7 | 8 | | Synopsis: Adoption incentive programs. Creates the Indiana adoption |
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8 | 9 | | services authority (authority) and establishes the board of directors of |
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9 | 10 | | the authority. Sets forth the duties and powers of the authority and the |
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10 | 11 | | board. Establishes the zero cost adoption fund (fund) to provide |
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11 | 12 | | financial assistance, benefits, services, or other assistance for specified |
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12 | 13 | | purposes pertaining to foster care, adoption, and postadoption |
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13 | 14 | | assistance, including assistance with college savings and arrangements |
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14 | 15 | | for reduced college tuition for an adopted child. Provides that money |
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15 | 16 | | in the fund may not be used to pay the general operating, |
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16 | 17 | | administrative, and capital expenses and establishes a separate, general |
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17 | 18 | | operating fund for the authority to pay those expenses. Specifies that |
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18 | 19 | | assistance provided from the fund is supplemental to adoption |
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19 | 20 | | assistance payments or an adoption subsidy. Provides a tax credit for |
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20 | 21 | | contributions made to the fund in an amount equal to 50% of the |
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21 | 22 | | contribution. Specifies that the total amount of tax credits allowed may |
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22 | 23 | | not exceed $18,500,000 for each state fiscal year. Makes conforming |
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23 | 24 | | changes. Makes an appropriation. |
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24 | 25 | | Effective: July 1, 2025. |
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25 | 26 | | McGuire, DeVon, Wesco, Rowray |
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26 | 27 | | January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and |
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27 | 28 | | Human Affairs. |
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31 | 30 | | First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025) |
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32 | 31 | | PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana |
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33 | 32 | | Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, |
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34 | 33 | | additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type. |
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35 | 34 | | Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional |
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36 | 35 | | provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the |
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37 | 36 | | word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds |
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38 | 37 | | a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution. |
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39 | 38 | | Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts |
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40 | 39 | | between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. |
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41 | 40 | | HOUSE BILL No. 1503 |
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42 | 41 | | A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state |
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43 | 42 | | offices and administration and to make an appropriation. |
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44 | 43 | | Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: |
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45 | 44 | | 1 SECTION 1. IC 5-35.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS |
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46 | 45 | | 2 A NEW ARTICLE TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, |
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47 | 46 | | 3 2025]: |
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48 | 47 | | 4 ARTICLE 35.5. ADOPTION SERVICES |
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49 | 48 | | 5 Chapter 1. Definitions |
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50 | 49 | | 6 Sec. 1. The definitions in this chapter apply throughout this |
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51 | 50 | | 7 article. |
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52 | 51 | | 8 Sec. 2. "Authority" means the Indiana adoption services |
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53 | 52 | | 9 authority created by IC 5-35.5-2-1. |
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54 | 53 | | 10 Sec. 3. "Board" means the board of directors of the authority |
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55 | 54 | | 11 established by IC 5-35.5-3-1. |
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56 | 55 | | 12 Sec. 4. "Fund" means the zero cost adoption fund established by |
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57 | 56 | | 13 IC 5-35.5-4-1. |
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58 | 57 | | 14 Sec. 5. "General operating fund" means the general operating |
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59 | 58 | | 15 fund established under IC 5-35.5-5 from which general operating, |
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60 | 59 | | 16 administrative, and capital expenses may be paid. |
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61 | 60 | | 17 Chapter 2. Indiana Adoption Services Authority |
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63 | 62 | | 1 Sec. 1. The Indiana adoption services authority is created. |
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64 | 63 | | 2 Sec. 2. (a) The authority is a body corporate and politic. |
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65 | 64 | | 3 (b) The authority: |
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66 | 65 | | 4 (1) is not an agency of the state; and |
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67 | 66 | | 5 (2) is an instrumentality of the state performing essential |
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68 | 67 | | 6 governmental functions. |
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69 | 68 | | 7 Sec. 3. Because the management, operation, and administration |
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70 | 69 | | 8 of the fund for the purposes set forth in IC 5-35.5-4-1 and any |
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71 | 70 | | 9 other programs, funds, and accounts established under this article |
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72 | 71 | | 10 constitute the performance of an essential public function, the |
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73 | 72 | | 11 following are exempt from taxation by the state and by any |
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74 | 73 | | 12 political subdivision of the state: |
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75 | 74 | | 13 (1) The authority's management and operations. |
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76 | 75 | | 14 (2) The authority's property and assets. |
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77 | 76 | | 15 (3) All property and assets held by or for the authority. |
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78 | 77 | | 16 (4) The investment income and earnings (whether interest, |
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79 | 78 | | 17 gains, or dividends) on: |
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80 | 79 | | 18 (A) the authority's property and assets; and |
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81 | 80 | | 19 (B) all property, assets, and funds and accounts held by or |
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82 | 81 | | 20 for the authority. |
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83 | 82 | | 21 Sec. 4. The authority may contract with public or private |
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84 | 83 | | 22 entities or persons for the provision of all or any portion of the |
