A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing the victims of the Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting.
Amends the statute governing the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund as follows: (1) Provides that an "eligible broadband project" for purposes of the statute includes a project for the deployment of terrestrial broadband infrastructure: (A) to buildings used by public school corporations primarily for educating students; (B) to rural health clinics; (C) to ensure that eligible students (defined as Indiana residents who are less than 23 years of age and who are enrolled in a K-12 school in Indiana) have access points providing a connection to eligible broadband service; and (D) in rural areas in Indiana. (Current law provides that an "eligible broadband project" means only a project for the deployment of broadband infrastructure for the provision of eligible broadband service in rural areas in Indiana.) (2) Specifies that terrestrial broadband infrastructure includes infrastructure used for a fixed wireless Internet connection but does not include infrastructure used for a satellite Internet connection. (3) Provides that "eligible broadband service" means a connection to the Internet that provides an actual speed of at least: (A) 1,000 megabits per second downstream for a project involving the deployment of broadband infrastructure to public school corporation buildings or rural health clinics; or (B) 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream for a project to provide to eligible students access points for connections to eligible broadband service, or for a project to provide eligible broadband service to rural areas. (4) Specifies the following priorities for the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund: (A) First, for extending eligible broadband service to public school corporation buildings with respect to which the only available Internet connections are at actual speeds of less than 1,000 megabits per second downstream. (B) Second, for extending eligible broadband service to rural health clinics with respect to which the only available Internet connections are at actual speeds of less than 1,000 megabits per second downstream. (C) Third, for extending eligible broadband service so as to ensure that every eligible student has at the student's residence an access point providing a connection to eligible broadband service. (D) Fourth, extending eligible broadband service to rural areas in which the only available connections to the Internet are at actual speeds of less than 25 megabits per second downstream. (5) Provides that a state agency may fund an eligible broadband project that is designated as a lower priority under the funding priorities set forth in the statute if no competitive applications for eligible broadband projects designated as a higher priority are submitted in a particular round of grant funding. (6) Specifies that a grant may not be awarded from the rural broadband fund: (A) for any project to extend the deployment of eligible broadband service to one or more service addresses for which funding from the federal government has been used or will be disbursed to extend broadband service at actual speeds of at least 25 megabits per second downstream to those same addresses; or (B) if the awarding of the grant would jeopardize funding that has been awarded by the federal government under certain programs for purposes of expanding broadband service in Indiana. (7) Provides that the system of priorities used by the office of community and rural affairs (office) for awarding grants from the rural broadband fund must give preference to projects that require a lower contribution from the fund per passing, as determined by a specified calculation. (8) Provides that the procedures established by the office for the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund must require the office to: (A) include, in publishing grant applications to the office's Internet web site, specific addresses for which state funds would be used to provide eligible broadband service; and (B) consider, in making a determination as to whether to award a grant to an applicant, all comments or objections received during the statutory comment period, including any new grant application that: (i) is submitted within the statutory comment period by another eligible broadband service provider; and (ii) indicates that such other provider would be willing to provide eligible broadband service to the same addresses at a lower cost to the state. (9) Requires the office to establish a program to expand broadband Internet connectivity by: (A) entering into agreements with broadband service providers under which such providers agree to accept subsidy payments distributed by the office as a form of payment for eligible broadband service; and (B) distributing subsidy payments to participating providers to be used as a form of payment for eligible broadband service provided before July 1, 2025, to certain persons and entities, prioritized as follows: (i) School buildings. (ii) Rural health clinics. (iii) Eligible students. Provides that money in the rural broadband fund may be used to provide financial assistance under the new program. (10) Requires the office to establish and publish on the office's Internet web site: (A) specific, measurable goals; and (B) metrics to be used in assessing the progress made toward accomplishing those goals; for the disbursement of state broadband grant funds. (11) Requires the office to report annually to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (rather than to the general assembly, under current law) concerning the awarding of state broadband grants. (12) Requires the state board of accounts to conduct an annual audit (rather than an audit every three years, under current law) of the awarding of state broadband grants. Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program (connectivity program), under which the office must establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report that minimum broadband Internet (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream) is unavailable at the individual's residential or business address. Provides that the public broadband portal must solicit information as to whether one or more eligible students reside at an address that is reported by an individual through the portal. Provides that the office may contract or consult with one or more third parties in the creation or administration of the portal. Provides that a broadband Internet provider may: (1) register with the connectivity program; (2) receive, at least every three months, notice of addresses submitted to the office as addresses at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable; (3) report to the office any listed address at which the provider's minimum broadband Internet service is already available; and (4) bid for an award of a grant for purposes of extending connectivity to broadband Internet service (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream) to an address at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable. Provides that if the office does not receive notice from any providers that minimum broadband Internet is available at an address reported through the public broadband portal, the office shall transmit to each registered provider a bid notification for provision of broadband Internet service at the address. Specifies requirements for a provider's submission of a bid under the program. Provides that in evaluating the bids received, the office shall select the provider whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state for extension of the provider's broadband Internet infrastructure to the address. Provides that the amount of a grant awarded to a registered provider under the program may not exceed the following: (1) A per-line extension amount that exceeds $25,000. (2) A per-passing amount that exceeds the state's cost per passing for all grants awarded from the rural broadband fund for rural broadband grants as of the last day of the immediately preceding state fiscal year, as calculated by the office. Requires the office to enter into an agreement with a provider that is awarded a grant under the program. Requires the office to provide to the general assembly an annual report containing specified data regarding the connectivity program.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Irv Cross.
Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) to implement a statewide electronic lien and title system (system) to process: (1) vehicle titles; (2) certificate of title data in which a lien is notated; and (3) the notification, maintenance, and release of security interests in vehicles; through electronic means instead of paper documents. Provides that the bureau may: (1) contract with one or more qualified vendors to develop and implement a system; or (2) develop an interface to provide qualified electronic lien service providers secure access to data to facilitate the creation of a system. Sets forth certain requirements that apply if the bureau elects to implement the system through a qualified vendor versus through qualified electronic lien service providers. Specifies that a contract entered into between the bureau and: (1) a qualified vendor; or (2) a qualified electronic lien service provider; may not provide for any costs or charges payable by the bureau to the qualified vendor or the qualified electronic lien service provider. Sets forth dates by which the bureau must implement and allow or require the use of: (1) a statewide electronic lien system; and (2) a statewide electronic title system. Sets forth certain conditions that apply to the use of a statewide electronic lien system implemented by the bureau under these provisions. Provides that under certain circumstances, the bureau may not charge state agencies or their agents with certain fees associated with the statewide electronic lien and title system. Authorizes the bureau to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement these provisions.
Reinstates provisions that were repealed in the 2016 session in Senate Bill 309 regarding eligibility for the property tax exemption for improvements on real property that are constructed, rehabilitated, or acquired for the purpose of providing low income housing. Provides that payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) may be required from a property owner claiming such an exemption.
Increases the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the Allen County PSCDA from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. Provides for distribution of the covered taxes in the Allen County PSCDA as follows: (1) The first $2,600,000 to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. (2) The next $400,000 to the Allen County-Fort Wayne capital improvement board (board) for the Grand Wayne Center. (3) The remaining amount to the board to be split evenly between the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and the Grand Wayne Center. Specifies the termination date of the Allen County PSCDA. Provides that the Evansville PSCDA (which is currently expired) is renewed beginning after June 30, 2021, for an additional 20 years, including the addition of the downtown convention center hotel to the Evansville PSCDA. Provides that the South Bend PSCDA (which is currently expired) is renewed beginning after June 30, 2021, for an additional 20 years, including the addition of three downtown hotels, the Howard Park event center, and facilities located at the Indiana University South Bend campus to the South Bend PSCDA. Provides that the maximum amount of covered taxes that may be captured in the renewed South Bend PSCDA is $2,000,000 per year. Revises the expiration date for the PSCDA chapter.
Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program (program) to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Establishes the small business restart grant fund (fund). Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) administers the program and fund. Allows the corporation to award grants from the fund. Provides parameters for the program. However, authorizes the corporation to change the parameters of the program, which, if a change is made, must be reviewed by the budget committee at the meeting following the change. Makes an appropriation.
Specifies that the bill is severable. Provides that the general assembly may convene in an emergency session if the legislative council adopts a resolution making certain findings concerning a state of emergency declared by the governor. Specifies the maximum length of an emergency session. Provides that in an emergency session the general assembly may enact only bills relating to the agenda stated in the legislative council's resolution. Provides that the general assembly may adopt concurrent resolutions and each house may adopt simple resolutions during an emergency session. Establishes the legislative state of emergency advisory group. Creates the economic stimulus fund (ESF) for the deposit of all discretionary funds received by the state. Defines "discretionary funds" to mean federal economic stimulus funds received under federal legislation granting the state authority to determine the amounts and manner in which the federal economic stimulus funds may be expended. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may not be allotted or expended unless appropriated by the general assembly or reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that before discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is not convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may be allotted to or expended by a state agency or instrumentality, the allotment or expenditure must be reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF may not be expended, transferred, assigned, or otherwise removed from the ESF by the state board of finance, the budget agency, or any other state agency except as permitted under the provisions of the statute. Exempts federal economic stimulus funds obligated or expended before April 29, 2021, from the application of the statute. Provides that a violation of the disaster statute (IC 10-14-3) or an order authorized by that statute is a Class B infraction instead of a Class B misdemeanor.
Establishes the northeast Indiana strategic development commission (commission) as a body corporate and politic. Provides for appointment of members of the commission. Specifies the purposes of the commission.
Provides that a taxpayer, upon appealing the assessment of certain commercial real property, must provide information concerning the actual construction costs for the commercial real property. Provides that if a taxpayer does not provide information concerning the actual construction costs for the commercial real property before the hearing scheduled by the county property tax assessment board of appeals (board of appeals) regarding the assessment of the commercial real property, the appeal may not be reviewed until all the information is provided. Provides that if a taxpayer has not provided all relevant and reasonably available information concerning the actual construction costs of the commercial real property under appeal within 10 days before the scheduled hearing by the board of appeals, the appeal is deemed void for that assessment year and may not be refiled or appealed. Provides that a county fiscal body may adopt an ordinance to provide that the county assessor be reimbursed for legal costs (in addition to other specified costs under current law) incurred by the county assessor in defending an appeal that is uncommon and infrequent in the normal course of defending appeals. Provides that the fiscal body of a county may adopt an ordinance to establish a property tax amnesty program and require a waiver of interest and penalties added before January 1, 2021, on delinquent taxes and special assessments on real property in the county if: (1) all of the delinquent taxes and special assessments on the real property were first due and payable before January 1, 2021; and (2) before November 1, 2022, the taxpayer has paid all of these delinquent taxes and special assessments and has also paid all of the taxes and special assessments that are first due and payable after December 31, 2020. Requires the waiver of interest and penalties in these circumstances, notwithstanding any payment arrangement entered into by the county treasurer and the taxpayer. Provides that the waiver of interest and penalties under a program shall not apply to interest and penalties added to delinquent property tax installments or special assessments on real property that was purchased or sold in any prior tax sale.
