*HB1142.1*
January 29, 2024
HOUSE BILL No. 1142
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1142 (Updated January 29, 2024 12:28 pm - DI 140)
Citations Affected: IC 10-19.
Synopsis: Hoosier first responder medal of honor. Establishes the
Hoosier first responder medal of honor (medal). Provides that the
department of homeland security (department) may determine an
Indiana first responder is eligible for the Hoosier first responder medal
of honor if the Indiana first responder distinguishes themselves
conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the Indiana first
responder's life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an
act of public service. Provides that, upon approval of a nomination by
the department, the department shall notify the entity employing the
Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first responder
volunteers of the nomination. Provides that the entity shall notify a
member of the general assembly who represents the district in which
the entity is located of the Indiana first responder's nomination.
Provides that the member of the general assembly shall recommend the
Indiana first responder for the medal to the governor. Provides that, if
the department determines that an Indiana first responder nominated to
the department does not meet the eligibility requirements to receive the
medal, the department may make recommendations to the entity that
employs the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first
responder volunteers of other forms of recognition for the Indiana first
responder. Provides that the governor may award the medal to the
Indiana first responder or the Indiana first responder's next of kin at a
public ceremony.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Lucas, Payne, Bartels, Judy
January 8, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public
Safety.
January 29, 2024, amended, reported — Do Pass.
HB 1142—LS 6502/DI 116 January 29, 2024
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1142
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
public safety.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 10-19-13.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2024]:
4 Chapter 13.5. Hoosier First Responder Medal of Honor
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "Indiana first responder" means
6 an Indiana first responder designated under IC 10-10.5-2-1.
7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "medal" refers to the Hoosier
8 first responder medal of honor described in section 3 of this
9 chapter.
10 Sec. 3. (a) The department may determine an Indiana first
11 responder is eligible for the Hoosier first responder medal of honor
12 if the Indiana first responder distinguishes themselves
13 conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the
14 Indiana first responder's life above and beyond the call of duty
15 while engaged in an act of public service. The department may
16 adopt guidelines to make such a determination.
17 (b) The department shall procure the medals to be awarded by
HB 1142—LS 6502/DI 116 2
1 the governor under section 5 of this chapter.
2 Sec. 4. (a) An entity employing an Indiana first responder or for
3 which the Indiana first responder volunteers may nominate an
4 Indiana first responder who has been killed or seriously injured in
5 the line of duty by submitting an application to the department, in
6 a manner prescribed by the department.
7 (b) Upon receipt of the nomination, the department may
8 approve the nomination in a manner prescribed by the
9 department.
10 (c) Upon approval of a nomination by the department, the
11 department shall notify the entity employing the Indiana first
12 responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of
13 the nomination. The entity shall notify a member of the general
14 assembly who represents the district in which the entity is located
15 of the Indiana first responder's nomination. The member of the
16 general assembly shall recommend the Indiana first responder for
17 the medal to the governor.
18 Sec. 5. The governor may award the medal to the Indiana first
19 responder or the Indiana first responder's next of kin at a public
20 ceremony at a time and place prescribed by the governor.
21 Sec. 6. If the department determines that an Indiana first
22 responder nominated to the department under section 4 of this
23 chapter does not meet the eligibility requirements to receive the
24 medal, the department may make recommendations to the entity
25 that employs the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana
26 first responder volunteers of other forms of recognition for the
27 Indiana first responder.
HB 1142—LS 6502/DI 116 3
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public
Safety, to which was referred House Bill 1142, has had the same under
consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the House with
the recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
Page 1, line 4, delete "Self-Sacrifice" and insert "Honor".
Page 1, line 5, delete "has the" and insert "means an Indiana first
responder designated under IC 10-10.5-2-1.".
Page 1, delete line 6.
Page 1, line 8, delete "self-sacrifice adopted by the department" and
insert "honor described in".
Page 1, line 9, delete "under".
Page 1, line 9, delete "4" and insert "3".
Page 1, delete lines 10 through 15, begin a new paragraph and
insert:
"Sec. 3. (a) The department may determine an Indiana first
responder is eligible for the Hoosier first responder medal of honor
if the Indiana first responder distinguishes themselves
conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the
Indiana first responder's life above and beyond the call of duty
while engaged in an act of public service. The department may
adopt guidelines to make such a determination.".
Page 1, line 17, delete "6" and insert "5".
Page 2, line 1, delete "5." and insert "4.".
Page 2, line 1, delete "A public safety agency" and insert "An entity
employing an Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first
responder volunteers".
Page 2, delete lines 8 through 10, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"(c) Upon approval of a nomination by the department, the
department shall notify the entity employing the Indiana first
responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of
the nomination. The entity shall notify a member of the general
assembly who represents the district in which the entity is located
of the Indiana first responder's nomination. The member of the
general assembly shall recommend the Indiana first responder for
the medal to the governor.".
Page 2, line 11, delete "6." and insert "5.".
Page 2, after line 13, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"Sec. 6. If the department determines that an Indiana first
responder nominated to the department under section 4 of this
chapter does not meet the eligibility requirements to receive the
HB 1142—LS 6502/DI 116 4
medal, the department may make recommendations to the entity
that employs the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana
first responder volunteers of other forms of recognition for the
Indiana first responder.".
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1142 as introduced.)
BARTELS
Committee Vote: yeas 11, nays 0.
HB 1142—LS 6502/DI 116