SB 136 passed out of its House Committee. It repeals the expiration of a provision that gives preferences to Indiana businesses for contracts awarded by the State. The language on what constitutes an Indiana business is awfully squishy. (That language isn’t added or modified by this legislation.) A business is an “Indiana business” if either:
1. Principal place of business is located in Indiana.
2. Pays a majority of its payroll (in dollar volume) to residents of Indiana.
3. Employs Indiana residents as a majority of its employees.
4. Makes significant capital investments in Indiana.
5. Has a substantial positive economic impact on Indiana as defined by criteria [ginned up by the Department of Administration and the Economic Development Corporation.]
I don’t have any real problem with items 1 through 3. Under item 4, Wal-Mart would seem to qualify as an “Indiana Business;” and item 5 seems essentially standardless.
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