Final Legislative Bulletin for the 2012 Indiana General Assembly

3/15/2012

Note: This is the final Legislative Bulletin for the 2012 Indiana General Assembly.
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HB 1123 THIRTEENTH CHECK
Author: Rep. Woody Burton (bio), Coauthors: Rep. Tim Neese, Rep. Milo Smith, Rep. Robert Cherry Senate Sponsors: Sen. Luke Kenley, Sen. Ed Charbonneau, Sen. Vaneta Becker

Synopsis: Thirteenth checks. Provides for a thirteenth check to certain members of the:
(1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund (TRF); (2) public employees' retirement fund (PERF); and (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation officers' retirement fund (C & E fund).

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/HE/HE1123.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/HB1123.008.pdf

1-09-12 Rep. Tim Neese added as coauthor
1-11-12 This bill was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee. Association Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Bourquein and Executive Director Andrew Thomas testified that a COLA is preferred, but our Association supports the bill. Chairman Jeff Espich held the bill for a later vote.
1-13-12 Bill passes Ways and Means Committee 18-0.
1-13-12 Rep. Robert Cherry added as coauthor (Member of House Ways and Means Committee).
1-17-12 Rep. Milo Smith added as coauthor (Member of House Ways and Means Committee).
1-17-12 Committee report adopted by House of Representatives.
1-19-12 Bill set for second reading on House floor. Bill was not heard since there was not a quorum.
1-25-12 Bill passes 2nd Reading in the House.
1-26-12 Bill passes 3rd Reading in the House with a vote of 82-2.
2-09-12 Bill passes Senate Appropriations Committee 12-0. An amendment was passed that changed the source of the funding to make it an appropriation. Past President Nancy Tolson gave testimony in support of this bill. Executive Director Andrew Thomas was also in attendance.
2-16-12 Bill passes 2nd Reading in the Senate.
2-20-12 Bill passes 3rd Reading in the Senate with a vote of 50-0. The next step is for the House to either CONCUR or DISSENT with the Senate amendment. See the amendment that changed the source of the funding here: ****http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/SCRP/AM112307.001.html.
For a complete background, including fiscal impact, of the bill see: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&doctye=HB&docno=1123.
I expect the House to CONCUR with the amendment and send the bill to the governor in the next week.
3-01-12 House dissents from Senate amendments.
3-08-12 Conference committee report 1 filed in the House.
3-09-12 Conference committee report 1 adopted by House 79-2 and Senate 50-0.
3-09-12 Signed by the Speaker.
3-13-12 Signed by the President Pro Tempore


HB 1376 BUDGET SURPLUS
Author: Rep. Jeff Espich (bio), Coauthors: Rep. Bill Crawford Senate Sponsors: Sen. Luke Kenley, Sen. Randy Head, Sen. Ed Charbonneau, Sen. Karen Tallian

Synopsis: The bill provides that if the excess reserves are $50,000,000 or more, 50% of the excess reserves shall be transferred to certain pension funds, including the Teacher Retirement Fund (Pension Stabilization Fund) and 50% of the excess reserves shall be used for the purposes of providing an automatic taxpayer refund. Also includes other provisions. The amount of the money to be deposited in the Teacher Retirement Fund (Pension Stabilization Fund) is yet to be determined.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/HE/HE1376.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/HB1376.008.pdf

1-18-12 Reassigned to House Ways and Means Committee
1-26-12 Bill passes House Ways and Means Committee
1-30-12 Bill passes 2nd Reading in the House; Amendment 1 failed 36-60. Amendment 4 failed 39-56. Amendment 6 failed 40-55. Amendment 3 failed 39-56.
1-31-12 Bill passes 3rd Reading with a vote 96-2.
2-27-12 Bill passes 2nd Reading in Senate. Amendment 1 passed with voice vote. Amendment 2 passed with voice vote. Amendment 7 failed 13-35. Amendment 8 passed with voice vote. Amendment 9 passed with voice vote. Amendment 11 passed with voice vote. Amendment 12 failed with voice vote. Amendment 13 failed 13-35.
Amendment 3 proposed increasing the minimum monthly pension amounts to at least $500 for retired teachers who retired before January 1, 1980 and had at least twenty years of creditable service. The amendment failed by voice vote.
2-29-12 Bill passes 3rd reading in the Senate 44-6.
3-01-12 House dissented from Senate amendments.
3-09-12 Conference committee report 1 filed in the House.
3-10-12 Conference committee report 1 adopted by Senate 40-10, and by House 76-17.
3-13-12 Signed by the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker.


SB 143 BUDGET SURPLUS
Author: Sen. Luke Kenley (bio), Coauthor: Sen. Charbonneau House Sponsor: Rep. Espich, Cosponsor: Rep. Crawford

Synopsis: Automatic taxpayer refund. Provides that for purposes of the automatic taxpayer refund statutes, amounts in the state tuition reserve fund are not considered in determining whether state reserves exceed 10% of general revenue. Specifies an additional requirement (a balance in the tuition reserve equal to at least 10% of the tuition support appropriation for the following year) that must be satisfied before a transfer may be made under the automatic taxpayer refund statutes. Specifies that: (1) if the amount of the excess reserves is less than $100,000,000, all of the excess reserves shall be transferred to the pension stabilization fund; and (2) if the amount of the excess reserves is $100,000,000 or more, 50% of the excess reserves shall be transferred to the pension stabilization fund and 50% of the excess reserves shall be used for the purposes of providing an automatic taxpayer refund. (Under current law, the excess reserves are divided equally between the pension stabilization fund and the automatic taxpayer refund, regardless of the dollar amount of the excess reserves.)

