Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on April 13, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Conference Room 4D, Indianapolis, Indiana the Indiana Department of Administration will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule concerning the Indiana Veteran Owned Small Businesses (IVOSB) program.

The proposed rule amends established regulations and procedures regarding the IVOSB program, which is authorized pursuant to Executive Order 13-04, IC 5-22-14-3.5, and IC 5-22-14-11. The proposed rules are designed to help men and women who have previously served, or who are still serving, in the armed forces of the United States or their reserves, in the national guard, or in the Indiana National Guard, by offering an additional option for certification as an IVOSB directly with the state of Indiana. This additional option gives veteran owned businesses the opportunity to seek certification through the state program without first being certified by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. This has been authorized by a law change to IC 5-22-14-3.5 and IC 5-22-14-11, which instructs the Indiana Department of Administration to promulgate rules to implement this additional certification option.

There are no fees associated with the IVOSB program under the current or proposed rule. Indirect costs associated with the proposed rule are those necessary to complete the IVOSB state application and if a business so chooses, time to complete the process to apply for certification renewal every two years. The least stringent means of compliance and reporting requirements have been utilized in the proposed rule as the application only requires what is legally necessary under the law to determine eligibility. Further, this program has been in place since 2015, and this rule impacts the same segment of the businesses by providing another option for a voluntary program. Further, there is no impact anticipated for non-small businesses as there has been no documented impact since the program's inception and this is only another certification option under said program.

The Indiana Department of Administration is authorized to adopt the proposed rule under IC 4-13-1-7, IC 5-22-14-3.5, and IC 5-22-14-11.

Pursuant to IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3), the proposed rule will not impose any additional requirements or costs as it only provides another option under an existing program.

All parties interested in the proposed rule are invited to attend the public hearing and to offer public comments. Oral statements will be heard, but, for the accuracy of the record, all comments should be submitted in writing. In lieu of attending the public hearing, written comments may be sent to:

Indiana Department of Administration

Attention: Erin Kellam

402 West Washington Street

Indiana Government Center South, Room W478

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Copies of the proposed rule and this notice are available on the Indiana Department of Administration's website at:

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Department of Administration, 402 West Washington Street, Indiana Government Center South, Room W478 and Legislative Services Agency, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indiana Government Center North, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.