Requires each high school to: (1) beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, offer the Indiana college core (college core); or (2) not later than October 1, 2024, submit a plan or report that meets certain requirements to the commission for higher education (commission). Provides that: (1) a student who successfully completes an eligible course under the college core is entitled to secondary credit toward graduation requirements; and (2) the student's transcripts must reflect the secondary credit. Establishes the reverse transfer program for community college associate degrees. Requires each state educational institution (institution) to prepare and submit a report to the commission that includes information regarding a determination by the institution of the feasibility and advisability of establishing and conferring associate degrees to certain students. Establishes certain requirements for the commission regarding the reports. Requires each institution that offers baccalaureate degrees to establish a policy to review each of the institution's four year baccalaureate degree program offerings to determine the feasibility of providing each in a specifically structured manner to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires, not later than July 1, 2025, each institution to offer at least one baccalaureate degree program specifically structured to allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. Requires an institution to provide an annual report to the commission regarding offering four year baccalaureate degree programs completed in three years. Expands the schools to which requirements regarding secondary credit apply. Changes the name of the statewide transfer general education core to the Indiana college core. Requires the commission, in coordination with the department of education (department) and institutions, to maintain and post a list and syllabus or course outline record of each eligible college core course. Requires, by July 1, 2025, the department to partner with one or more institutions or approved postsecondary educational institutions to provide online access to the college core through the course access program. Provides that credit equivalencies, including the college core, for all Cambridge International Advanced A and AS Level examinations must be updated annually and sent by each institution to the commission by June 1 each year. Provides that each institution shall post these annually updated credit equivalencies on the institution's website by July 1 each year. Provides that the commission shall post the annually updated credit equivalencies on the commission's student transfer of credit portal by July 1 each year.
Amends the duties of state educational institutions' diversity committees. Provides that certain offices or individuals established or employed by a state educational institution (institution) regarding diversity programming must include within the mission of the office or position programming that substantially promotes both cultural and intellectual diversity. Establishes various requirements and restrictions for institutions regarding free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity that does the following: (1) Requires the establishment of certain policies regarding: (A) disciplinary actions for certain persons that materially and substantially disrupt protected expressive activity; (B) limiting or restricting the granting of tenure or a promotion if certain conditions related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity are not met; and (C) disciplinary actions that will be taken if, after a review, a determination has been made that a tenured faculty member has failed to meet certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (2) Requires the review and consideration, at least every five years, of certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (3) Requires the establishment of a procedure that allows students and employees to submit complaints that a faculty member or contractor is not meeting certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity and establishes requirements regarding the procedure and submitted complaints. (4) Establishes consideration requirements before an institution renews an employment agreement or other contract with, makes a bonus decision regarding, or completes a review or performance assessment of a faculty member or contractor. (5) Prohibits requiring an applicant, employee, or contractor to pledge allegiance to or make a statement of personal support for: (A) certain policies or actions; or (B) political or ideological movements. (6) Establishes restrictions regarding awarding admission, enrollment, employment, benefits, hiring, reappointment, promotion, or granting tenure to an applicant, employee, or contractor on the basis of the viewpoints expressed in a submitted pledge or statement. (7) Requires certain information be included in an institution's programming for new students. (8) Requires the adoption of a statement on neutrality that makes a distinction between the official positions of an institution from the individual viewpoints of the institution's employees, contractors, students, and alumni. (9) Allows the commission for higher education (commission) to establish a survey that attempts to collect information from students regarding the current perceptions of whether free speech and academic freedom are recognized and fostered by an institution in a manner that welcomes expression of different opinions and ideologies and requires an institution to promote and provide the survey to students. (10) Establishes various reporting requirements by institutions or the commission concerning complaints submitted regarding faculty members or contractors who are not meeting certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (11) Provides that certain individuals may request the commission to review a final decision by an institution concerning a violation of these provisions. Provides that the commission may enter into an agreement with the office of administrative law proceedings to review violations of certain provisions and issue an opinion on behalf of the commission. Requires each institution to submit certain information by September 1, 2024, and on September 1 of each year thereafter.
Extends insurance coverage on property transferred by a transfer on death transfer following the death of the insured after June 30, 2025, for property and casualty insurance and liability insurance other than title insurance and certain insurance relating to bonds and mortgages.
Allows an automotive salvage recycler or an agent of an automotive salvage recycler to apply for a certificate of authority for a motor vehicle on behalf of the seller with all required information collected at the point of sale. Sets forth reporting requirements for automotive salvage recyclers. Requires notice to be provided to the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an automotive salvage recycler's established place of business if, when applying for a certificate of authority, the automotive salvage recycler or an agent of the automotive salvage recycler learns: (1) the motor vehicle was reported stolen; or (2) the owner of the motor vehicle does not match the individual who provided the automotive salvage recycler with the motor vehicle.
