1. The Military / Veterans Coalition of Indiana www.inmilcoal.org
2017 Legislative Agenda By
BG Jim Bauerle

2. Our Vision Veteran / Military friendly state
Be “TOP 10” positive by all outside ratings.
Govt, Not-for-profit, & Corporations think of veterans and our military first when undertaking action.

3. Do you want this Business?
Current salary of $2.8 BILLION & growing.
Business that needs 38,000+ employees.
Business that sent 3,500 employees and their families from IN to another state
Business growing today that would
add $815 MILLION in salaries to qualified Indiana residents
grow taxes by $480 MILLION

4. This is a current Indiana Business

5. The Business --- Hoosier Veterans

6. Indiana Veterans-- A great investment the state should make!!!

7. GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level
Geographic Distribution of the US Dept of Veterans Affairs Expenditures (GDX)
The GDX Report presents the estimated dollar expenditures for major VA Programs by county within each state.
Expenditure data is grouped by the following categories:
Compensation and Pension (C&P);
Education and Vocational Rehabilitation;
Insurance and Indemnities;
Construction (CNSTR);
General Operating Expenses (GOE); and
Medical Care.
The GDX Report also includes veteran population estimates by county within each state and the number of unique patients who used VA health care services (

8. GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level
Rank 16th in Vet population with 469,210 Vets.
Down a net of 7,073 from 2014
(about 3,500 left the state and the others died).
130,705 IN Veterans received federal VA benefits in 2015
Calculated average $21,323 /YR per veteran.

9. GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level
Total expenditures paid to IN Veterans:
$2,787 BILLION up from $2,616 BILLION;
This is up $171 MILLION over last year.
$1.366 BILLION contributed in state taxes.
US Dept of Veterans Affairs, in FY08, set 36%
as target of VETs to receive VA benefits & services. IN is at 27.86%
38,211 IN Vets needed for 36%

10. GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level
Why?
CVSO under-representation
Some work as little as 8 hours a week!
Some work 12 hours a week.
Veterans in some counties exceeds the capacity of veteran service officers to serve.
Few do proactive outreach.

11. GDX File Analysis 2015 vs. 2014 for Indiana at the state level
IN LOST $815 MILLION last year alone!
Using General Assembly value 9.8 cents of every dollar spent goes to Indiana taxes and the velocity of money of 5;
IN missed $480 MILLION in taxes.
IT IS SOUND BUSINESS TO “INVEST”
IN INDIANA VETERANS!

12. Public Consulting Group Dec 5, 2014 Evaluation of Veterans’ benefits and Assistance Operations

13. 2017 Legislative Goals
In priority order

14. 1. The Indiana Veteran Recovery Program (IVRP)
Statewide evidence based clinical trial.
Treat Vets w/ TBI-PTSD using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) at 1.5 ATA.
VALIDATES ISRAELI “STANDARD OF CARE”
Obtain reimbursement from 3rd parties (federal government). The state may be required to sue for reimbursement.
Requires Funding.

15. Typical Multiplace Hyperbaric Chamber
Typical Monoplace Hyperbaric Chamber
HBOT is approved & on-label for 14 indications & treatment is reimbursed by all major third party payers including Medicare, Tricare & the VA.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is not Black-Labeled by the FDA. ALL drugs currently being prescribed are off-label for PTSD or TBI except two. 15

17. HBOT: It’s About Oxygen Saturation The body’s liquids are saturated with more oxygen, helping areas with compromised circulation.
Before HBOT
After HBOT
Image Courtesy of Dr. Stoller

18. HBOT 1.5: 700% or 7x HBAT 1.3: 30%* more O2 HBOT 2.4: 1200% or 12x
Solution: It’s Just Oxygen! HBOT: Oxygen is being used to repair an injury caused by a lack of oxygen!
Pressure causes oxygen to saturate tissues higher than normal breathing:
HBAT 1.3: 30%* more O2
HBOT 1.5: 700% or 7x
HBOT 2.4: 1200% or 12x
HBAT is Compressed Air & HBAT 1.3 is the FDA Approved Treatment for Mountain Sickness