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85 | 84 | | 23 services the board considers necessary for the management and |
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86 | 85 | | 24 operations of the authority, including the fund. |
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87 | 86 | | 25 Sec. 5. The authority is a public agency for purposes of |
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88 | 87 | | 26 IC 5-14-1.5 and IC 5-14-3. |
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89 | 88 | | 27 Chapter 3. Authority Board of Directors and Officers |
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90 | 89 | | 28 Sec. 1. (a) The board of directors of the authority is established. |
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91 | 90 | | 29 The board consists of the following: |
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92 | 91 | | 30 (1) The following four (4) members or directors who serve by |
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93 | 92 | | 31 virtue of office: |
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94 | 93 | | 32 (A) The treasurer of state. |
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95 | 94 | | 33 (B) The director of the department of child services. |
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96 | 95 | | 34 (C) The secretary of the family and social services |
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97 | 96 | | 35 administration. |
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98 | 97 | | 36 (D) The budget director. |
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99 | 98 | | 37 (2) Five (5) appointed members or directors who: |
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100 | 99 | | 38 (A) are appointed by the governor; and |
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101 | 100 | | 39 (B) have knowledge, skill, and experience in the field of |
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102 | 101 | | 40 adoption, foster care, health and human services, business, |
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103 | 102 | | 41 or finance. |
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104 | 103 | | 42 (b) During a member's term of service on the board, an |
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106 | 105 | | 1 appointed member of the board may not be an official or employee |
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107 | 106 | | 2 of the state. |
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108 | 107 | | 3 (c) Not more than three (3) of the appointed members of the |
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109 | 108 | | 4 board may belong to the same political party. |
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110 | 109 | | 5 (d) An appointed member serves a four (4) year term that ends |
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111 | 110 | | 6 on June 30 of the odd-numbered year. However, an appointed |
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112 | 111 | | 7 member shall hold over after the expiration of the member's term |
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113 | 112 | | 8 until the member's successor is appointed and qualified. |
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114 | 113 | | 9 (e) The governor may reappoint an appointed member of the |
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115 | 114 | | 10 board. |
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116 | 115 | | 11 (f) A vacancy shall be filled for the balance of an unexpired term |
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117 | 116 | | 12 in the same manner as the original appointment. |
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118 | 117 | | 13 (g) The treasurer of state shall serve as chairperson of the |
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119 | 118 | | 14 board. The board shall annually elect one (1) of its members who |
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120 | 119 | | 15 serve by virtue of office as vice chairperson, and may elect any |
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121 | 120 | | 16 other officer that the board desires. |
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122 | 121 | | 17 (h) The governor may remove an appointed member for |
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123 | 122 | | 18 misfeasance, malfeasance, willful neglect of duty, or other cause |
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124 | 123 | | 19 after notice and a public hearing, unless the member expressly |
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125 | 124 | | 20 waives the notice and hearing in writing. |
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126 | 125 | | 21 Sec. 2. (a) An appointed member of the board is not entitled to |
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127 | 126 | | 22 the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). Each |
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128 | 127 | | 23 appointed member is, however, entitled to reimbursement for |
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129 | 128 | | 24 traveling expenses and other expenses actually incurred in |
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130 | 129 | | 25 connection with the member's duties. |
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131 | 130 | | 26 (b) A member of the board who serves by virtue of office is |
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132 | 131 | | 27 entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other |
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133 | 132 | | 28 expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties. |
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134 | 133 | | 29 Sec. 3. The board may: |
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135 | 134 | | 30 (1) employ a manager, who is not a member of the board; and |
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136 | 135 | | 31 (2) delegate necessary and appropriate functions and |
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137 | 136 | | 32 authority to the manager. |
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138 | 137 | | 33 Sec. 4. (a) Five (5) members of the board are a quorum for: |
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139 | 138 | | 34 (1) the transaction of business at a meeting of the board; or |
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140 | 139 | | 35 (2) the exercise of a power or function of the authority. |
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141 | 140 | | 36 (b) The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the |
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142 | 141 | | 37 board who are present is necessary for the authority to take action. |
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143 | 142 | | 38 A vacancy in the membership of the board does not impair the |
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144 | 143 | | 39 right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the |
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145 | 144 | | 40 duties of the authority. An action taken by the board under this |
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146 | 145 | | 41 article may be authorized by: |
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147 | 146 | | 42 (1) resolution at any regular or special meeting; or |
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149 | 148 | | 1 (2) unanimous consent of all the members who have not |
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150 | 149 | | 2 abstained. |
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151 | 150 | | 3 A resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption and need not |
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152 | 151 | | 4 be published or posted. |
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153 | 152 | | 5 (c) The board shall meet at the call of the chairperson and as |
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154 | 153 | | 6 provided in the bylaws of the authority. |
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155 | 154 | | 7 (d) Meetings of the board may be held anywhere in Indiana. |
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156 | 155 | | 8 Sec. 5. The board is a governing body for purposes of |
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157 | 156 | | 9 IC 5-14-1.5. |
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158 | 157 | | 10 Sec. 6. The board has the powers necessary and appropriate to |
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159 | 158 | | 11 carry out and effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including the |
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160 | 159 | | 12 following: |