Provides that a school safety plan developed by a school corporation or charter school must establish an armed intruder drill protocol. Requires safe school committees to develop a policy that considers the effect of armed intruder drills on the safety and mental health of students, faculty, and staff. Prohibits an armed intruder drill that includes sensory components or activities from: (1) requiring student participation; or (2) taking place during regular school hours if a majority of the student body is present on school property. Allows a school corporation or charter school that: (1) employs a school resource officer; or (2) enters into a contract or a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency, private entity, or nonprofit corporation to employ a school resource officer; to participate in the 1977 fund. Provides that a school resource officer hired or rehired after June 30, 2024, who is a member of the 1977 fund shall remain in the 1977 fund. Provides that a school resource officer may become a member of the 1977 fund by meeting certain age and training requirements. Makes corresponding changes.
Establishes a guardian ad litem pilot program in LaPorte County, Marshall County, and Starke County. Requires a court to appoint a guardian ad litem in an adoption proceeding if a parent of the child has an intellectual disability and is subject to a guardianship.
Establishes the therapeutic psilocybin research fund, administered by the division of mental health and addiction, to provide financial assistance to research institutions in Indiana to study the use of psilocybin to treat mental health and other medical conditions. Sets forth clinical study requirements. Requires a research institution that receives a grant to conduct a clinical study to prepare and submit a report to the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services, the Indiana department of health, and the division of mental health and addiction. Allows, rather than requires, the Indiana department of health to grant an extension to the hospital for the filing of certain reports. Removes the requirement that a clinical preceptor must have at least 18 months of experience as a licensed nurse. Allows the majority of nursing program faculty to be part-time employees of an approved postsecondary educational institution or a hospital that conducts the nursing program. Allows the holder of a student permit issued by the respiratory care committee to perform certain respiratory care procedures on certain child patients. Provides that an individual who previously was employed to provide supervised surgical assistance in a health care facility may provide surgical assistance in a health care facility. Requires a contract with a third party administrator, pharmacy benefit manager, or prepaid health care delivery plan to provide that the plan sponsor has ownership of the claims data. Allows a contract holder to request an audit of a pharmacy benefit manager one time per calendar year and not earlier than six months after a previously requested audit. Allows a plan sponsor that contracts with a third party administrator, the office of the secretary of family and social services that contracts with a managed care organization to provide services to a Medicaid recipient, or the state personnel department that contracts with a prepaid health care delivery plan to provide group health coverage for state employees to request an audit one time in a calendar year and not earlier than six months after a previously requested audit. Sets forth requirements concerning an audit. Voids a provision in the Indiana Administrative Code relating to physician referrals for acupuncture services.
Requires specified types of residential child care facilities to: (1) implement specified personnel policies, including with regard to: (A) minimum qualifications for specified employee classifications; and (B) maintenance of personnel records; (2) comply with specified restrictions on caseloads; (3) obtain specified health records, immunizations, and examinations for each child under the facility's care; and (4) follow specified processes in providing medical care for children in the facility's care, including with regard to administering psychotropic medications. Provides that certain individuals at least 18 years of age but less than 21 years of age are included in the definitions for "child", "child abuse or neglect", and "victim of child abuse or neglect". Makes conforming and technical changes.
Defines"courtroom costs". Provides that a county fiscal body may adopt an ordinance to impose a tax rate for: (1) in the case of a tax rate adopted before January 1, 2024, county staff expenses of the state judicial system in the county; or (2) in the case of a tax rate adopted after December 31, 2023, courtroom costs of the state judicial system in the county. Provides that the revenue shall be used by the county: (1) in the case of the tax rate adopted before January 1, 2024, only for paying for county staff expenses of the state judicial system in the county; and (2) in the case of a tax rate adopted after December 31, 2023, only for paying the courtroom costs of the state judicial system in the county. Provides that the local income tax revenue spent by each county may not comprise more than 50% of the county's total operational staffing expenses related to the courtroom costs of the state judicial system in any given year. Provides that a township fire department, volunteer fire department, fire protection territory, or fire protection district may apply to the county adopting body for a distribution of local income tax revenue that is allocated to public safety purposes. Requires the county adopting body to review certain submitted applications at a public hearing.
Requires health care entities to provide notice of certain mergers or acquisitions to office of the attorney general. Specifies notice requirements. Requires the office of the attorney general to review the information submitted with the notice. Allows the office of the attorney general to: (1) analyze in writing any antitrust concerns with the merger or acquisition; and (2) issue a civil investigative demand for additional information. Specifies that the information is confidential.
