Creates a civil penalty for a person who knowingly or intentionally disturbs or removes a boundary marker, and permits a court to order a person who disturbs or removes a boundary marker to pay for the cost of reestablishing the boundary marker.
Establishes the Hoosier first responder medal of honor (medal). Provides that the department of homeland security (department) may determine an Indiana first responder is eligible for the Hoosier first responder medal of honor if the Indiana first responder distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the Indiana first responder's life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an act of public service. Provides that, upon approval of a nomination by the department, the department shall notify the entity employing the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of the nomination. Provides that the entity shall notify a member of the general assembly who represents the district in which the entity is located of the Indiana first responder's nomination. Provides that the member of the general assembly shall recommend the Indiana first responder for the medal to the governor. Provides that, if the department determines that an Indiana first responder nominated to the department does not meet the eligibility requirements to receive the medal, the department may make recommendations to the entity that employs the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of other forms of recognition for the Indiana first responder. Provides that the governor may award the medal to the Indiana first responder or the Indiana first responder's next of kin at a public ceremony.
Provides that the department of child services may use a child advocacy center to coordinate a multidisciplinary team for responding to reports involving child abuse or neglect. Requires the child advocacy center to: (1) coordinate a multidisciplinary team that consists of specified professionals; (2) ensure that the multidisciplinary team members have specified training; (3) provide a dedicated child-focused setting designed to provide a safe, comfortable, and neutral place for a forensic interview and other child advocacy center services; (4) use written protocols; (5) use a case tracking system to provide information on essential demographic and case information; and (6) verify that multidisciplinary team members responsible for providing medical evaluations and mental health services have specified training. Provides civil immunity for a child advocacy center's employees, volunteers, and board members under certain circumstances. Allows otherwise confidential information regarding an investigation of child abuse or neglect to be made available to a child advocacy center when the child advocacy center has before it an investigation of child abuse or neglect in which it is facilitating a forensic interview or facilitating a case discussion or case review.
Requires the owner of a pier or public access site on Lake Michigan to install public rescue equipment, including at least one ring life buoy, on the pier or public access site. Establishes requirements concerning ring life buoys installed on piers and public access sites. Provides that the end of the buoy line must not be secured to the shore. Requires a unit of local government that owns one or more piers or public access sites on Lake Michigan, at least twice per year, to publish on the unit's website a report on lakefront drownings that occur within 50 feet of the unit's piers or public access sites. Provides that if more than one fatal drowning occurs not more than 50 feet from a particular pier or public access site in a span of five years, the owner of the pier or public access site shall: (1) disseminate in the area of the pier or public access site a water safety plan pertaining to the pier or public access site; and (2) upgrade the public rescue equipment installed on the pier or public access site, such as by installing equipment that automatically contacts the local 911 service in an emergency.
Provides that if a child has been removed from the child's parent for at least 12 of the most recent 22 months at the time of a periodic case review, the child's permanency plan must include at least one intended permanent or long term arrangement for care and custody of the child other than reunification of the child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian. Provides that concurrent planning must be implemented if the child has been removed from the child's parent for at least 12 of the most recent 22 months at the time of a permanency hearing. Provides that the department may not: (1) take adverse action against a foster parent's license; or (2) remove a child from the home of a foster parent, relative of the child, or de facto custodian; on the basis of the foster parent, relative, or de facto custodian filing a notice with the court that a petition is required to be filed, but has not been filed, to terminate the parent-child relationship with regard to the child.
Adds a definition of "mixed beverage". Allows the holder of a wine wholesaler's permit to take certain actions concerning mixed beverages and flavored malt beverages.
Prohibits a governmental body (defined as the state or a state agency) from: (1) accepting payment made with a central bank digital currency; or (2) requiring payment to be made with a central bank digital currency; for any service, tax, license, permit, fee, information, or other amount due the governmental body. Prohibits an administrative branch governmental body (defined as an entity of the administrative branch of state government) from advocating for or supporting the testing, adoption, or implementation of a central bank digital currency by the United States government. Defines "central bank digital currency" for purposes of these provisions.
