) is renewed beginning after June 30, 2021, for an additional 20 years, including the addition of three downtown hotels, the Howard Park event center, and facilities located at the Indiana University South Bend campus to the South Bend PSCDA. Provides that the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the renewed South Bend PSCDA is $2,000,000 per year. Revises the expiration date for the PSCDA chapter.
Provides that the theft of a component part of a motor vehicle, including a catalytic converter, is a Level 6 felony. Expands qualifying prior convictions for Level 6 felony theft to include robbery and burglary. Provides that a valuable metal dealer who: (1) knowingly or intentionally fails to comply with certain statutes regulating the purchase of a valuable metal; and (2) purchases a stolen valuable metal; commits a Level 6 felony.
Provides that the innkeeper's tax board of managers (board of managers) shall support and assist the Potawatomi Zoo to secure bonds up to a term of 20 years to pay costs associated with financing projects for the Potawatomi Zoo. Authorizes the county fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to increase the tax rate to not more than 8% on a person renting or furnishing lodging accommodations in St. Joseph County. (Under current law, the tax rate is 6%.) Provides that if the county fiscal body adopts an ordinance to increase the tax rate, the county fiscal body must specify the effective date that the ordinance takes effect and immediately send a certified copy of the ordinance to the commissioner of the department of state revenue. Creates the Morris Performing Arts Center fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Creates the tourism capital investment fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Establishes an application process to award investment money to projects that have a substantial likelihood of increasing overnight guests in the hotel motel industry of St. Joseph County. Specifies the amount of tax revenue that the county treasurer shall deposit in the: (1) convention and exhibition center fund; (2) Mishawaka indoor sports complex fund; (3) Potawatomi Zoo fund; (4) Morris Performing Arts Center fund; and (5) tourism capital investment fund.
Prohibits a person who is delinquent in the payment of personal property taxes or is subject to an existing personal property tax judgment from bidding on or purchasing a tract at a tax sale. Prohibits a business entity from bidding on or purchasing a tract at a tax sale when a person who is prohibited from bidding on or purchasing a tract at a tax sale: (1) formed the business entity; (2) joined with another person or party to form the business entity; (3) joined the business entity as a proprietor, incorporator, partner, shareholder, director, employee, or member; (4) becomes an agent, employee, or board member of the business entity; or (5) is not an attorney at law and represents the business entity in a legal matter. Requires a person to acknowledge that providing false information relating to a prohibited bid or purchase is perjury. Creates a new section of code with revised requirements for the forfeiture of a tax sale purchase by an ineligible bidder. Requires a county treasurer, except for in a county containing a consolidated city, to pay all taxes and assessments that accrue on the tract of real estate through the time the record owner is divested of title from the tax sale surplus fund for the tract. Permits a county legislative body to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the assignment of a certificate of sale prior to the issuance of a tax title deed. Adds requirements that must be met within 150 days of the date a court grants a petition to issue a tax deed before a county auditor can issue or record a tax deed.
Changes the membership requirements for members of the Native American Indian affairs commission as follows: (1) Specifies that eight, rather than six, members must be Native American Indians from different geographic regions of Indiana. (2) Adds two nonvoting members appointed by the minority leaders of the senate and house of representatives. (3) Removes the requirement that two members must be Native American Indians who have knowledge in Native American traditions and spiritual issues. (4) Replaces the commissioner of the commission for higher education or the commissioner's designee as an ex officio member with the director of the department of child services or the director's designee. (5) Provides that not more than two members of the commission may represent the same tribe or organization. (Current law limits a particular tribe or organization to one member.)
Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Establishes the small business restart grant fund (fund). Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) administers the program and fund. Allows the corporation to award grants from the fund. Provides parameters for the program. However, authorizes the corporation to change the parameters of the program, which, if a change is made, must be reviewed by the budget committee at the meeting following the change. Makes an appropriation.