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161 | 160 | | 13 (1) To develop and implement criteria to provide or to |
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162 | 161 | | 14 facilitate the provision of financial assistance, benefits, |
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163 | 162 | | 15 services, or other assistance from the fund through: |
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164 | 163 | | 16 (A) rules adopted under IC 4-22-2; or |
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165 | 164 | | 17 (B) rules, guidelines, procedures, or policies established by |
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166 | 165 | | 18 the board. |
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167 | 166 | | 19 (2) To retain professional services, including the following: |
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168 | 167 | | 20 (A) Advisers and managers, including investment advisers. |
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169 | 168 | | 21 (B) Custodians and other fiduciaries. |
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170 | 169 | | 22 (C) Accountants and auditors. |
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171 | 170 | | 23 (D) Consultants or other experts. |
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172 | 171 | | 24 (E) Actuarial services providers. |
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173 | 172 | | 25 (F) Attorneys. |
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174 | 173 | | 26 (3) To secure office space. |
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175 | 174 | | 27 (4) To employ persons, if the board chooses, and as may be |
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176 | 175 | | 28 necessary, and to fix the terms of employment. |
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177 | 176 | | 29 (5) To recommend legislation to the governor and the general |
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178 | 177 | | 30 assembly. |
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179 | 178 | | 31 (6) To apply for designation as a tax exempt entity under the |
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180 | 179 | | 32 Internal Revenue Code. |
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181 | 180 | | 33 (7) To sue and be sued. |
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182 | 181 | | 34 (8) To have perpetual succession. |
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183 | 182 | | 35 (9) To develop marketing plans and promotional material. |
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184 | 183 | | 36 (10) To do all things necessary and appropriate to carry out |
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185 | 184 | | 37 the purposes of this chapter. |
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186 | 185 | | 38 Sec. 7. The authority may accept gifts, devises, and bequests of |
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187 | 186 | | 39 real and personal property and any other aid from any source and |
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188 | 187 | | 40 agree to and comply with conditions attached to the gift, devise, |
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189 | 188 | | 41 bequest, or aid, as applicable. |
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190 | 189 | | 42 Sec. 8. The authority shall prepare an annual report of its |
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192 | 191 | | activities 1 and promptly transmit the annual report to the governor |
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193 | 192 | | 2 and the general assembly. A report transmitted under this section |
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194 | 193 | | 3 to the general assembly must be in an electronic format under |
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195 | 194 | | 4 IC 5-14-6. |
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196 | 195 | | 5 Sec. 9. (a) The funds, accounts, management, and operations of |
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197 | 196 | | 6 the authority are subject to annual audit by an independent public |
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198 | 197 | | 7 accounting firm retained by the board. |
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199 | 198 | | 8 (b) The authority shall promptly transmit copies of each annual |
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200 | 199 | | 9 audit to the governor and the general assembly. The annual audit |
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201 | 200 | | 10 transmitted to the general assembly must be in an electronic |
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202 | 201 | | 11 format under IC 5-14-6. Upon request, the authority shall make |
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203 | 202 | | 12 available copies of the audit to the public. |
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204 | 203 | | 13 Sec. 10. A manager or another person designated by resolution |
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205 | 204 | | 14 of the authority: |
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206 | 205 | | 15 (1) shall keep a record of the proceedings of the authority; |
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207 | 206 | | 16 (2) shall be custodian of: |
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208 | 207 | | 17 (A) all books, documents, and papers filed with the |
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209 | 208 | | 18 authority; and |
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210 | 209 | | 19 (B) the minute book or journal of the authority; and |
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211 | 210 | | 20 (3) may copy all minutes and other records and documents of |
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212 | 211 | | 21 the authority and may give certificates of the authority to the |
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213 | 212 | | 22 effect that the copies are true copies. A person who deals with |
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214 | 213 | | 23 the authority may rely upon the certificates. |
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215 | 214 | | 24 Sec. 11. Before any financial assistance, benefits, services, or |
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216 | 215 | | 25 other assistance are provided from the fund, the: |
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217 | 216 | | 26 (1) chairperson; |
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218 | 217 | | 27 (2) vice chairperson; |
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219 | 218 | | 28 (3) manager; and |
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220 | 219 | | 29 (4) any officer elected by the authority or member of the |
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221 | 220 | | 30 authority authorized by resolution to handle funds or sign |
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222 | 221 | | 31 checks; |
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223 | 222 | | 32 shall execute a surety bond in the penal sum of one hundred |
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224 | 223 | | 33 thousand dollars ($100,000). The surety bond shall be conditioned |
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225 | 224 | | 34 upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office of the |
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226 | 225 | | 35 principal and shall be executed by a surety company authorized to |
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227 | 226 | | 36 transact business in Indiana. The authority shall pay the cost of the |
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228 | 227 | | 37 bonds. |
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229 | 228 | | 38 Sec. 12. The authority shall do the following: |
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230 | 229 | | 39 (1) Provide the board and each member, officer, employee, |
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231 | 230 | | 40 consultant, counsel, and agent of the authority or the board a |
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232 | 231 | | 41 defense in a suit arising out of the performance of duties for |
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233 | 232 | | 42 or on behalf of the authority or the board, if the board |
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235 | 234 | | 1 determines that the duties were performed in good faith. |
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236 | 235 | | 2 (2) Save a person described in subdivision (1) or the board |
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237 | 236 | | 3 harmless from any liability, cost, or damage in connection |
