HB 1172 Summary

• Allows individual and joint filers to designate all or part of their state income tax refund to the Indiana heritage trust fund or the nongame fund, or both funds.

• Requires tax return instructions to describe the purposes of both the nongame and endangered species program and the Indiana heritage trust fund, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources.

• Mandates that tax returns include a statement clarifying that refund designations do not reduce tax liability but will decrease or eliminate the refund owed to the taxpayer.

• Expands the Indiana heritage trust project committee to include representation from the Indiana Dunes preservation community and the Lake Michigan lakeshore preservation community among its ten appointed members.

• Takes effect July 1, 2011 for the committee changes and January 1, 2012 for the refund designation provisions.