Sen. Phil Boots

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing James C. Clark.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator John C. Ruckelshaus upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

Defines "private low stakes card game" and provides a defense to certain gambling crimes if the gambling was a private low stakes card game. Defines "cheating" and makes cheating at gambling a Class A misdemeanor, and increases the penalty for the offense based on the gain obtained by cheating. Provides that the definition of "electronic gaming device" does not include an amusement device that rewards a player with a ticket or coupon redeemable for noncash merchandise that has a wholesale value of not more than the greater of 10 times the amount charged to play the amusement device one time or $250. Makes conforming amendments.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to place a memorial sign where the 38th parallel crosses State Road 69, south of Copperline Road in Posey County, Indiana, entitled "Posey County honoring the Veterans of the Korean War, here lies the 38th Parallel".

Makes changes to condemnation proceedings in which appraisers are appointed after December 31, 2021. Requires a city or town (municipality) condemning property within the unincorporated area of the county to obtain the county legislative body's approval by demonstrating the necessity for the taking and that it is for a public purpose. Provides that if a defendant's objection to the condemnation is sustained: (1) the plaintiff must pay the defendant's attorney's fees and costs in order to amend the complaint; and (2) the plaintiff is prohibited from filing a new complaint in condemnation against the same property for five years, unless the plaintiff proves urgent necessity for the condemnation and demonstrates payment of the defendant's attorney's fees and costs incurred for the previous condemnation action. Allows a business owner to claim compensation for intangible business losses and loss of driveway access due to condemnation. Exempts condemnation actions brought by the state acting through the Indiana department of transportation from the following: (1) The reimbursement of reasonable costs, expenses, and attorney's fees if a defendant's objection to a condemnation is sustained. (2) The prohibition on filing a new complaint in condemnation for five years if a defendant's objection to a condemnation is sustained. Requires the state acting through the Indiana department of transportation to pay the lesser of $25,000 or the fair market value of the defendant's property if the award of a court is greater than the amount specified in the last offer of settlement.

Modifies the definition of "jumbo boat" by removing the requirement that the vessel be approved by the United States Coast Guard. Provides that a holder of a: (1) boat beer permit who operates a jumbo boat may sell beer for carryout; (2) boat liquor permit who operates a jumbo boat may sell liquor for carryout; and (3) boat wine permit who operates a jumbo boat may sell wine for carryout.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

Provides that after June 30, 2021, a political subdivision may not issue or guarantee a debt obligation until the fiscal officer of the political subdivision has: (1) prepared a debt capacity analysis report (report) on a standard form prescribed by the SBOA with the assistance of the department of local government finance; and (2) presented the report to the fiscal body of the political subdivision in a public hearing. Provides that after June 30, 2021, political subdivisions must provide information concerning pledges, covenants, and agreements that they have made to secure or guarantee a financial obligation of another person to the department of local government finance in the form and on the schedule specified by the department made. Requires the state board of accounts to establish standards for the state and political subdivisions that require disclosure of pledges, covenants, and agreements that have been made to secure or guarantee a financial obligation of another person, including guarantees for private bond issues of private companies. Specifies that the standards must be consistent with generally accepted governmental accounting principles. In reporting periods beginning after June 30, 2021, requires the state and political subdivisions to include the disclosures in the notes of the entity's annual financial statements.

Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the topic of the installation and leasing of broadband capacity infrastructure by investor owned electric utilities to broadband service providers for the provision of broadband Internet service to unserved and underserved areas in Indiana. Provides that if a study is assigned to the committee: (1) the committee must consider certain specified issues; and (2) an electric utility may submit to the committee, not later than July 1, 2021, a study concerning the feasibility of making available broadband capacity infrastructure for use by broadband service providers in providing broadband service in unserved or underserved areas in the electric utility's assigned service area.

Provides that if, after the occurrence of an accident, compensation is paid for temporary total disability or temporary partial disability, then the two year limitation period to file an application for adjustment of claim begins to run on the last date for which such compensation was paid. Increases benefits for injuries and disablements by 2% each year for three years, beginning on July 1, 2021. Makes conforming amendments.