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238 | 237 | | 4 with an action arising out of the performance of duties for or |
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239 | 238 | | 5 on behalf of the authority or the board, including the payment |
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240 | 239 | | 6 of any legal fees, except where the liability, cost, or damage is |
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241 | 240 | | 7 predicated on, or arises out of, the bad faith of the person or |
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242 | 241 | | 8 the board, or is based on the person's or board's malfeasance |
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243 | 242 | | 9 in the performance of duties. |
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244 | 243 | | 10 Sec. 13. Notwithstanding any other law, it is not a conflict of |
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245 | 244 | | 11 interest or violation of any other law for a person to serve as a |
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246 | 245 | | 12 member of the authority. However, a member shall disclose a |
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247 | 246 | | 13 conflict of interest relating to actions of the authority as required |
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248 | 247 | | 14 and in a manner provided by IC 35-44.1-1-4. |
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249 | 248 | | 15 Chapter 4. Zero Cost Adoption Fund |
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250 | 249 | | 16 Sec. 1. The zero cost adoption fund is established for the |
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251 | 250 | | 17 following purposes: |
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252 | 251 | | 18 (1) To support proven community based intervention methods |
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253 | 252 | | 19 to prevent children from entering foster care. |
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254 | 253 | | 20 (2) To promote adoption and recruit potential adoptive |
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255 | 254 | | 21 families. |
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256 | 255 | | 22 (3) To award grants to implement adoption sensitive care in |
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257 | 256 | | 23 health care settings. |
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258 | 257 | | 24 (4) To provide postadoption assistance for reimbursement of |
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259 | 258 | | 25 up-front adoption costs, counseling services, and other vital |
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260 | 259 | | 26 care. |
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261 | 260 | | 27 (5) To make education more affordable for adopted children |
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262 | 261 | | 28 as follows: |
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263 | 262 | | 29 (A) Contributing ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per |
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264 | 263 | | 30 adopted child into a college choice 529 plan established |
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265 | 264 | | 31 under IC 21-9. |
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266 | 265 | | 32 (B) Negotiating with Indiana based public and private |
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267 | 266 | | 33 colleges for reduced tuition for Indiana adoptees. |
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268 | 267 | | 34 Sec. 2. The fund consists of the following: |
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269 | 268 | | 35 (1) Appropriations made by the general assembly. |
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270 | 269 | | 36 (2) Grants, gifts, donations, or contributions from any source. |
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271 | 270 | | 37 (3) Interest deposited under section 3 of this chapter. |
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272 | 271 | | 38 Sec. 3. The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund |
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273 | 272 | | 39 not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same |
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274 | 273 | | 40 manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that |
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275 | 274 | | 41 accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund. |
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276 | 275 | | 42 Sec. 4. The board shall administer the fund. In administering the |
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278 | 277 | | 1 fund, the board may consult or contract with other public or |
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279 | 278 | | 2 private entities to assist the board in providing or in facilitating the |
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280 | 279 | | 3 provision of financial assistance, benefits, services, or other |
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281 | 280 | | 4 assistance from the fund in accordance with the criteria developed |
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282 | 281 | | 5 under IC 5-35.5-3-6. |
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283 | 282 | | 6 Sec. 5. Money in the fund may be used only to provide financial |
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284 | 283 | | 7 assistance, benefits, services, or other assistance to a person for the |
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285 | 284 | | 8 purposes set forth in section 1 of this chapter and may not be used |
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286 | 285 | | 9 to pay any general operating, administrative, and capital expenses |
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287 | 286 | | 10 of the authority. |
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288 | 287 | | 11 Sec. 6. Assistance provided from the fund to a person is |
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289 | 288 | | 12 supplemental to: |
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290 | 289 | | 13 (1) adoption assistance under 42 U.S.C. 673, including federal |
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291 | 290 | | 14 and state regulations; or |
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292 | 291 | | 15 (2) an adoption subsidy under IC 31-19-26.5. |
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293 | 292 | | 16 Sec. 7. Money in the fund does not revert to the state general |
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294 | 293 | | 17 fund at the end of a fiscal year. |
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295 | 294 | | 18 Chapter 5. General Operating Fund. |
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296 | 295 | | 19 Sec. 1. The general operating fund is established. The general |
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297 | 296 | | 20 operating fund consists of appropriations made by the general |
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298 | 297 | | 21 assembly. |
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299 | 298 | | 22 Sec. 2. The authority shall establish and implement investment |
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300 | 299 | | 23 policies in accordance with IC 5-13 for money in the general |
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301 | 300 | | 24 operating fund. |
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302 | 301 | | 25 Sec. 3. General operating, administrative, and capital expenses |
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303 | 302 | | 26 of the authority may be paid from amounts appropriated for those |
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304 | 303 | | 27 purposes by the general assembly. Appropriations for those |
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305 | 304 | | 28 purposes must be deposited in the general operating fund. |
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306 | 305 | | 29 SECTION 2. IC 6-3-3-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.236-2023, |
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307 | 306 | | 30 SECTION 65, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE |
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308 | 307 | | 31 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12. (a) As used in this section, "account" has the |
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309 | 308 | | 32 meaning set forth in IC 21-9-2-2. |
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310 | 309 | | 33 (b) As used in this section, "account beneficiary" has the meaning |