Establishes a procedure permitting an immediate family member of a deceased individual to request the superintendent of the state police department to conduct a new investigation into the death of the individual if: (1) a local law enforcement agency has determined that the death was not the result of a criminal act by a third party; (2) the individual was not under the care of a physician or the victim of medical malpractice; and (3) the family member has a reasonable suspicion that the death was the result of a criminal act by a third party.
Provides that an electric utility that has certain qualified costs that: (1) are associated with an electric generation facility that will be retired from service within 24 months; and (2) are equal to at least 5% of the electric utility's total electric base rate; may file a petition with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a financing order authorizing the securitization of the qualified costs. Provides that an "electric utility", for purposes of the bill, is a public utility that: (1) owns or operates any electric generation facility for the provision of electric utility service to Indiana customers; (2) is under the jurisdiction of the IURC; and (3) has a total of not more than 200,000 retail electric customers. Provides that not later than 240 days after a petition for a financing order is filed, the IURC shall conduct a hearing and issue an order on the petition. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that: (1) the electric utility has proposed a reasonable mechanism to reflect a reduction in the electric utility's base rates and charges upon the assessment of securitization charges on customer bills, so as to remove any qualified costs from the electric utility's base rates; and (2) the mechanism will provide timely rate savings for customers. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that the electric utility will make capital investments in Indiana in an amount equal to or exceeding the amount of the electric utility's qualified costs, over a period of not more than seven years immediately following the issuance date of the securitization bonds. Provides that if the IURC makes the required findings with respect to the petition, the IURC shall issue a financing order that authorizes: (1) the issuance of securitization bonds with a term of not more than 20 years; (2) the collection of securitization charges from the electric utility's customers; and (3) the encumbrance of the resulting securitization property with a lien and security interest. Provides that qualified costs authorized in a financing order shall be allocated to the electric utility's customer classes using the same cost allocation methodology approved by the IURC in the electric utility's most recent base rate case, subject to certain exceptions. Provides that if an electric utility does not cause securitization bonds to be issued not later than 90 days after the date of a final, non-appealable financing order, the electric utility shall file a statement of abandonment with the IURC stating the reasons for the abandonment. Provides that a financing order issued by the IURC under these provisions must include a mechanism: (1) requiring that securitization charges be reviewed and adjusted by the IURC at least annually; and (2) allowing an electric utility, on its own initiative, to apply to the IURC at any time during a calendar year for an adjustment of its securitization charges, as the electric utility determines to be necessary; to correct any over collections or under collections of securitization charges, and to ensure the recovery of amounts sufficient to timely make all payments of debt service in connection with the securitization bonds. Sets forth provisions concerning the encumbrance of securitization property with a lien and security interest, including provisions concerning: (1) the attachment and perfection; and (2) the priority; of a security interest in securitization property. Specifies that securitization bonds are not: (1) a debt or obligation of the state; or (2) a charge on the state's full faith and credit or on the state's taxing power. Pledges that the state will not: (1) take or permit any action that would impair the value of securitization property; or (2) reduce, alter, or impair related securitization charges; until certain obligations in connection with the related securitization bonds have been paid or performed in full. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the task of studying during the 2022 legislative interim: (1) the implementation; and (2) use by electric utilities; of the bill's provisions concerning the securitization of costs for retired electric utility assets. Provides that if the committee is assigned to study this topic, the committee: (1) shall consider available data and other information concerning participating electric utilities to which the IURC has issued a financing order under the bill's provisions; (2) may request this data and information from certain parties; and (3) shall, not later than November 1, 2022, submit to the legislative council a report setting forth the committee's findings and recommendations, including the committee's recommendations as to whether to allow, under the bill's provisions, additional electricity suppliers to securitize costs associated with retired electric utility assets.
Provides that attendant care services include the use of lift equipment. Requires a personal services agency that provides lift services to have liability insurance. Provides that a client who receives attendant care services may decline assistance with any component of the attendant care services. Specifies that a client is not required to use lift equipment when lift services are provided. Requires a personal services agency that offers lift services to train each employee who provides those services. Specifies that lift services are subject to the same evaluation and training requirements as other attendant care service tasks.
