Establishes the Indiana-Ireland trade commission (commission) to advance bilateral trade and investment between Indiana and Ireland and other related matters. Specifies the membership of the commission and certain requirements for the operations of the commission. Requires the commission to provide an annual report of its activities. Provides for the expiration of the commission.
Provides that the environmental rules board may adopt rules establishing requirements for the reclamation and reuse of treated wastewater. Requires certain entities to: (1) conduct an annual public water system cybersecurity vulnerability assessment; (2) annually provide the office of technology with the name and contact information of any individual who will act as the primary reporter of a cybersecurity incident; (3) submit an annual certification to the department of environmental management via a secured portal verifying certain information; and (4) when an actual or suspected cybersecurity breach occurs, report the incident to the office of technology.
Provides that an individual's duty to report suspected child abuse or neglect may only be delegated to another person if certain conditions are met. Requires that if a report of suspected child abuse or neglect alleges that a staff member, youth coach, or volunteer of an institution, school, facility, organization, or agency is the abuser, law enforcement shall investigate to determine whether the institution, school, facility, organization, or agency knew that the alleged abuse was happening and failed to report the alleged abuse. Allows law enforcement to consider certain facts when determining whether the institution, school, facility, organization, or agency knew about the alleged abuse. Provides that a child is not a child in need of services due to a parent, guardian, or custodian referring to and raising a child consistent with the child's biological sex. Makes conforming changes.
Requires certain media entities operating in Indiana to disclose: (1) foreign ownership; (2) foreign funding; and (3) the use of foreign sourced or influenced content. Authorizes the secretary of state to impose a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for a knowing or intentional violation of the disclosure requirements. Provides that the secretary of state shall publish a list of Indiana media entities that have complied with certain requirements. Requires certain media entities to obtain special accreditation from the department of administration to attend state media events, and allows the department of administration to revoke the special accreditation under certain circumstances.
Establishes the small modular nuclear reactor partnership pilot program (program). Provides that certain electric utilities (eligible utilities) may partner with one or more other specified types of partners (eligible partners) to develop one or more small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at an eligible project site, subject to the approval of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC). For purposes of these provisions, provides that an eligible project site is: (1) a location in Indiana; or (2) the site of a nuclear energy facility that supplies electricity to Indiana retail customers on July 1, 2011. Provides that an eligible utility that seeks to develop a project with one or more eligible partners may petition the IURC for approval to participate in the program. Sets forth the information that an eligible utility's petition must include. Sets forth the factors that the IURC must consider in reviewing a petition. Requires the IURC to issue a final order approving or denying a petition not later than 180 days after receiving the petition and the eligible utility's complete case in chief, subject to the IURC's right to extend the time for review if the eligible utility does not object to the extension. Provides that the IURC shall approve a petition if the IURC makes specified findings. Provides that an eligible utility may petition the IURC for approval to incur, before obtaining a certificate of convenience and necessity (CPCN) to construct an SMR under the program, eligible project development costs. Defines "eligible project development costs" as project development costs that: (1) have been, or are reasonably estimated to be, incurred by an eligible utility in the development of one or more SMRs under the program; and (2) have not been and will not be recovered by the eligible utility through contributions of any money, services, or property provided at no cost to the eligible utility by any eligible partner, governmental agency, or other third party, regardless of whether the third party has entered into an eligible partnership with the eligible utility. Sets forth certain factors that the IURC must consider in reviewing an eligible utility's petition to incur eligible project development costs. Provides that if the IURC denies an eligible utility's petition to participate in the program, and the eligible utility seeks to pursue the development of an SMR outside the program, the eligible utility may: (1) proceed to develop an SMR under the procedures set forth under the existing Indiana Code section governing CPCNs for SMRs; and (2) request that the eligible utility's petition to incur eligible project development costs under bill's provisions be considered a petition to incur project development costs under the Indiana Code section governing CPCNs for SMRs .Provides that if an eligible utility receives approval to incur eligible project development costs, the eligible utility may petition the IURC for the approval of a rate schedule that periodically adjusts the eligible utility's rates and charges to provide for the timely recovery of eligible project development costs. Provides that an eligible utility that receives approval to recover eligible project development costs shall: (1) recover 80% of the approved eligible project development costs under the approved rate schedule; and (2) defer the remaining 20% of approved eligible project development costs for recovery as part of the eligible utility's next general rate case before the IURC. Provides that eligible project development costs that: (1) are incurred by an eligible utility; and (2) exceed the best estimate of eligible project development costs included in the IURC's order authorizing the eligible utility to incur eligible project development costs; may not be included in the eligible utility's rates and charges unless found by the IURC to be reasonable, necessary, and prudent in supporting the development of the project for which they were incurred. Provides that: (1) eligible project development costs incurred for a project that is canceled or not completed may be recovered by the eligible utility if found by the IURC to be reasonable, necessary, and prudently incurred; but (2) such costs shall be recovered without a return unless the IURC makes certain additional findings.