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311 | 310 | | 34 set forth in IC 21-9-2-3. |
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312 | 311 | | 35 (c) As used in this section, "account owner" has the meaning set |
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313 | 312 | | 36 forth in IC 21-9-2-4. |
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314 | 313 | | 37 (d) As used in this section, "college choice 529 education savings |
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315 | 314 | | 38 plan" refers to a college choice 529 plan established under IC 21-9. |
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316 | 315 | | 39 (e) As used in this section, "contribution" means the amount of |
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317 | 316 | | 40 money directly provided to a college choice 529 education savings plan |
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318 | 317 | | 41 account by a taxpayer. A contribution does not include any of the |
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319 | 318 | | 42 following: |
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321 | 320 | | 1 (1) Money credited to an account as a result of bonus points or |
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322 | 321 | | 2 other forms of consideration earned by the taxpayer that result in |
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323 | 322 | | 3 a transfer of money to the account. |
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324 | 323 | | 4 (2) Money transferred from any other qualified tuition program |
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325 | 324 | | 5 under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code or from any other |
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326 | 325 | | 6 similar plan. |
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327 | 326 | | 7 (3) Money transferred from any qualified ABLE program under |
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328 | 327 | | 8 Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code or any other similar |
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329 | 328 | | 9 plan. |
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330 | 329 | | 10 (4) Money transferred to an account from the zero cost |
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331 | 330 | | 11 adoption fund established by IC 5-35.5-4-1. |
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332 | 331 | | 12 (f) As used in this section, "nonqualified withdrawal" means a |
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333 | 332 | | 13 withdrawal or distribution from a college choice 529 education savings |
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334 | 333 | | 14 plan that is not a qualified withdrawal. |
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335 | 334 | | 15 (g) As used in this section, "qualified higher education expenses" |
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336 | 335 | | 16 has the meaning set forth in IC 21-9-2-19.5, except that the term does |
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337 | 336 | | 17 not include qualified education loan repayments under Section |
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338 | 337 | | 18 529(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
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339 | 338 | | 19 (h) As used in this section, "qualified K-12 education expenses" |
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340 | 339 | | 20 means expenses that are for tuition in connection with enrollment or |
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341 | 340 | | 21 attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious |
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342 | 341 | | 22 school located in Indiana and are permitted under Section 529 of the |
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343 | 342 | | 23 Internal Revenue Code. |
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344 | 343 | | 24 (i) As used in this section, "qualified withdrawal" means a |
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345 | 344 | | 25 withdrawal or distribution from a college choice 529 education savings |
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346 | 345 | | 26 plan that is made: |
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347 | 346 | | 27 (1) to pay for qualified higher education expenses, excluding any |
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348 | 347 | | 28 withdrawals or distributions used to pay for qualified higher |
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349 | 348 | | 29 education expenses, if the withdrawals or distributions are made |
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350 | 349 | | 30 from an account of a college choice 529 education savings plan |
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351 | 350 | | 31 that is terminated within twelve (12) months after the account is |
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352 | 351 | | 32 opened; |
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353 | 352 | | 33 (2) as a result of the death or disability of an account beneficiary; |
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354 | 353 | | 34 (3) because an account beneficiary received a scholarship that |
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355 | 354 | | 35 paid for all or part of the qualified higher education expenses of |
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356 | 355 | | 36 the account beneficiary, to the extent that the withdrawal or |
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357 | 356 | | 37 distribution does not exceed the amount of the scholarship; or |
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358 | 357 | | 38 (4) by a college choice 529 education savings plan as the result of |
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359 | 358 | | 39 a transfer of funds by a college choice 529 education savings plan |
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360 | 359 | | 40 from one (1) third party custodian to another. |
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361 | 360 | | 41 However, a qualified withdrawal does not include a withdrawal or |
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362 | 361 | | 42 distribution that will be used for expenses that are for tuition in |
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364 | 363 | | 1 connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or |
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365 | 364 | | 2 secondary public, private, or religious school unless the school is |
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366 | 365 | | 3 located in Indiana. A qualified withdrawal does not include a rollover |
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367 | 366 | | 4 distribution or transfer of assets from a college choice 529 education |
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368 | 367 | | 5 savings plan to any other qualified tuition program under Section 529 |
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369 | 368 | | 6 of the Internal Revenue Code, to any qualified ABLE program under |
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370 | 369 | | 7 Section 529A other than an Indiana ABLE 529A savings plan adopted |
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371 | 370 | | 8 by the state under IC 12-11, or to any other similar plan. |
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372 | 371 | | 9 (j) As used in this section, "taxpayer" means: |
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373 | 372 | | 10 (1) an individual filing a single return; |
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374 | 373 | | 11 (2) a married couple filing a joint return; or |
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375 | 374 | | 12 (3) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, a |
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376 | 375 | | 13 married individual filing a separate return. |
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377 | 376 | | 14 (k) A taxpayer is entitled to a credit against the taxpayer's adjusted |
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378 | 377 | | 15 gross income tax imposed by IC 6-3-1 through IC 6-3-7 for a taxable |
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379 | 378 | | 16 year equal to the least of the following: |
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380 | 379 | | 17 (1) The following amount: |
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381 | 380 | | 18 (A) For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2019, the |