CLICK HERE FOR COMPETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/ES/ES0143.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/SB0143.007.pdf

1-19-12 Bill passes Senate Appropriations Committee 9-1. Amendment 5: An attempt was made to remove the Pension Stabilization Fund as a recipient of the surplus in favor of school corporations. This amendment failed 4-7.
1-20-12 Charbonneau added as second author.
1-23-12 Bill passes 2nd Reading in the Senate; Amendment 2 failed with a vote of 14-36. Amendment 1 failed with a voice vote.
1-24-12 Bill passes 3rd reading in the Senate with a vote of 36-14.
2-08-12 Public testimonies were received on this bill. Executive Director Andrew Thomas testified in favor of this bill.
2-16-12 Bill amended and passes House Ways and Means Committee.
AMENDED SUMMARY: State fiscal matters. Provides for an automatic refundable tax credit to Indiana residents when the state has excess reserves of at least $20,000,000. Transfers any part of the excess reserves that are not needed to provide tax credits to the pension stabilization fund. Provides that beginning in 2013: (1) the office of management and budget shall calculate, after the end of each odd- numbered state fiscal year, the total amount of state reserves; and (2) the governor's presentation concerning the disposition of excess state reserves is conditioned upon the determination that the state reserves exceed 12% (instead of 10%) of the general revenue appropriations for the current state fiscal year. Permits augmentation of the appropriation for full-day kindergarten. Changes the amount distributed per child. For a complete background, including fiscal impact, of the bill see: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=SB&docno=0143
2-23-12 Bill passes 2nd reading; Amendment 1 ruled out of order; Amendment 2 ruled out of order;
2-27-12 Bill passes 3rd reading in the House with vote of 97-2.
2-29-12 Senate dissents from House amendments; Bill sent to conference committee.


HB 1162 3% COLA - THIS BILL WAS NEVER SET FOR A HEARING
Author: Rep. Timothy Neese (bio)

Synopsis: PERF and TRF COLAs. Provides for a 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for public employees' retirement fund (PERF) and teachers' retirement fund (TRF) members, survivors, and beneficiaries.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN1162.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/HB1162.001.pdf


SB 279 THIRTEENTH CHECK - THIS BILL WAS NEVER SET FOR A HEARING
Author: Sen. Ed Charbonneau (bio)

Synopsis: PERF and TRF thirteenth check. Provides for a thirteenth check for public employees’ retirement fund (PERF) and teachers’ retirement fund (TRF) members, survivors and beneficiaries.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0279.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/SB0279.001.pdf


SB 218 TRF PENSION MINIMUM - THIS BILL WAS NEVER SET FOR A HEARING
Author: Sen. Tim Skinner (bio)

Synopsis: TRF retirement benefit adjustment. Provides that the pension portion of the monthly benefit payable to a member of the Indiana state teachers' retirement fund (TRF) who retired before January 1, 1980, and has at least 20 years of creditable service may not be less than $500.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0218.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/SB0218.002.pdf


SB 220 MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT - THIS BILL WAS NEVER SET FOR A HEARING
Author: Sen. Tim Skinner (bio)

Synopsis: Public pension military service credit. Grants, under certain conditions, up to six years of service credit in the teachers' retirement fund for a member's past active duty military service.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0220.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/SB0220.002.pdf


SB 408 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION - THIS BILL WAS NEVER SET FOR A HEARING
Author: Sen. Brent Waltz (bio)

Synopsis: Public employees' defined contribution plan. Requires an individual who, after the effective date of the public employees' defined contribution plan (plan), becomes a full-time employee of the state in a position that would otherwise be eligible for membership in the public employees' retirement fund to become a member of the plan.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0408.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/SB0408.001.pdf


HB 1211 NURSING FACILITY SCREENING AND NOTIFICATION
Author: Rep. Suzanne Crouch (bio); Co-Authors: Rep. Charlie Brown (bio), Rep. Ron Bacon
Senate Sponsors: Sen. Vaneta Becker, Sen. Jean Leising, Sen. John Broden,
Cosponsor: Sen. Vi Simpson

Synopsis: Nursing facility screening and notification. Requires the dissemination of specified information as part of a nursing facility's notification to applicants. Specifies assessments that must be completed during a nursing facility preadmission screening.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LANGUAGE: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/HE/HE1211.1.html
CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/PDF/FISCAL/HB1211.008.pdf

1-11-12 This bill has not been set for a hearing.
1-12-12 Rep. Ron Bacon added as coauthor.
1-19-12 Bill passes Public Health Committee 9-0.
1-26-12 Bill passes 2nd reading.
1-31-12 Bill passes 3rd reading in the House with a vote of 95-0.
2-01-12 Bill referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services. Hearing set for February 15.
2-16-12 Bill passes Committee on Health and Provider Services.
2-20-12 Bill passes 2nd reading: order engrossed.
2-21-12 Bill passes 3rd reading in Senate 50-0.
2-21-12 Senator Randolph added as cosponsor.
2-23-12 Bill signed by the Speaker.
2-27-12 Bill signed by the President Pro Tempore.
2-29-12 Bill signed by the Governor.


Andrew P. Thomas, Executive Director
Indiana Retired Teachers Association
2629 Waterfront Parkway East Dr, Suite 105
Indianapolis, IN 46214
888.454.9333
athomas@retiredteachers.org
www.retiredteachers.org

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