LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington, Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7298 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 15, 2021
BILL NUMBER: HB 1502 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Police Misconduct Complaint Process.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Summers BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: X GENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill requires the Attorney General to establish not later than January 1, 2022,
an online portal and telephone hotline to receive complaints regarding police officer misconduct, including
anonymous complaints.
It requires a county, city, or town that has a police department to adopt an ordinance establishing an
accountability office (office) that: (1) is not a part of the police department; and (2) receives and investigates
police misconduct complaints, including anonymous complaints.
It also provides that a unit with a police contract in effect is not required to comply with the law until the
contract and any continuation of terms expires.
Effective Date: Upon passage.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Summary: This bill requires the Office of the Attorney General (AG)
to establish an online portal and a telephone hotline to receive complaints of police misconduct. These
requirements represent additional workload and expenditures outside the AG’s routine administrative
functions, and existing staffing and resource levels, if currently being used to capacity, may be insufficient
for full implementation. The additional funds and resources required could be supplied through existing staff
and resources currently being used in another program or with new appropriations. Ultimately, the source
of funds and resources required to satisfy the requirements of this bill will depend on legislative and
administrative actions.
Additional Information: These provisions will require the AG to contract with a provider to develop the
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online portal and to add at least one dedicated phone line as well as personnel to receive, process and forward
complaints. It is estimated that a minimum of five full-time equivalent personnel will be necessary to
continuously man the hotline, though this responsibility could be shared among more personnel in a part-time
capacity. Expenditures to create the portal and hotline, train personnel and purchase any necessary equipment
will be primarily made during FY 2022.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Summary: This bill will require all counties, cities, and towns with
police departments to establish a separate accountability office to receive complaints of officer misconduct.
The bill’s requirements represent an additional workload and expenditures on each affected unit. Ultimately,
the source of funds and resources required to satisfy the requirements of this bill will depend on legislative
and administrative actions.
Additional Information: This bill provides that each office must have the ability to receive complaints by an
internet portal, facsimile, email, telephone hotline or US mail. Each office will be required to receive, process
and forward complaints to the parties detailed in this bill and to interact with the complainant in an ongoing
basis during and after an investigation. These provisions are likely to require the hiring of at least one full-
time equivalent worker by most units and may require additional expenditures on technology and office
space. This bill will affect all 92 counties and an estimated 445 cities and towns. Local units may be able to
reduce costs by sharing resources and expenses within and between units.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Office of the Attorney General.
Local Agencies Affected: Counties, cities and towns.
Information Sources:
Fiscal Analyst: Alexander Raggio, 317-234-9485.
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