HB 1064 removes existing language that prohibited certain students from enrolling in a school primarily for athletic reasons. This change allows students to transfer to a new school corporation even if their main motivation is to participate in sports. The bill modifies the current law to permit these types of athletic-focused school transfers.
Extends the availability of the employer child care expenditure tax credit through July 1, 2027. Provides that under specified circumstances, an individual who: (1) is at least 15 years of age; and (2) is a student at a school corporation that operates a child care program; may volunteer as a caregiver for the child care program before completing the statutory requirements for individuals to act as a volunteer caregiver at a child care program. Adds two representatives of out-of-school-time programs to the membership of the early learning advisory committee. Provides for purposes of regulation of licensed child care centers that the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) shall: (1) ensure that: (A) Indiana's staff to child ratio for a specified age range is not more stringent than the average of the staff to child ratios permitted for that age range under the laws of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio; and (B) Indiana's maximum group size for a specified age range is not more stringent than the average of the maximum group sizes permitted for that age range under the laws of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio; and (2) annually publish on the office's website the: (A) staff to child ratio; and (B) maximum group size; that a licensed child care center is required to maintain for the specified age ranges. Provides exceptions to the bill's group size provisions for: (1) an indoor or outdoor area of a child care center that provides at least 75 square feet of space per child; and (2) a child care center's cafeteria. Provides that if the office has received at least five applications from child care providers wishing to participate in the micro center pilot program (pilot program) but has selected less than five applicants for participation in the pilot program, the office shall select additional applicants for participation in the pilot program such that at least five child care providers are participating in the pilot program.
Requires political subdivisions, state agencies, school corporations, and state educational institutions (public entities), with the exception of specified categories of hospitals and the Indianapolis department of public utilities (department), to adopt not later than December 31, 2027, a: (1) technology resources policy; and (2) cybersecurity policy; that meet specified requirements. Provides the department is not required to report a cybersecurity incident to the office of technology (office). Requires the office to develop: (1) standards and guidelines regarding cybersecurity for use by political subdivisions and state educational institutions; and (2) a uniform cybersecurity policy for use by state agencies. Requires the office to develop, in collaboration with the department of education: (1) a uniform technology resources policy governing use of technology resources by the employees of school corporations; and (2) a uniform cybersecurity policy for use by school corporations. Requires: (1) a public entity to biennially submit to the office the cybersecurity policy adopted by the public entity; and (2) the office to establish a procedure for collecting and maintaining a record of submitted cybersecurity policies. Requires a public entity that engages a third party to conduct an assessment of the public entity's cybersecurity policy to provide the results of the assessment to the office.
Allows meetings of a state or local agency governing body concerning the following topics to be held in executive session: (1) Employee health care options with respect to special exceptions to coverage. (2) Employee specific compensation or employment matters of individual employees (excluding general discussion of employee compensation during a budget process). (3) Employee handbook changes. (3) Review of negotiations on the performance of publicly bid contracts, when public knowledge may result in increased cost. (4) Solicitation of contract proposals containing a bidder's proprietary information.
Requires each school corporation and charter middle school to automatically enroll a student who meets certain conditions in a middle school advanced math course. Allows a parent of a student to opt out of automatic enrollment. Requires the department of education to submit a report to the legislative council that includes certain middle school advanced math course student percentage information. Establishes requirements regarding: (1) mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) teacher preparation program math curriculum and content.
Establishes additional duties for the governor's workforce cabinet and requires the cabinet to perform certain duties jointly with other state agencies. Requires the Indiana management performance hub, in collaboration with the department of education (department) and commission for higher education (commission), to: (1) collect and compile certain student income data; and (2) compile into a data product on the department's and commission's websites certain data. Requires the secretary of education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the general assembly. Provides that the commission shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or programs. Provides that before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. Requires the commission to: (1) review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; (3) publish certain information; and (4) take official action regarding the approval or disapproval of certain requests within 90 days. Requires a state educational institution to approve for admission Indiana residents who meet certain requirements. Requires the board of trustees of a state educational institution to do the following: (1) When reviewing tenured faculty members, assess and review the staffing needs of the institution based on the branches, campuses, extension centers, colleges, schools, and degree and programs of the institution. (2) Submit to the commission any review of, renewal of, or amendment to the process or criteria regarding the tenured faculty member review. Requires the commission to promptly review the process and criteria and provide feedback to a board of trustees. Requires the commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the legislative council regarding certain student enrollment data. Adds duties for the department of workforce development.
Sets forth requirements for a utilization review entity that requires prior authorization of a health care service. Prohibits a utilization review entity from requiring prior authorization for the first 12 physical therapy or chiropractic visits of each new episode of care. Provides that a claim for reimbursement for a covered service or item provided to an insured or enrollee may not be denied on the sole basis that the referring provider is an out of network provider. Repeals superseded provisions regarding prior authorization. Makes corresponding changes.
