Urging health insurers to donate some of their increased net earnings to state and local health departments to support COVID-19 vaccination programs.
Requires that an owner or operator of a public accommodation must activate closed captioning on all television receivers that are in use during regular hours. Provides that the definition of "television receiver" includes a receiver or electronic device that receives television or streamed programming and has the ability to display closed captioning, including a television, a display screen, and a digital set top box. Allows the civil rights commission (commission) to investigate violations and enforce compliance. Provides that the commission may impose the following civil penalties: (1) $50 for the first violation. (2) $150 for the second violation. (3) $300 for the third violation. (4) $500 for the fourth violation and each subsequent violation. Provides that if a penalty is imposed, the commission must enter into a remedial plan with the owner or operator for the first violation.
Provides that, to the extent that the definition of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in Title 6 of the Indiana Code is not updated by amendment in the 2021 session or thereafter to conform with the CARES Act and its related amendments, a taxpayer is entitled to an exemption from state adjusted gross income equal to the amount of income associated with forgiveness of a covered loan under the Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act that is excluded from the taxpayer's federal gross income under Section 1106(i) of that Act, but otherwise included in the taxpayer's state adjusted gross income based on the definition of the IRC in Title 6 of the Indiana Code.
Requires that, whenever the actual costs for the construction of a public improvement are at least $150,000, a contractor or subcontractor shall pay the workers employed in the performance of work for the construction of the public improvement a rate of wages that is not less than the prevailing wage determined by the commissioner of the department of labor (commissioner). Requires that employer contributions for fringe benefits paid under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement be included in the prevailing wage determination unless a contractor or subcontractor is required by federal, state, or local law to provide the fringe benefit. Provides that a prevailing wage determination is conclusive for one year from the date of the determination unless the determination is superseded by a later determination. Requires that all prevailing wage determinations be publicly available. Requires that a contract or subcontract for the construction of a public improvement contain a provision stating that the contractor or subcontractor is required to pay a rate of wages that is not less than the prevailing wage, and that, if it is determined that a worker has been paid less than the prevailing wage, the public body may terminate the contract or part of the contract and continue the work with the public body's own work force or another contractor or subcontractor. Requires a contractor or subcontractor to make full payment of wages without any deductions, except for deductions required by federal or state law and deductions agreed to by the worker and approved by the contracting public body as fair and reasonable. Provides that, if a contractor or subcontractor fails to provide records requested by the commissioner concerning the payment of a prevailing wage, the commissioner may direct the fiscal or financial officer of the contracting public body to withhold from payment up to 25% of the contract amount and pay the workers directly any wages and fringe benefits due and payable. Requires the commissioner to distribute to all public bodies in the state a list of persons and firms that the commissioner has determined have not paid prevailing wages and prohibits a public body from awarding a contract or subcontract to a person or firm on the list for three years after the list is published. Provides mechanisms for the commissioner, workers, or an interested body to enforce violations of the prevailing wage law. Requires a contractor or subcontractor that fails to pay prevailing wages to pay as a civil penalty 75% of the difference between the prevailing wage rate and the wages paid to the workers. Deposits the civil penalties into a prevailing wage penalty enforcement fund to be used to pay expenses incurred by the commissioner in the administration and enforcement of the prevailing wage law. Prohibits a person from requesting or demanding all or a portion of a worker's wages in exchange for employment on the construction of a public improvement. Prohibits a public body from dividing the construction of a public improvement into two or more contracts to avoid paying the prevailing wage.
Establishes an application process for: (1) operators of qualifying performing arts venues; (2) producers; and (3) promoters; to apply for grants for purposes of offsetting the economic impact to the music, comedy, and performing arts industry as a result of COVID-19. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation shall administer the grants. Provides that grants shall be issued with money received from the federal government in relation to COVID-19. Makes an appropriation.
Urges the legislative council to assign the study of Indiana's mental health hospital system to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim.
Requires each person or entity having authority over a public school building to test for radon in the school building. Requires the reporting of the test results to the state department of health. Requires the state department of health to record the test results in a database and to use the database in its efforts to reduce the health risks of radon to the people of Indiana.
Defines "public building" as a building used in the operation of state government, county government, or the government of a city, town, or township. Requires the office of management and budget to perform a cost benefit analysis to determine the potential overall savings that could be realized if all public buildings constructed after December 31, 2021, were built to attain at least silver LEED certification and if all public buildings in existence and use on January 1, 2022, were upgraded to meet at least silver LEED certification standards before January 1, 2024.
Establishes the COVID-19 fireworks public safety fee fund for the purpose of assisting certain public safety and medical personnel who have encountered direct hardship due to COVID-19. Raises the public safety fee on the retail sales of fireworks from 5% to 10%. Provides that 50% of the public safety fee is to be deposited in the state general fund and 50% of the public safety fee is to be deposited in the COVID-19 fireworks public safety fee fund.
Provides that after December 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2022, a governing body of a state or local public agency may conduct any meeting of the governing body without any of its members physically present, if the members communicate with each other and the public by an electronic means of communication and comply with the other requirements of the open door law. Prohibits a court from assessing a civil penalty or voiding a final action, decision, or policy adopted by the governing body at a meeting held after December 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2022, without any members being physically present.
