Establishes the student hunger and homelessness study committee (committee) for the purposes of: (1) studying the prevalence of homelessness, housing insecurity, and food insecurity among students at Indiana colleges and universities during the 2021 academic year; and (2) providing suggestions for eliminating these issues. Provides that the committee must determine, as accurately as practicable, the number of Indiana college and university students who are homeless, housing insecure, or food insecure. Provides that the committee consists of: (1) an employee of the family and social services administration; (2) an employee of the department of child services; (3) an employee of the department of education; (4) an employee of the commission for higher education; (5) an employee of the Indiana housing and community development authority; (6) a member of the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana; and (7) an employee of each state educational institution. Provides that the committee may solicit assistance from private groups, colleges, and universities in performing the study. Requires the committee to report the results of the study to the governor and the legislative council not later than July 31, 2022.
Rep. Earl Harris
Sponsored bills
Provides for the establishment of the Indiana public safety training matching fund for the purpose of encouraging private investment in first responder training and providing financial assistance to public safety training facilities in Indiana that provide first responder integrated, coordinated, and collaborative training to law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel.
Provides that in order for the commission on Hispanic/Latino affairs to take action at a meeting, at least: (1) 11 members must be present; and (2) a majority of the members present at the meeting (instead a majority of members appointed to the commission) must vote in favor of the action.
Changes the name of the governor's commission on minority and women's business enterprises to the governor's commission on supplier diversity (commission). Relocates provisions concerning small businesses owned and operated by Indiana veterans to the commission's statutes. Makes conforming changes.
Increases, from $150,000 to $225,000, the special death benefit for certain public safety officers, certain motor carrier inspectors, certain special police employees, members of the 1925 police pension fund, the 1937 firefighters' pension fund, the 1953 police pension fund, and the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who die in the line of duty after June 30, 2020. Provides that the board shall determine contributions and contribution rates for individual employers or for a group of employers necessary to adequately maintain the special death benefit fund. Provides that, for certain police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers, the cost of the coverage is in addition to the contribution determined by the board.
Requires each person or entity having authority over a school building to test the drinking water in the school building before January 1, 2023, to determine whether the drinking water equals or exceeds the action level for lead of 15 parts per billion. Provides that the testing requirement is satisfied if the drinking water of a school building: (1) was tested during the lead sampling program for school buildings conducted by the Indiana finance authority (IFA) in 2017 and 2018; (2) is tested in the lead sampling program conducted by the IFA in 2019 and 2020; or has otherwise been tested for compliance with the federal drinking water standards at least once since 2016. Requires that drinking water in school buildings located in Lake County be tested at least once in each period of two calendar years beginning in 2023. Provides that if a test of the drinking water of a school building indicates the presence of lead in the water equal to or greater than 15 parts per billion, the person or entity having authority over the school building is required to take action to reduce the lead levels in the drinking water to less than 15 parts per billion. Provides that the person or entity having authority over a school building that is subject to drinking water testing is required to seek state and federal money that is available for lead sampling or testing.
Provides that the board of the northwest Indiana regional development authority (NWIRDA) may establish any nonprofit entity to carry out and further the purposes, plans, and goals of the NWIRDA with regard to projects located within a transit development district. Authorizes the nonprofit entity to use money it receives only for projects that are located within a transit development district and to further any part of the comprehensive strategic plan of the development authority that relates to transit development districts. Specifies that the nonprofit entity is a governmental body required to provide its current audited financial statements to the development authority. Adds similar provisions to allow the north central Indiana regional development authority to establish a nonprofit entity to carry out and further the purposes, plans, and goals of that development authority with regard to projects located within a transit development district established by the NWIRDA. Requires the redevelopment commission for each county that is a member of the north central Indiana regional development authority to collaborate with the development authority for the purposes of the nonprofit entity. Provides that certain provisions related to electronic communications, executive sessions, and public records apply to a nonprofit entity created by the NWIRDA or a nonprofit entity established by the north central Indiana regional development authority. Provides that the NWIRDA may expend money related to transit development districts or any nonprofit entity created by the NWIRDA to carry out and further the purposes of the NWIRDA with regard to projects located within a transit development district. Provides that the Indiana finance authority (IFA), the NWIRDA, or the northern Indiana commuter transportation district (NICTD) may enter upon land to conduct a survey or investigation for the construction of the following rail projects: (1) The mainline double tracking project. (2) The West Lake corridor project. Provides that the IFA, the NWIRDA, or the NICTD has the same powers and duties as the Indiana department of transportation with regard to the work, including the means of conducting the survey or investigation, provision of notice to occupants of the land, and compensation for damages to land or water incurred in conducting the work. Requires the state budget committee to annually review the amount raised from sources other than taxes and fares for public transportation projects established in certain central Indiana counties. Provides that, in the case of Marion County, if the fiscal body of Marion County does not pay at least 10% of the annual operating expenses of the public transportation project from sources other than taxes and fares, then after December 31 of that year the following apply until the fiscal body of Marion County pays the amount, as determined following the annual state budget committee for review: (1) Beginning after June 30, 2020, the treasurer of state shall withhold 10% from the amount of the certified distribution attributable to the additional tax local income tax rate imposed in Marion County for the public transportation project. (2) Money in Marion County's public transportation project fund may be used only for certain purposes.
Recognizing "Farmworkers Awareness Week", Cesar Chavez, and the work of Proteus, Inc.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing dyslexia in Hoosier youth.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing teachers and the work they do.