19. How Oxygen works - 5,769+* ways (~# of cellular processes studied)
Increases growth factors
Reduces edema/swelling
Promotes neural pathway growth
Activates senescent neurons [“sleeping”, not dead]
Increases neuronal energy [ATP]
Decreases inflammation
Reduces reperfusion injury [not enough O2]

20. Brain Insults often Result in a 50% Decrease In Brain Metabolism HBOT Restores Brain Metabolism
Case Published in: Cases Report June

21. Non-Healing Wound of the Foot Diabetic Foot Ulcer: This Wagner Grade III was present for one year and unresponsive to conventional therapy.
1 Day Prior to Scheduled Amputation
26 HBOT Treatments
Hyperbaric Oxygenation prevents
75% of amputations in diabetic patients.
Therapy is approved by CMS for Medicare upon application by IHMA to CMS for coverage, 2003.
50 HBOT Treatments 21

23. 2. Income tax exemption of some / all of military income
3,500 Vets left IN in 2015; w/ spouse & family.
WalletHub: Avg. retirement age: Off 47.1 & EM 43.2
The National Active Retirement Association reports “a retiree couple is the equivalent to 3.7 manufacturing jobs…”
higher disposable incomes -- better educations
Less burden on streets, infrastructure, & schools.
active volunteers -- have higher wealth on average,
they pay higher taxes on purchases and property.”
Therefore, we should do everything to keep and even grow this cohort.

24. 2. Income tax exemption of some / all of military income
According to American Community Survey 2014, “the median household income among Vets in the US is $56,890.”
Male Vets working full time earn about $6,000 more than similar non-Vets.
Female Vets earned about $7,000 more than similar non-Vets
(Per Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Policy and Planning, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics in their June 2016 report. Getting and keeping veterans is a very positive economic advantage for a state.)

25. 2. Income tax exemption of some / all of military income
Of 50 states, 7 have no personal income tax.
2 (NH & TN) collect income tax only on interest & dividends.
Of the 41 states -38 exclude a significant amount of state or federal pension income or both.
Indiana, Rhode Island & Vermont– do NOT.
No state collects income taxes on Railroad Retirement income.
(Source: NCSL Ronald Snell and Bert Waisanen article Jul 07)

26. 2. Income tax exemption of some / all of military income
ALT 1. Eliminate all military income from state income tax.
ALT 2. Remove age limit on military service tax deduction.
Eliminate age requirement.
Increase the deduction to Sergeant First Class pay.
ALT 3. Provide Military service tax deduction for retired pay.
 ALT 4. Provide Military service tax deduction for Active Duty pay.

27. 3. Growing & keeping veteran population in Indiana.
Add one staff to lead a Group within LT Governor’s office (Economic Development)– to recruit SMs coming off active duty at their active duty discharge locations 6 months prior to their expiration of service.
Develop marketing package w/ financial incentives.
Provide loans for home purchase, salary while training for job, relocation expenses, property tax breaks, and Indiana Income Tax credits.

28. 3. Growing & keeping veteran population in Indiana.
Private industry joins with local & state government to build a “regional” marketing package to be used as a major tool in winning new veterans coming to Indiana.
The idea is building a template for communities to use to get and keep veterans and execute on a community level with coordination at STATE level.
Vets are great role models for our youth.

29. 3. cont. SEC 2. INDIANA Tax credit for hiring veterans.
INDIANA Work Opportunity Tax Credit (IWOTC) 
For-profit -- tax credits up to $9,600 per qualified veteran
Non- Profit -- up to $6,240
Help businesses to apply for the Federal and State WOTC

30. 4. 21st Century Veterans Support.
Fund IDVA w/ ”fenced” fund to provide grants to counties for the express purposes of funding CVSOs based upon formula of 1 CVSO per each 7,500 county vet population rounded to the closest half person minus 1 CVSO.
EXAMPLE: Allen Co. has 23,236 vets. Divide by 7.5K= 3.10
Now round to 3 (closest half) and subtract 1 = 2 additional CVSOs to be funded via grant from IDVA at the annual minimum federal exempt salary rate.