Increases the assessed value limit for the disabled veteran property tax deduction from $200,000 to $240,000. Allows that, for purposes of various property tax deductions, an individual has until January 15 of a calendar year in which property taxes are first due and payable to complete, date, and file the required certified statement with the county auditor. Extends through 2025 the expiration of the threshold amounts used for determining whether a political subdivision's project is a controlled project and whether the petition and remonstrance process or the referendum process applies based on the political subdivision's total debt service tax rate. Specifies that a political subdivision's total debt service tax rate does not include a tax rate approved by voters for a referendum debt service tax levy. Extends the current cap on operating referendum tax that may be levied by a school corporation to taxes due and payable in 2025, and provides a formula to determine the cap for that year. Reestablishes, and enumerates requirements and procedures for, a petition and remonstrance and a referendum for controlled projects funded by debt service if the project scope changes from the purpose initially advertised to taxpayers. Adds trailer provisions pertaining to SEA 228-2024 regarding alcoholic beverage taxes on liquor, wine, and hard cider. Requires the state fair commission to approve future dates of the state fair and the state fair board to advise the commission on future dates of the state fair. Provides that a state employee may affirmatively elect to enroll in the deferred compensation plan prior to the auto enroll date on day 31 of the state employee's employment. Requires, effective July 1, 2025, the trustee of the state police pension trust to maintain a supplemental allowance reserve account for the purpose of paying postretirement benefit adjustments. Requires certain political subdivisions to present to the interim study committee on pension management oversight concerning a delinquent employee retirement plan offered by the political subdivision. Increases the maximum date that a member or participant of certain retirement funds can participate in the deferred retirement option plan from 36 to 60 months. Removes a reference in current law to outstanding bonds for which a fee replacement appropriation was made in a provision prohibiting a state educational institution from issuing bonds for refunding or advance refunding of outstanding bonds without approval of the budget agency and the board of trustees of the issuing state educational institution making certain findings. Provides that grant awards authorized in the 2023 budget bill and awarded after December 31, 2024, for regional mental health facility grants to counties for use in constructing new facilities or renovating existing facilities to provide mental health services for certain incarcerated individuals may not exceed $5,000,000 per county (instead of $2,500,000 per county). Prohibits a unit from entering into a sister city or cooperative agreement with a city, town, province, county, school, college, or university located in a foreign adversary. Provides parameters for the northwestern Indiana regional planning commission, beginning with calendar year 2025 and for each year thereafter through calendar year 2029, to annually adjust each participating county's portion of the budget. Authorizes the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to implement a risk based managed care program for certain Medicaid recipients. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning to convene a workgroup and, with managed care organizations, to conduct a claims submission testing period before the risk based managed care program is established. Authorizes the establishment of home health agency cooperative agreements and provides for the expiration of those provisions on June 30, 2027. (A similar law enacted in 2022 expired on July 1, 2023.) Specifies that a home health agency may contract directly or indirectly through a network of home health agencies. Provides that distributions for curricular materials may not be considered for purposes of determining whether a school corporation met the requirement to expend a minimum amount of state tuition support for teacher compensation. Repeals the requirement that each school maintained by a school corporation and each charter school establish a curricular materials account. Requires a public school to deposit distributions for curricular materials in: (1) the education fund of the school corporation that maintains the school; or (2) the fund in which a charter school receives state tuition support. Adds a provision to allow a redevelopment commission to expend revenues from its allocation fund that are allocated for police and fire services on both capital expenditures and operating expenses as authorized in the 2023 session in HB 1454. Provides that, if a township transitions from a single township firefighting and emergency services fund to two separate funds as authorized under current law, the township legislative body must approve a transfer of the remaining cash balance from the single fund to the two new separate funds and determine the amounts attributable to each fund. Requires the office of the secretary to present to the Medicaid oversight committee a detailed plan for monitoring expenses of the complete Medicaid program. Requires the office of the secretary to present to the budget committee a policy to set a required minimum percentage of the reimbursement for personal care services under the home and community-based services waivers that must be paid to the individual providing the direct service. Provides that, if the county fiscal body of Howard County makes certain findings, the Howard County fiscal body may adopt an ordinance that would impose the innkeeper's tax on a person engaged in the business of renting or furnishing rooms, lodgings, or accommodations located within an inn, a hotel, or a motel for a period of more than 30 days. (Current law limits the imposition of the innkeeper's tax to renting or furnishing rooms, lodgings, or accommodations for periods of less than 30 days.) Provides that an ordinance would not apply to existing rooms, lodgings, or accommodations that were not subject to the 30 day threshold prior to January 1, 2024. Provides that an ordinance may not become effective until after April 30, 2024, and must expire before July 1, 2025. Requires the county fiscal body, if an ordinance is adopted, to reduce the tax for any person subject to the innkeeper's tax from 8% (current law) to 6% until the ordinance expires. Allows the county fiscal body to return the tax rate to 8% after the ordinance expires. Reinstates a provision that was repealed in SEA 325-2023 (P.L.182-2023) that includes as a "homestead" property that is an individual's principal place of residence, is located in Indiana, and is owned by an entity, if the individual is a shareholder, partner, or member of the entity that owns the property. Amends a redevelopment commission provision defining "residential property" to apply to allocation areas established after June 30, 2025 (rather than June 30, 2024). Amends certain language in provisions in HEA 1199-2024. Makes amending changes to the Grant County local income tax special purpose rate added in HEA 1121-2024. Requires the state and local tax review task force to study several additional topics during the 2024 legislative interim. Makes technical corrections. Makes conforming changes.
Provides that a person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally damages a component of an automatic building fire suppression system that is located in a penal facility commits criminal mischief, a Level 6 felony.