Makes the following changes for purposes of a statute that subjects a water or wastewater utility organized after June 30, 2018, to the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) with regard to certain aspects of the water or wastewater utility's operations for a period of 10 years: (1) Provides that the term "water or wastewater utility" includes a municipally owned utility that provides water service to less than 8,000 customers. (2) Deletes references to organization of a water or wastewater utility as a legal entity. Requires the IURC, in a rate case for a water or wastewater utility that extends service to an infrastructure development zone at the request of the governmental entity that established the infrastructure development zone, to approve inclusion in the water or wastewater utility's rate schedule of a surcharge payable only within the geographic area of the infrastructure development zone. (Under current law, such a surcharge must apply within the entire jurisdiction of the governmental entity.) Provides that, with respect to any water main extension or wastewater main extension, a utility shall comply with the IURC's rules governing water main extensions or wastewater main extensions, regardless of whether the utility is subject to the IURC's jurisdiction for the approval of rates and charges. Provides that a dispute arising over a water main extension or wastewater main extension may be submitted as an informal complaint to the IURC's consumer affairs division, regardless of whether the person requesting the extension is a customer of the utility involved. Provides that, if the IURC determines that it requires additional staff to handle the volume of informal complaints submitted, the IURC may impose a fee on a party against whom a decision is rendered. Provides that the fee may not exceed: (1) the IURC's actual costs in administering the informal complaint; or (2) $750. Provides that certain procedures for acquisition by a municipal utility of property of another utility apply to acquisition by a nonmunicipal utility of property of another utility, and prescribes requirements regarding appraisal of the value of utility property acquired by a nonmunicipal utility. Provides, for purposes of the factors the IURC must consider in determining whether a utility that acquires property of an offered utility may include the cost differential of the offered utility's property as part of the acquiring utility's rate base, that an offered utility is too small to capture economies of scale or is not furnishing or maintaining adequate, efficient, safe, and reasonable service and facilities if the IURC finds that the offered utility serves fewer than 8,000 customers (rather than 5,000 customers under current law). Provides: (1) that a city meeting certain population parameters may annex territory: (A) that is not contiguous to the city; (B) that is south of the southernmost boundary of the city; (C) the entire area of which is not more than four miles from the city's boundary; and (D) that does not extend more than one mile to the east of a state highway; (2) that the annexed territory is not considered a part of the city for purposes of annexation of additional territory; and (3) that the city may not require connection to a sewer installed to provide service to the annexed territory. Provides that certain provisions regarding approval of sewage disposal and treatment fees apply to a sanitation district that: (1) is located in a county that meets specified population parameters; and (2) is under an order or party to an agreement with one or more state or federal agencies to remediate environmental conditions.
Sponsored bills
Prohibits an employer from requiring a candidate for employment or an employee to have a device implanted or otherwise incorporated into the candidate's or employee's body as a condition of employment, as a condition of employment in a particular position, or as a condition of receiving additional compensation or benefits.
Provides a new schedule of rates for calendar years after December 31, 2020. Specifies that Schedule C applies for calendar years 2021 through 2025. Provides new contribution rates for calendar years after 2020.
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.
Renames the offense of "interfering with law enforcement" to "interfering with public safety", and provides that a person who enters a marked off area after having been denied entry by an emergency medical services provider commits interfering with public safety. (Under current law, the offense is only committed if the person is denied entry by a law enforcement officer.)
Allows a federal enforcement officer with at least five years of service to be appointed as a police chief or deputy police chief in a city. Provides that the statewide 911 board may increase an enhanced prepaid wireless charge one time after April 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $0.10. Revises the definition of "statewide 911 system". Provides that the statewide 911 board may adjust the statewide 911 fee one time after April 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $0.10. Requires 60 days prior notice to the department of state revenue of any rate change to the enhanced prepaid wireless charge or the statewide 911 fee.
Authorizes the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) commissioner to declare an emergency when a part of the state highway system has been damaged to the extent it is unusable by the traveling public or unsafe to use. (Under current law, the governor must declare such an emergency. Current law permits INDOT to award a contract for repairs by soliciting bids from at least three prequalified persons without use of the formal bidding process.) Repeals a provision that permits a contract to be awarded under such circumstances only if three bids are received and the lowest bid does not exceed the engineer's estimate to repair by more than 10%.
Provides that for certain transactions involving a cargo trailer or recreational vehicle, the state gross retail tax rate is the rate of the nonreciprocal state or foreign country (excluding any locally imposed tax rates) in which the cargo trailer or recreational vehicle will be titled or registered, as certified by the seller and purchaser in an affidavit prescribed by the department of state revenue (department). Provides what information must be included in the affidavit prescribed by the department. Provides that the department shall create a certificate of sales tax paid form for a cargo trailer or recreational vehicle that may be completed by the dealer and provided to the purchaser of a cargo trailer or recreational vehicle sold in Indiana. Provides that the department may audit submitted affidavits and make a proposed assessment of the amount of unpaid tax due with respect to any incorrect information.
Amends a statute concerning manufactured homes (manufactured home statute) to provide, with respect to a manufactured home located outside of a mobile home community, as follows: (1) A comprehensive plan or zoning ordinance adopted by a unit of local government may: (A) specify aesthetic standards and requirements concerning the manufactured home's permanent foundation system; and (B) require compatibility of the manufactured home's permanent foundation system with surrounding residential structures. (2) A unit of local government may not require: (A) a permanent foundation system that is incompatible with the structural design of the manufactured home; or (B) more than one permanent foundation system for a manufactured home. Specifies that the changes to the manufactured home statute do not affect a requirement applicable to property that is subject to the jurisdiction of a preservation commission. Provides that a unit of local government may not adopt or enforce certain ordinances, regulations, requirements, or other restrictions that mandate size requirements for a manufactured home that is placed in a mobile home community. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, an industrialized residential structure may be located in a mobile home community. Requires a mobile home community operator (operator) to provide all owners of mobile homes, manufactured homes, or industrialized residential structures in a mobile home community with written notice not less than 180 days before the mobile home community's closure. Provides that an operator who violates the notice requirement commits a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general or a consumer. Prohibits a unit of local government from regulating certain aspects of a landlord-tenant relationship with respect to privately owned real property located in the unit unless the regulation is authorized by the general assembly. Prohibits a landlord from taking certain retaliatory actions in response to a tenant's engaging in one or more enumerated protected activities. Prohibits a local unit from adopting or enforcing any ordinance or regulation concerning retaliatory acts by landlords. Makes conforming changes.
Provides that a permit is not required from the Indiana department of environmental management for the maintenance or reconstruction of a regulated drain in accordance with certain best management practices for purposes of the law concerning state regulated wetlands, as long as the work takes place within the current easement and the reconstruction does not substantially change the characteristics of the drain to perform the function for which it was designed and constructed.