A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.
Provides a 25% state tax credit for contributions made to a public school foundation for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2024. Provides that the amount allowable as a credit in a taxable year may not exceed: (1) $1,000 in the case of an individual filing a single return or a corporation; or (2) $2,000 in the case of a married couple filing a joint return. Provides that the maximum amount of credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year to $5,000,000.
Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC), beginning January 1, 2023, to specify in the IEDC's annual economic incentives compliance report whether a recipient of a grant from the Indiana twenty-first century research and technology fund is a women's business enterprise, a minority business enterprise, or a veteran owned small business. Requires the trustees of the next level Indiana fund investment board to report to the budget committee every six months concerning the number of investments and the amount of money invested in companies that qualify as a women's business enterprise, a minority business enterprise, or a veteran owned small business. Urges the legislative council to assign the following study committee topics during the 2021 interim: (1) Whether, and in what form, the state should encourage robotics classes and clubs for students in kindergarten through grade 12. (2) How to connect more industry professionals to the classroom and remove existing barriers to the licensure process. (3) Whether there is merit to offering incentives for industry professionals to teach or partner, or both, with local businesses to provide training for the technology industry and other high demand and high wage jobs.
Urges the legislative council to assign the interim study committee on fiscal policy the task of studying the creation of wastewater facility improvement districts.
Provides a tax credit for a taxpayer that makes a monetary contribution to a qualifying foster care organization. Defines a "qualifying foster care organization" as an organization that (1) is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) provides foster care prevention services and programs or direct assistance to individuals in the foster care system; (3) spends at least 50% of its available revenue on qualified services to Indiana residents; (4) affirms it will continue spending at least 50% of its available revenue on qualified services to Indiana residents; and (5) provides ongoing qualified services to at least 200 Indiana residents. Provides that the department of state revenue (department) shall grant a tax credit against any state tax liability due equal to 50% of the amount of the monetary contribution by a person to a qualifying foster care organization. Provides that the tax credit that a taxpayer receives may not exceed $10,000 for any taxable year. Provides that the amount of tax credits allowed may not exceed $2,000,000 in the state fiscal year. Provides that to claim a tax credit an application must be filed with the department. Provides that the department shall promptly notify an applicant whether, or the extent to which, the tax credit is allowable in the state fiscal year in which the application is filed. Provides that when the total credits approved equal the maximum amount allowable in any state fiscal year, no application thereafter filed for that fiscal year shall be approved. Provides that the tax credit chapter expires in 2025.
Removes the topic of the department of education's responsibility for licensing teachers from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Removes the topic of high ability students (including high ability curriculum) from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Adds certain education topics to the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2023 legislative interim. Removes an expired proposed study topic.
Authorizes a county fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to provide a credit against property tax liability for qualified individuals. Defines a "qualified individual" for purposes of the credit. Provides that the ordinance may designate: (1) all of the territory of the county; or (2) one or more specific geographic territories within the county; as an area in which qualified individuals may apply for the credit. Provides that the credit amount is equal to the amount by which property taxes on the property increased by more than 2% from the prior year (excluding any property tax liability imposed in a voter approved referendum levy). Provides that the credit does not effect the allocation of taxes to a referendum fund. Requires a qualified individual who desires to claim the credit to file a certified statement with the county auditor. Provides that the county auditor shall apply the credit in succeeding years after the certified statement is filed unless the auditor determines that the individual is no longer eligible for the credit or the county fiscal body rescinds the ordinance. Provides a penalty for wrongly receiving the credit that is the same as the penalty for wrongly receiving the homestead standard deduction.
Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program (program). Requires an employer that desires to participate in the program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan.
Requires an employer to provide reasonable employment accommodations for a pregnant employee. Requires the department of labor to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve complaints through the use of an administrative law judge. Allows for appeals.
Establishes the Marion County small claims appointed counsel pilot program (program). Provides legal counsel to indigent tenants during possessory actions in Marion County small claims courts. Provides that Marion County small claims courts shall contract with attorneys and legal aid services to accommodate indigency based requests for legal representation. Requires the justice reinvestment advisory council to submit an annual report concerning the program to the general assembly.