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382 | 381 | | 19 sum of twenty percent (20%) multiplied by the amount of the |
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383 | 382 | | 20 total contributions that are made by the taxpayer to an account |
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384 | 383 | | 21 or accounts of a college choice 529 education savings plan |
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385 | 384 | | 22 during the taxable year and that will be used to pay for |
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386 | 385 | | 23 qualified higher education expenses that are not qualified K-12 |
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387 | 386 | | 24 education expenses, plus the lesser of: |
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388 | 387 | | 25 (i) five hundred dollars ($500); or |
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389 | 388 | | 26 (ii) ten percent (10%) multiplied by the amount of the total |
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390 | 389 | | 27 contributions that are made by the taxpayer to an account or |
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391 | 390 | | 28 accounts of a college choice 529 education savings plan |
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392 | 391 | | 29 during the taxable year and that will be used to pay for |
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393 | 392 | | 30 qualified K-12 education expenses. |
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394 | 393 | | 31 (B) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018, the |
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395 | 394 | | 32 sum of: |
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396 | 395 | | 33 (i) twenty percent (20%) multiplied by the amount of the |
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397 | 396 | | 34 total contributions that are made by the taxpayer to an |
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398 | 397 | | 35 account or accounts of a college choice 529 education |
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399 | 398 | | 36 savings plan during the taxable year and that are designated |
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400 | 399 | | 37 to pay for qualified higher education expenses that are not |
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401 | 400 | | 38 qualified K-12 education expenses; plus |
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402 | 401 | | 39 (ii) twenty percent (20%) multiplied by the amount of the |
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403 | 402 | | 40 total contributions that are made by the taxpayer to an |
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404 | 403 | | 41 account or accounts of a college choice 529 education |
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405 | 404 | | 42 savings plan during the taxable year and that are designated |
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407 | 406 | | 1 to pay for qualified K-12 education expenses. |
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408 | 407 | | 2 (2) One thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or seven hundred |
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409 | 408 | | 3 fifty dollars ($750) in the case of a married individual filing a |
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410 | 409 | | 4 separate return. |
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411 | 410 | | 5 (3) The amount of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income tax |
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412 | 411 | | 6 imposed by IC 6-3-1 through IC 6-3-7 for the taxable year, |
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413 | 412 | | 7 reduced by the sum of all credits (as determined without regard to |
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414 | 413 | | 8 this section) allowed by IC 6-3-1 through IC 6-3-7. |
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415 | 414 | | 9 (l) This subsection applies after December 31, 2018. At the time a |
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416 | 415 | | 10 contribution is made to or a withdrawal is made from an account or |
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417 | 416 | | 11 accounts of a college choice 529 education savings plan, the person |
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418 | 417 | | 12 making the contribution or withdrawal shall designate whether the |
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419 | 418 | | 13 contribution is made for or the withdrawal will be used for: |
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420 | 419 | | 14 (1) qualified higher education expenses that are not qualified |
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421 | 420 | | 15 K-12 education expenses; or |
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422 | 421 | | 16 (2) qualified K-12 education expenses. |
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423 | 422 | | 17 The Indiana education savings authority (IC 21-9-3) shall use |
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424 | 423 | | 18 subaccounting to track the designations. |
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425 | 424 | | 19 (m) A taxpayer who makes a contribution to a college choice 529 |
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426 | 425 | | 20 education savings plan is considered to have made the contribution on |
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427 | 426 | | 21 the date that: |
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428 | 427 | | 22 (1) the taxpayer's contribution is postmarked or accepted by a |
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429 | 428 | | 23 delivery service, for contributions that are submitted to a college |
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430 | 429 | | 24 choice 529 education savings plan by mail or delivery service; or |
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431 | 430 | | 25 (2) the taxpayer's electronic funds transfer is initiated, for |
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432 | 431 | | 26 contributions that are submitted to a college choice 529 education |
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433 | 432 | | 27 savings plan by electronic funds transfer. |
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434 | 433 | | 28 (n) A taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback, carryover, or refund of |
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435 | 434 | | 29 an unused credit. |
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436 | 435 | | 30 (o) A taxpayer may not sell, assign, convey, or otherwise transfer the |
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437 | 436 | | 31 tax credit provided by this section. |
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438 | 437 | | 32 (p) To receive the credit provided by this section, a taxpayer must |
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439 | 438 | | 33 claim the credit on the taxpayer's annual state tax return or returns in |
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440 | 439 | | 34 the manner prescribed by the department. The taxpayer shall submit to |
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441 | 440 | | 35 the department all information that the department determines is |
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442 | 441 | | 36 necessary for the calculation of the credit provided by this section. |
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443 | 442 | | 37 (q) An account owner of an account of a college choice 529 |
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444 | 443 | | 38 education savings plan must repay all or a part of the credit in a taxable |
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445 | 444 | | 39 year in which any nonqualified withdrawal is made from the account. |
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446 | 445 | | 40 The amount the taxpayer must repay is equal to the lesser of: |
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447 | 446 | | 41 (1) twenty percent (20%) of the total amount of nonqualified |
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448 | 447 | | 42 withdrawals made during the taxable year from the account; or |
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450 | 449 | | 1 (2) the excess of: |
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451 | 450 | | 2 (A) the cumulative amount of all credits provided by this |
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452 | 451 | | 3 section that are claimed by any taxpayer with respect to the |
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453 | 452 | | 4 taxpayer's contributions to the account for all prior taxable |
