Rep. Gregory Porter

Provides that a bias motivated crime is a crime in which the person who commits the crime knowingly or intentionally selects: (1) the individual against whom the crime was committed; or (2) any property damaged or otherwise affected by the crime; in whole or in part because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or disability of the individual or a group of individuals, whether or not the person's belief or perception was correct. Amends the law that requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report information concerning bias motivated crimes.

Repeals language concerning: (1) a juvenile court ordering a parent to reimburse a county for certain costs related to the placement of a child in need of services (CHINS), placement of a delinquent child, or a child made a ward of the department of child services (DCS); (2) a parent being required to reimburse the department of correction for costs of certain services; (3) certain juvenile probation fees; (4) court costs for CHINS and delinquency proceedings; (5) costs for a child returned to Indiana under an interstate compact; (6) a parent to reimburse a county for public defender services provided to a child; and (7) fines, costs, and fees imposed on a delinquent child, or the parent or guardian of a delinquent child, throughout the juvenile code. Repeals the division of youth services transitional services fund. Removes proceedings in paternity from the civil costs fee for a party filing certain civil actions. Provides that any: (1) outstanding costs, fees, or other financial obligations; or (2) any warrant based solely on costs, fees, or other financial obligations; that have been imposed on a delinquent child or the parent or guardian of a delinquent child are vacated and unenforceable. Urges the legislative council to assign an appropriate interim committee to study the collection and distribution of court cost fees.

Requires a tenant to inform the landlord if the tenant reasonably suspects the presence of bed bugs. Requires the landlord to have the dwelling inspected by a qualified inspector. Requires the landlord to inform the tenant if the inspection report indicates the presence of bed bugs. Requires the landlord to have a pest control applicator treat a dwelling that contains bed bugs. Establishes responsibilities for the tenant and landlord concerning notice, access, and costs. Allows the state chemist to adopt rules concerning bed bug inspections and the application of pesticides for bed bugs in dwelling units.

Celebrating Black History Month.

Establishes the law enforcement performance audit pilot program to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not engage in discriminatory hiring practices or the use of excessive force.

Urges the legislative council to assign to the audit and financial reporting subcommittee of the legislative council the tasks of studying, identifying, and recommending any legislative changes necessary to establish and preserve independence of the state board of accounts.

Creates a statewide citizen review commission (commission) as an independent state agency that investigates and reviews the following: (1) All incidents involving a local law enforcement officer's use of force in attempting to apprehend or gain physical control of a person resulting in the person's death. (2) Citizen complaints involving local law enforcement officer misconduct that are unresolved by the officer's department. Provides that the commission: (1) consists of 15 citizen voting members appointed by the governor and five ex-officio nonvoting members; and (2) is chaired by the inspector general or the inspector general's designee.

Provides that the state or a body corporate and politic set up as an instrumentality of the state must submit the proposed terms of a program, agreement, or extension granting, awarding, or otherwise providing federal funds in an amount greater than $100,000,000 to the budget committee for review before entering into the program, agreement, or extension.

Requires a charter school to adopt discipline rules to prohibit bullying. Requires a school that accepts choice scholarships to adopt discipline rules to prohibit bullying. Requires a state accredited nonpublic school that accepts funding or financial assistance from the state to adopt discipline rules that prohibit bullying.

Increases the personal exemption to $1,500 in the definition of adjusted gross income for a taxpayer, or, in the case of a joint return, for each spouse. Increases the exemption for dependents to $1,500. Increases the exemption to $1,500 for the spouse of the taxpayer if a separate return is made by the taxpayer and the spouse and if the spouse had no gross income for the calendar year.