Rep. Jeff Ellington

Recognizing January 11th as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Provides that once a certified technology park reaches its cap, an additional amount equal to incremental income taxes shall be captured (not to exceed $500,000 annually or in the case of a certified technology park operated by two or more redevelopment commissions, $500,000 per redevelopment commission). (Currently, the additional deposit may not exceed $100,000.) Provides that an additional deposit in excess of a cap is applicable only to a certified technology park located in Crane, Indiana, or within a radius of five miles of a qualified military base.

Provides that the planning and zoning law does not authorize a unit that has adopted the advisory planning law to prevent forestry or agricultural activities outside the corporate boundaries of a municipality. Makes stylistic changes.

Provides that a county, city, or town that either eliminates or reduces the width of a lane of road or street will have a percentage of the money distributed from the local road and street account reduced for the following year. Specifies that the percentage of distribution reduced is based upon the years of use of the lane and the length of the elimination or width reduction of the lane. Provides for a maximum percentage of distribution reduction. Provides that the section does not apply to temporary lane closures and width reductions. Provides that the Indiana department of transportation (department) when notified in writing shall inspect the lane for elimination or width reduction. Provides that the department will notify the auditor of the state of the percentage of distribution to be withheld. Provides that the department may adopt rules. Provides that a county, city, or town with a road or street construction project that eliminates or reduces a lane is ineligible for state and federal funding and grants for the project.

Repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana. Prohibits certain individuals from knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun including persons convicted of a federal or state offense punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Creates the crime of "unlawful carrying of a handgun". Provides that a prohibited person who knowingly or intentionally carries a handgun commits a Class A misdemeanor. Specifies that the unlawful carrying of a handgun is a Level 4 felony when a person: (1) is less than 23 years of age; and (2) has an adjudication as a delinquent child for an act described by IC 35-47-4-5 (unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon). Allows a resident of Indiana who wishes to carry a firearm in another state under a reciprocity agreement entered into by Indiana and the other state to obtain from the superintendent of the state police department a reciprocity license. Requires law enforcement agencies to make use of certain data bases when issuing reciprocity licenses. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides that a railroad company must make, maintain, and repair certain of its crossings at its expense.

Provides that if, absent a legitimate fiscal reason, the fiscal body of a governmental unit adopts an ordinance or undertakes any other measure that would reduce the annual budget amount for an upcoming fiscal year of the governmental unit's police department to an amount lower than the police department's annual budget amount for the prior fiscal year, the budget amount for the police department for the prior fiscal year will be the budget amount for the police department for the upcoming fiscal year. Provides that if, absent a legitimate fiscal reason, the fiscal body of a governmental unit adopts an ordinance or undertakes any other measure that would reduce the number of budgeted police officer positions, or that would shift any budgeted police officer positions to non-policing positions, for an upcoming fiscal year that would cause the number of budgeted police officer positions for the upcoming fiscal year to be lower than the number of budgeted police officer positions for the prior fiscal year, the number of budgeted police officer positions for the prior fiscal year will be the number of budgeted police officer positions for the upcoming fiscal year. Provides that if a governmental unit demonstrates a legitimate fiscal reason for a reduction in the police department's budget amount or a reduction in the number of budgeted police officer positions from the prior fiscal year to the upcoming fiscal year, the percentage of the reduction in the police department's budget amount may not exceed the percentage of any reduction in the budget amount for any other department within the governmental unit. Provides that if a governmental unit cannot demonstrate that its police department properly responded to 911 emergency calls during a fiscal year, the governmental unit may be subject to having a portion of its annual levy for the subsequent fiscal year transferred to another governmental unit.

Provides that the governor shall not limit the operation of a business, industry, or religious organization as long as the business, industry, or religious organization is following standard safety procedures and guidelines when making, amending, and rescinding the necessary orders, rules, and regulations in the event of a disaster or emergency beyond local control. Provides that: (1) the initial state of disaster emergency may not continue longer than 30 days following the initial date of the declaration; and (2) a state of disaster emergency may not be renewed or extended by the governor without the approval of the general assembly. Provides that if the governor calls a special session, the special session shall be limited only to consideration of the purpose for which the initial state of disaster emergency was declared. Provides that if a local emergency is declared, a political subdivision may not limit the operation of a business, industry, or religious organization as long as the business, industry, or religious organization is following standard safety procedures and guidelines. Provides that an emergency order or emergency action longer than seven days that is issued by a county health officer or municipal health officer must be approved by the executive of a unit that has an established health department. Provides that any extensions of an emergency order or emergency action issued by a county health officer or a municipal health officer must be approved by the executive of a unit every 30 days. Repeals the provision giving local health officers the authority to order churches closed when considered necessary by the local health officers to prevent and stop epidemics. Provides that a public health authority shall not limit the operation of a business, industry, or religious organization in the event of a quarantine as long as the business, industry, or religious organization is following standard safety procedures and guidelines. Makes conforming changes.

Increases the insurance premiums tax from 1.3% to 1.35%. Transfers the money received from the increase in the tax to the law enforcement academy fund (fund). Amends the fund provisions to allow the law enforcement training board to use money in the fund for: (1) capital projects; (2) technology equipment and services; and (3) curriculum development; for a law enforcement academy (including the northwest Indiana law enforcement academy and the southwest Indiana law enforcement academy). Specifies that money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.

Provides that any person may request the discharge records of a veteran if the veteran has been discharged for at least 62 years.