Sec. 20.9. (a) This section applies only to a contract awarded by a political subdivision if the political subdivision provides in the solicitation that this section applies to the purchase.

     (b) As used in this section, “affected county” refers to an Indiana county:

(1) in which the political subdivision awarding a contract under this article is located; or

(2) that is adjacent to the county described in subdivision (1).

     (c) As used in this section, “local Indiana business” refers to any of the following:

(1) A business whose principal place of business is located in an affected county.

(2) A business that pays a majority of its payroll (in dollar volume) to residents of affected counties.

(3) A business that employs residents of affected counties as a majority of its employees.

(4) A business that makes significant capital investments in the affected counties as defined in rules adopted by the political subdivision.

(5) A business that has a substantial positive economic impact on the affected counties as defined by criteria in rules adopted by the political subdivision.

     (d) There are the following price preferences for supplies purchased from a local Indiana business:

(1) Five percent (5%) for a purchase expected by the purchasing agency to be less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(2) Three percent (3%) for a purchase expected by the purchasing agency to be at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) but less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(3) One percent (1%) for a purchase expected by the purchasing agency to be at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

     (e) Notwithstanding subsection (d), a purchasing agency may award a contract to the lowest responsive and responsible offeror, regardless of the preference provided in this section, if the lowest responsive and responsible offeror is a local Indiana business.

     (f) A business that wants to claim a preference provided under this section must do all the following:

(1) State in the business’s bid that the business claims the preference provided by this section.

(2) Provide the following information to the purchasing agency:

(A) The location of the business’s principal place of business. If the business claims the preference as a local Indiana business described in subsection (c)(1), a statement explaining the reasons the business considers the location named as the business’s principal place of business.

(B) The amount of the business’s total payroll and the amount of the business’s payroll paid to residents of affected counties.

(C) The number of the business’s employees and the number of the business’s employees who are residents of affected counties.

(D) If the business claims the preference as a local Indiana business described in subsection (c)(4), a description of the capital investments made in the affected counties and a statement of the amount of those capital investments.

(E) If the business claims the preference as a local Indiana business described in subsection (c)(5), a description of the substantial positive economic impact the business has on the affected counties.

As added by P.L.172-2011, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.17-2012, SEC.1; P.L.67-2012, SEC.1.