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Increasing
benefits for Hoosier veterans and military families.
Since 2005, Governor Daniels
has spearheaded a number of initiatives to help Indiana's veterans and military families, including the creation of two veterans' specialty
plates, restoring a fee remission program at state colleges and universities
for disabled veterans, regardless of the extent of their disability,
and a ban on protests within 200 yards of military funerals.
In 2007, Governor Daniels
signed into law the first increases in benefits for Indiana's veterans
and military families in years that:
- Exempts all military
pay earned while serving in combat from Indiana state income tax. This
initiative applies to all active duty, reserve, and National Guard
personnel who file Indiana tax returns.
- Increases the
maximum allowable state income tax deductions on military pay (including
retirement pay and survivor's benefits) from $2,000
to $5,000 per year. The current allowable state income deduction on
active or reserve military pay, retirement pay, or survivor's benefits
is capped at $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple filing jointly. The governor's
initiative increases the allowable deduction limits to $5,000 for
individuals and $10,000 for couples filing jointly. This increase
restores the full value of the deduction, which has been eroded by
inflation since it was first introduced in 1977.
- Provides state
matching funds of up to $450,000 annually for Indiana Military Families
Relief Fund. This will dedicate state funds of up to $450,000 to match all
private contributions to the Indiana Military Families Relief Fund
as well as revenue generated for the fund from the sale of Hoosier
veteran specialty plates. Senate Enrolled Act 75, part of the governor's
2006 legislative agenda, established the fund, which provides grants
for the families of Hoosier Guard members and reservists who have
been called to active duty since September 11, 2001.
- Extends delayed
high school diploma program. Hoosier military veterans of the Korean
and Vietnam wars who left high school before graduation to perform
military service will now be eligible to receive a high school diploma.
This program is currently available to Hoosier veterans of World War
II.
- Allows in-state
tuition rates for out-of-state soldiers assigned to Indiana. This would allow service members and families assigned
to Indiana to be immediately eligible for in-state tuition rates at
state colleges and universities, and would enable children enrolled
in Indiana institutions to continue paying in-state rates even if
parents are transferred elsewhere.
- Establishes a
spouse employment program. This program will work with relevant professional licensing
organizations to expedite the process through which military spouses
must go to more efficiently transfer professional licenses such as
teaching, nursing, real estate, and others to be recognized in Indiana
from their previous states of residence.
Restored Veterans
Disability Benefits
Governor Daniels signed into law the establishment of a military
relief fund for Indiana National Guard families or armed forces reserves.
Also, a new Hoosier Veteran license plate will help raise money for
the fund. The measure also restored veterans' disability benefits.
Property Tax Deductions
Governor Daniels also signed legislation increasing the assessed value
of the real property owned by veterans from $113,000 to $143,160 under
tax code 1.
Access to Military
Discharge Records
Governor Daniels signed legislation
that provides that a military discharge record is not available for
public inspection and copying.
Jury Duty Exemptions
Governor Daniels
also signed HEA 1092 which exempts an individual on active military
duty from serving on a jury, outlines circumstances under which an
employee may take unpaid leave for military service, and requires
an employee to be restored to the original or equivalent position
that the employee held before the leave. |
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