LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6458 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 7, 2020
BILL NUMBER: SB 83 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Dogs.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Crider BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: X GENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
X DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill provides that if there is not an individual requiring medical attention or
transport, a paramedic, advanced emergency medical technician, or emergency medical technician may use
emergency ambulance services to transport a law enforcement dog injured in the line of duty to a veterinary
hospital or clinic. It also increases the penalties for cruelty to a law enforcement animal and a search and
rescue dog.
Effective Date: July 1, 2021.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Emergency Transport: This bill may decrease the likelihood that an
injured law enforcement dog will die or sustain career-ending injury. This will decrease the costs associated
with purchasing and training new law enforcement dogs. The actual decrease in expenditures is likely to be
minimal.
Penalty Provision: State expenditures could increase if an offender is incarcerated in a state prison rather
than in a local jail or if an offender is incarcerated in a state prison for a longer period of time. A Level 6
felony is punishable by a prison term ranging between 6 to 30 months, with an advisory sentence of 1 year.
A Level 5 felony is punishable by a prison term ranging from 1 to 6 years, with an advisory sentence of 3
years. The period of incarceration will depend upon mitigating and aggravating circumstances.
Additional Information: The average expenditure to house an adult offender was $21,551, or $59 daily, in
FY 2020. (This does not include the cost of new construction.) If offenders can be housed in existing
facilities with no additional staff, the incremental cost per offender for medical care, food, and clothing is
approximately $3,524 annually, or $9.66 daily. The estimated average cost of housing a juvenile in a state
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juvenile facility was $89,998 or $246 per day in FY 2020. The marginal cost for juvenile facilities was
$3,969 annually or $10.87 daily. The entire Level 6 sentence may be suspended and the person placed on
either probation or community correction. If no time is suspended, the offender can receive good time credit
of 50% and educational credit time. After adjusting for credit time, the offender can be released from prison
and placed on parole.
Explanation of State Revenues: Penalty Provision: More revenue to the Common School Fund could be
collected if a larger criminal fine is assessed by the sentencing court. The maximum fine for a Level A
misdemeanor is $5,000, while the maximum fine for a Level 5 or Level 6 felony is $10,000. Court fees for
both misdemeanors and felonies are $120.
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Emergency Transport: See Explanation of State Expenditures.
Penalty Provision: If an offender is sentenced to state prison rather than to a county jail, the costs to the
county may be reduced. The maximum term of imprisonment for a Class A misdemeanor is up to one year.
The average cost per day to incarcerate a prisoner is $54 based on the per diem payments reported by U.S.
Marshals to house federal prisoners in 16 county jails across Indiana during federal FY 2017.
Explanation of Local Revenues: Penalty Provision: Court fees for both misdemeanors and felonies are
$120. No additional revenues would be expected since the court fees for Class A misdemeanors, Level 6 and
Level 5 felonies are the same.
State Agencies Affected: Department of Correction.
Local Agencies Affected: Trial courts; local law enforcement agencies.
Information Sources: U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service.
Fiscal Analyst: Alexander Raggio, 317-234-9485.
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Statutes affected:
1. Introduced Senate Bill (S): 35-46-3-11, 35-46-3-11.3