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454 | 453 | | 5 years beginning on or after January 1, 2007; over |
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455 | 454 | | 6 (B) the cumulative amount of repayments paid by the account |
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456 | 455 | | 7 owner under this subsection for all prior taxable years |
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457 | 456 | | 8 beginning on or after January 1, 2008. |
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458 | 457 | | 9 (r) Any required repayment under subsection (q) shall be reported |
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459 | 458 | | 10 by the account owner on the account owner's annual state income tax |
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460 | 459 | | 11 return for any taxable year in which a nonqualified withdrawal is made. |
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461 | 460 | | 12 (s) A nonresident account owner who is not required to file an |
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462 | 461 | | 13 annual income tax return for a taxable year in which a nonqualified |
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463 | 462 | | 14 withdrawal is made shall make any required repayment on the form |
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464 | 463 | | 15 required under IC 6-3-4-1(2). If the nonresident account owner does |
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465 | 464 | | 16 not make the required repayment, the department shall issue a demand |
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466 | 465 | | 17 notice in accordance with IC 6-8.1-5-1. |
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467 | 466 | | 18 (t) The executive director of the Indiana education savings authority |
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468 | 467 | | 19 shall submit or cause to be submitted to the department a copy of all |
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469 | 468 | | 20 information returns or statements issued to account owners, account |
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470 | 469 | | 21 beneficiaries, and other taxpayers for each taxable year with respect to: |
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471 | 470 | | 22 (1) nonqualified withdrawals made from accounts, including |
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472 | 471 | | 23 subaccounts of a college choice 529 education savings plan for |
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473 | 472 | | 24 the taxable year; or |
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474 | 473 | | 25 (2) account closings for the taxable year. |
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475 | 474 | | 26 (u) The following apply to contributions made after December 31, |
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476 | 475 | | 27 2023: |
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477 | 476 | | 28 (1) For purposes of this section, all or part of a contribution made |
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478 | 477 | | 29 after the end of a taxable year, and not later than the due date of |
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479 | 478 | | 30 the taxpayer's adjusted gross income tax return for the taxable |
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480 | 479 | | 31 year under this article (as determined without regard to any |
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481 | 480 | | 32 allowable extensions), shall be considered as having been made |
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482 | 481 | | 33 during the taxable year preceding the contribution if: |
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483 | 482 | | 34 (A) the taxpayer elects to treat all or part of a contribution as |
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484 | 483 | | 35 occurring in the taxable year preceding the contribution; |
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485 | 484 | | 36 (B) the taxpayer designates the amounts of the contribution to |
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486 | 485 | | 37 be treated as occurring in each taxable year, in the case of a |
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487 | 486 | | 38 single contribution that is to be allowable under this section in |
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488 | 487 | | 39 two (2) separate years; and |
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489 | 488 | | 40 (C) the taxpayer irrevocably waives the right to claim the |
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490 | 489 | | 41 contribution claimed in the taxable year preceding the |
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491 | 490 | | 42 contribution as occurring in the taxable year of the |
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493 | 492 | | 1 contribution. |
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494 | 493 | | 2 (2) The Indiana education savings authority may prescribe any |
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495 | 494 | | 3 forms necessary for purposes of this subsection. |
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496 | 495 | | 4 SECTION 3. IC 6-3.1-41.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE |
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497 | 496 | | 5 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE |
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498 | 497 | | 6 JULY 1, 2025]: |
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499 | 498 | | 7 Chapter 41.6. Zero Cost Adoption Fund Tax Credit |
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500 | 499 | | 8 Sec. 1. This chapter applies to taxable years beginning after |
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501 | 500 | | 9 December 31, 2025. |
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502 | 501 | | 10 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "credit" refers to a credit |
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503 | 502 | | 11 allowed under this chapter. |
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504 | 503 | | 12 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "fund" means the zero cost |
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505 | 504 | | 13 adoption fund established by IC 5-35.5-4-1. |
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506 | 505 | | 14 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "pass through entity" has the |
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507 | 506 | | 15 meaning set forth in IC 6-3-1-35. |
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508 | 507 | | 16 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "state tax liability" means a |
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509 | 508 | | 17 taxpayer's total tax liability that is incurred under: |
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510 | 509 | | 18 (1) IC 6-3-1 through IC 6-3-7 (the adjusted gross income tax); |
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511 | 510 | | 19 (2) IC 6-5.5 (the financial institutions tax); and |
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512 | 511 | | 20 (3) IC 27-1-18-2 (the insurance premiums tax) or IC 6-8-15 |
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513 | 512 | | 21 (the nonprofit agricultural organization health coverage tax); |
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514 | 513 | | 22 as computed after the application of the credits that under |
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515 | 514 | | 23 IC 6-3.1-1-2 are to be applied before the credit provided by this |
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516 | 515 | | 24 chapter. |
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517 | 516 | | 25 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "taxpayer" means an individual |
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518 | 517 | | 26 or entity that has any state tax liability. |
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519 | 518 | | 27 Sec. 7. A taxpayer that makes a contribution to the fund is |
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520 | 519 | | 28 entitled to a credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability in the |
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521 | 520 | | 29 taxable year in which the taxpayer makes the contribution. |
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522 | 521 | | 30 Sec. 8. The amount of a taxpayer's credit is equal to fifty percent |
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523 | 522 | | 31 (50%) of the amount of the contribution made to the fund. |