31. 21st Century Veterans Support Plan
Counties Vet count Calculated Adds
Allen 23,236, additional
Clark 9,089, additional
Delaware 8,727, additional
Elkhart 10, additional
Hamilton 17, additional
Hendricks 13, additional
Johnson 11, additional
La Porte 10, additional
Lake 31, additional
Madison 10, additional
Marion 61, additional
Porter 13, additional
St Joseph 17, additional
Tippecanoe 10, additional
Vanderburgh 12, additional
Vigo 8, additional
23 Total
20 additional $47,476= $949,520

32. 21st Century Veterans Support Plan
Require County Veteran Service Officers to be funded at 1000 hours per year. Provide funding from IDVA operating budget or establish a separate appropriation from the general fund for all Veteran Service Officers.
½ the minimum federal exempt salary per county.
Calculation: 92 CVSOs X .5 time X $47,476 = $2,183, annually.
We believe County should fund the other half so we have at least one FTE per county!

33. 21st Century Veterans Support
Fund CVSO training, annual update, Service Officer training expenses, and “VETRASPEC” software licenses w/ state appropriation.
 Calculation:
92 CVSOs + 23 CVSOs X ($500 for software + $170 per hotel, food, and travel) =$77,050
CVSO to serve for 5 yrs. (Poor performance exception).

34. 21st Century Veterans Support
Written notification to county/ city leadership, & governor days of vacancy
Withheld from cities & counties a portion of income if they fail to enforce accreditation and reaccreditation requirements

35. 5. Expand Veterans Treatment Courts.
Provide more funding from State; recommend $1.5Million annually.
No bill will be authored for this as Chief Justice Rush is submitting this fund request in the Court budget!
Seek funding by state from federal government. 12 states were funded in 2016.

36. 6. Lottery games to benefit veterans.
Establish a scratch-off game to benefit IN Vets.
Revenue into the veteran’s trust fund.
10% to administer the fund.
Non-reverting . 

37. 7. Ending Veteran Homelessness
Add one staff to lead a Veteran Homelessness Task Force to design, coordinate, & execute plans to manage the entire state problem—working with federal, state, county and other entities.
Also provide property tax credits for Landlord/Property Owners/Managers who house Veterans that are connected to the VA or Veteran Organization.

38. 8. Veterans Driver’s License
Honorary Surviving Spouse of Veterans Driver’s License, or Veteran ID Cards.
Issue without charge a standard drivers license or Veteran ID Card.
Individual will be required to consent to use data for state purposes ONLY!

39. 9. GUARD & RESERVE TNG MATTERS
SECTION 1. Expand NG Tuition to include IN Reservists.
Must maintain a “C+” average.
After all GI Bill benefits are exhausted.
SECTION 2. Academic protection for mobilized Guard & Reserve students
SECTION 3. Employment & training priority to all Reservist & their spouses.
SECTION 4. Employer tax credits for employees' Guard or Reserve. 
SECTION 5. Exempt GI Bill, disability compensation, & vocational rehab funds from consideration in any need based financial aid calculations.

40. 10. Renter Credit for Disabled Veteran
A renter credit for a disabled veteran who would qualify for the property tax credit for disabled veterans except for the fact that the disabled veteran rents living quarters.
Current law gives actual rent up to $3000 off AGI.
Proposed change gives the disability rating times the value in current law.
IE. Renter’s credit is $2,800. Disability rating = 30%
Disability deduction is $840 additional (.30 x 2800)

41. 11. State Service Bonus for duty in a combat zone during the Gulf Wars
Recognition & compensation for personal sacrifice and economic hardships caused by unit activation and family separation.
Similar recognition was provided to combat veterans of the Vietnam conflict, Korea, and WWII.
125,804 Gulf War Era Veterans as of Sep 2012
Most Desert Storm Veterans served less than 1 year.

42. Move to head of the line and process
OSD Initiatives
Spouses of service members – teachers licenses.
Physical Therapist – service members ad their spouses.
Move to head of the line and process

43. Indiana
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." -- George Washington