Provides that after December 31, 2024, an issuer that makes a Medicare supplement policy or certificate available to persons at least 65 years of age must make the equivalent policy or certificate available to an individual under 65 years of age who is eligible for Medicare because of having a federally defined disability or end stage renal disease. (Under current law, an issuer that makes a Medicare supplement policy or certificate available to persons at least 65 years of age is required only to make a Plan A policy or certificate available to individuals under 65 years of age, and is required to make the Plan A policy or certificate available to an individual under 65 years of age who is eligible for Medicare because of having a federally defined disability but is not required to make the Plan A policy or certificate available to an individual under 65 years of age who is eligible for Medicare because of having end stage renal disease.) Provides that if an individual who is less than 65 years of age, who is eligible for Medicare because of having a federally defined disability or end stage renal disease, and who meets certain conditions as to application timeliness applies for a Medicare supplement policy or certificate, the issuer of the policy or certificate is prohibited from: (1) denying or conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of the individual's policy or certificate; (2) charging the individual a premium rate for a policy or certificate standardized as Plan A, B, or D that exceeds the premium rate the issuer charges an individual who is 65 years of age; (3) charging the individual a premium rate for any other standardized lettered policy or certificate that exceeds 200% of the premium rate the issuer charges an individual who is 65 years of age; or (4) issuing to the individual a policy or certificate that contains a waiting period or a preexisting condition limitation or exclusion. Provides for the expiration of Code provisions that would be superseded by the new requirements applying to issuers of Medicare supplement policies or certificates.
Requires a health plan (which includes a policy of accident and sickness insurance, a health maintenance organization contract, the Medicaid risk based managed care program, and a state employee health plan) to provide coverage for biomarker testing for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of an enrollee's disease or condition when biomarker testing is supported by medical and scientific evidence. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning to provide biomarker testing as a Medicaid program service, and to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for approval of any waiver necessary under the federal Medicaid program for the purpose of providing biomarker testing. Provides that coverage is not required for biomarker testing for screening purposes. Provides that if a prior authorization requirement applies to biomarker testing, the health plan or a third party acting on behalf of the health plan must: (1) approve or deny a request for prior authorization; and (2) notify the covered individual of the approval or denial; in not more than five business days in the case of a nonurgent request or in not more than 48 hours in the case of an urgent request. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to report certain information to the budget committee on Medicaid reimbursement rates provided for biomarker testing.
Amends the definition for "act of rape", only for the purposes of IC 31-35-3.5 (termination of parent-child relationship of an individual who committed an act of rape), to include child molestation and sexual misconduct with a minor. Provides that the department of child services or a court shall consider ensuring the child's safety to be the most important consideration in the determination of a child's best interests under family and juvenile law. Provides that there is a rebuttable presumption that a child is a child in need of services if the state establishes that the child lives in the same household as an adult who was a perpetrator of a child fatality or near fatality that may have been the result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Adds sexual misconduct with a minor as an offense that may be alleged in a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship when a child is conceived as a result of the offense. Amends the circumstances under which a court may terminate the parent-child relationship with regard to a child in need of services.
Provides that a fire department may deviate from the required maximum work hours for members of the fire department only if authorized by a collective bargaining agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other similar written mutual agreement with an exclusive recognized representative of employees of the fire department.
Establishes limitations regarding the lease of school property. Amends the enrollment threshold regarding when a school building is considered underutilized. Makes changes regarding requiring (instead of allowing) a school building to be closed or made available for lease or purchase. Provides that school corporations that meet certain requirements regarding sharing operating referendum tax levy and school safety referendum tax levy revenue are not subject to the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Provides that no resolution, referenda, or distributed revenue prior to May 10, 2023, are effective to provide exemption from the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Exempts school corporations that have had a designation as a distressed political subdivision within the previous three years from the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Establishes additional requirements regarding notice, determinations, and appeals under the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Amends requirements with regard to: (1) bringing a civil action to enforce a final order to make a covered school building available for purchase or lease; (2) the time frame for which a school building must be used; and (3) transferring a school building back to a school corporation. Provides that, if a school corporation transfers a covered school building in violation of the transfer of vacant school building provisions, the transfer is void and allows for a court action with the award of attorney's fees. Changes certain formulas to reference property tax levies collected (current law references property tax levies imposed). Requires the commission for higher education to: (1) study and make recommendations; and (2) submit a report; regarding allowing Ivy Tech Community College to award bachelor's degrees and Vincennes University to offer additional programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. Makes conforming changes.