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524 | 523 | | 32 Sec. 9. (a) If the credit provided by this chapter exceeds the |
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525 | 524 | | 33 taxpayer's state tax liability for the taxable year for which the |
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526 | 525 | | 34 credit is first claimed, the excess may be carried forward to |
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527 | 526 | | 35 succeeding taxable years and used as a credit against the |
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528 | 527 | | 36 taxpayer's state tax liability during those taxable years. Each time |
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529 | 528 | | 37 the credit is carried forward to a succeeding taxable year, the |
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530 | 529 | | 38 credit is reduced by the amount that was used as a credit during |
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531 | 530 | | 39 the immediately preceding taxable year. The credit provided by |
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532 | 531 | | 40 this chapter may be carried forward and applied to succeeding |
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533 | 532 | | 41 taxable years for nine (9) taxable years following the unused credit |
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534 | 533 | | 42 year. |
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536 | 535 | | 1 (b) A taxpayer is not entitled to a carryback or refund of any |
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537 | 536 | | 2 unused credit. |
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538 | 537 | | 3 Sec. 10. If a pass through entity is entitled to a credit under |
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539 | 538 | | 4 section 7 of this chapter but does not have state tax liability against |
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540 | 539 | | 5 which the tax credit may be applied, a shareholder, partner, or |
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541 | 540 | | 6 member of the pass through entity is entitled to a tax credit equal |
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542 | 541 | | 7 to: |
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543 | 542 | | 8 (1) the tax credit determined for the pass through entity for |
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544 | 543 | | 9 the taxable year; multiplied by |
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545 | 544 | | 10 (2) the percentage of the pass through entity's distributive |
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546 | 545 | | 11 income to which the shareholder, partner, or member is |
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547 | 546 | | 12 entitled. |
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548 | 547 | | 13 Sec. 11. To apply a credit against the taxpayer's state tax |
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549 | 548 | | 14 liability, a taxpayer must claim the credit on the taxpayer's annual |
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550 | 549 | | 15 state tax return or returns in the manner prescribed by the |
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551 | 550 | | 16 department. The taxpayer shall submit to the department the |
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552 | 551 | | 17 information that the department determines is necessary for the |
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553 | 552 | | 18 department to determine whether the taxpayer is eligible for the |
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554 | 553 | | 19 credit. |
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555 | 554 | | 20 Sec. 12. The total amount of tax credits allowed under this |
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556 | 555 | | 21 chapter may not exceed eighteen million five hundred thousand |
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557 | 556 | | 22 dollars ($18,500,000) for each state fiscal year. |
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558 | 557 | | 23 Sec. 13. The department, on a website used by the department |
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559 | 558 | | 24 to provide information to the public, shall provide the following |
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560 | 559 | | 25 information: |
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561 | 560 | | 26 (1) The application for the credit provided in this chapter. |
---|
562 | 561 | | 27 (2) A timeline for receiving the credit provided in this chapter. |
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563 | 562 | | 28 (3) The total amount of credits claimed under this chapter |
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564 | 563 | | 29 during the current state fiscal year. |
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565 | 564 | | 30 SECTION 4. IC 31-19-26.5-13, AS ADDED BY P.L.146-2008, |
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566 | 565 | | 31 SECTION 562, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS |
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567 | 566 | | 32 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 13. This chapter does not affect: |
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568 | 567 | | 33 (1) the legal status of an adoptive child; |
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569 | 568 | | 34 (2) the rights and responsibilities of the adoptive parents as |
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570 | 569 | | 35 provided by law; or |
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571 | 570 | | 36 (3) the eligibility of an adoptive child or adoptive parents for |
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572 | 571 | | 37 adoption assistance under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act |
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573 | 572 | | 38 (42 U.S.C. 673), federal and state regulations applicable to the |
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574 | 573 | | 39 Title IV-E adoption assistance program, or determination of the |
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575 | 574 | | 40 amount of any assistance provided by the department through the |
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576 | 575 | | 41 Title IV-E adoption assistance program; or |
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577 | 576 | | 42 (4) the eligibility of an adoptive child or adoptive parents for |
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579 | 578 | | 1 assistance available under IC 5-35.5-4. |
---|
580 | 579 | | 2 SECTION 5. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025] (a) As used in this |
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581 | 580 | | 3 SECTION, "fund" means the zero cost adoption fund established |
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582 | 581 | | 4 by IC 5-35.5-4-1, as added by this act. |
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583 | 582 | | 5 (b) For the biennium beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending June |
---|
584 | 583 | | 6 30, 2027, there is appropriated twenty-five million dollars |
---|
585 | 584 | | 7 ($25,000,000) from the state general fund to the fund to be used for |
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586 | 585 | | 8 the purposes set forth in IC 5-35.5-4-1, as added by this act. |
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587 | 586 | | 9 (c) This SECTION expires July 1, 2027. |
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588 | | - | HB 1503—LS 7551/DI 129 15 |
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589 | | - | COMMITTEE REPORT |
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590 | | - | Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Family, Children and Human |
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591 | | - | Affairs, to which was referred House Bill 1503, has had the same under |
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592 | | - | consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the House with |
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593 | | - | the recommendation that said bill do pass. |
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594 | | - | (Reference is to HB 1503 as introduced.) |
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595 | | - | DEVON |
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596 | | - | Committee Vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0 |
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597 | | - | HB 1503—LS 7551/DI 129 |
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| 587 | + | 2025 IN 1503—LS 7551/DI 129 |
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