Indiana Bills

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1460: Professional and occupational licensing.

Allows a board that regulates a health care provider or a regulated professional under IC 25 to use electronic means of communication to conduct meetings if certain requirements are met. Allows the Indiana department of health (state department) to collect certain information from individuals who provide home health services, are a qualified medication aide, or are a certified nurse aide. Adds the board of physical therapy and the state department's consumer services and health care regulation commission for purposes of workforce renewal information and an annual report. Establishes time periods for the professional licensing agency (PLA) to post meeting agendas and meeting minutes on the applicable board's website. Requires the PLA to post certain information concerning board vacancies and application forms. Requires the PLA to send notification to an applicant of incomplete items in an application. Requires that new and renewed licenses with the PLA be submitted electronically, unless a paper application is requested. Requires the PLA to post on its website information about the number of licenses issued and wait times for the licenses. Requires the governor to fill a vacancy on certain occupational boards within 90 days. Allows the PLA to make an appointment to the board if the governor does not make the appointment. Allows the board to issue a temporary permit for a registered nurse applicant and a licensed practical nurse applicant.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1609: Workforce development matters.

Repeals provisions concerning the work Indiana program. Defines "adult education and literacy activities" and requires that certain money appropriated by the general assembly be used for workforce preparation activities and integrated education and training. Removes or amends certain provisions regarding: (1) reimbursements to eligible providers for adult education that is provided to certain individuals; and (2) adult education grants provided to employers of eligible employees. Allows the department of workforce development to grant a specified diploma to an individual who demonstrates high school level skills through certain competency based assessments and obtains an industry recognized credential. Specifies the meaning of "authorization" for the purpose of certain provisions related to postsecondary proprietary educational institutions. Makes conforming changes.

signed · Indiana · Senate May 1, 2023

SB 268: Prohibited pension system investments.

Prohibits the Indiana public retirement system from investing in certain restricted entities or restricted investment products, including particular investments publicly confirmed to be controlled by the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party. Specifies exceptions, a divestment schedule, and reporting requirements. Adds a provision urging the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on pension management oversight the topic of studying whether to cease or defer divestment or resume investment in an entity or product in accordance with the provisions regarding divestment from Chinese companies.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1055: Public safety matters.

Increases the number of deputies, from two to six, that a town marshal may have to participate in the town marshal training program (Tier II training program) established by the law enforcement training board (board). Requires the board to adopt rules establishing a conservancy district marshal basic training program. Adds a district marshal or deputy district marshal to certain definitions of "police officer", "officer", or "law enforcement officer". Makes changes to certain definitions of "law enforcement officer" to include officers employed by a hospital police department, conservancy district marshals, and deputy conservancy district marshals. Defines "district marshal". Provides that a conservancy district (district) in which each director of the board has been elected to the board may employ a district marshal or deputy district marshal. Provides that the district marshal is the chief police officer of the district and has the powers of other law enforcement officers in enforcing laws. Makes changes to the jurisdiction of a hospital police department. Provides that a member of a city police or fire department is not subject to residency requirements. Eliminates a provision that provides that a city with a population of less than 7,500 may adopt an ordinance that requires a member of a city police or fire department to reside within the county in which the city is located. Provides that members of the police and fire departments of a town or special service district are not subject to residency requirements but must: (1) have adequate means of transportation into the jurisdiction served by the member's department; and (2) maintain telephone service to communicate with the department. Provides that members of the fire department of a township, fire protection district, or fire protection territory are not subject to residency requirements but must: (1) have adequate means of transportation into the jurisdiction served by the member's department; and (2) maintain telephone service to communicate with the department. Repeals provisions: (1) relating to the establishment of residency requirements for a police or fire department of a town with a population of less than 7,500; (2) relating to the establishment of residency requirements for a township fire department of a township with a population of less than 7,500; and (3) that exempt a member of a town police or fire department or a township fire department from residency requirements under certain circumstances. Repeals a provision relating to the jurisdiction of hospital police departments.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1637: Teacher education scholarship programs.

Increases the annual scholarship amount that the commission for higher education (commission) may award under the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program from $7,500 to $10,000. Removes limits on the number of next generation Hoosier educators scholarships that may be awarded. Establishes the next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship program and fund. Provides that the commission may award a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship to an eligible applicant in an amount of $10,000 each academic year for not more than four academic years. Establishes criteria an applicant must meet and terms an applicant must agree to in order to receive a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship. Increases the annual scholarship amount that an Earline S. Rogers student teaching scholarship for minority students recipient may receive from $4,000 to $5,000.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1252: Immunity for escort of a banned person.

Specifies that under the tort claims act, a governmental entity or employee acting within the scope of employment is not liable for loss resulting from injury to a person or property of a person who is: (1) under supervision of a governmental entity; and (2) subject to a court order requiring the person to be escorted by a county police officer while the person is on or in a government building owned by a county building authority. Provides exceptions to this immunity.

signed · Indiana · Senate May 1, 2023

SB 185: 1977 fund membership.

Modifies the definition of "salary of a first class patrolman or first class firefighter" for the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund (1977 fund). Allows an airport authority to participate in the 1977 fund. Increases the maximum age for a firefighter to be appointed to a fire department and become a member of the 1977 fund from 35 years of age to 39 years of age. Makes corresponding changes.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1492: School safety.

Makes changes to the permissible uses of the Indiana secured school fund. Moves provisions in the Indiana Code pertaining to the appointment of a school safety specialist, school safety specialist programs, and school safety plans. Makes changes to the Indiana secured school fund application procedures. Makes changes to the Indiana secured school fund reporting requirements. Makes various changes to provisions regulating the appointment of a school safety specialist, school safety specialist program, and school safety plans. Requires before December 31, 2023, that each county shall establish a county school safety commission. (Current law provides that a county may establish a county school safety commission.) Requires each school corporation and charter school to establish a safe school committee. Requires the division of school building physical security and safety of the department of education to establish and maintain guidelines, in consultation with the department of homeland security and institute for criminal justice, for developing and maintaining school safety plans and assist the secured school safety board in conducting the review and submitting certain reports. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation or charter school organizer shall: (1) approve or disapprove all school safety specialists chosen by the superintendent of the school corporation or leadership of the charter school; and (2) review the school safety plan. Makes changes to the duties of a school resource officer. Makes changes to information reported by a school corporation or charter school pertaining to a school resource officer that is reported to the department of homeland security. Requires the secured schools safety board to include certain aggregate information relating to the number of school resource officers employed by schools. Provides that an organizer of a charter school shall require each charter school under the authority of the organizer to conduct annual emergency preparedness drills. Makes changes to distribution amounts from the state user fee fund. Makes conforming amendments. Repeals provisions establishing the Indiana safe schools fund, school safe haven programs, and existing provisions relating to the establishment of school safety specialists, county school safety commissions, school safety specialist training and safe school programs. Defines various terms. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may receive a matching grant from the Indiana secured school fund to purchase student safety management technology. Makes a technical correction.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1207: 911 fees.

Authorizes the statewide 911 board to increase the following fees one time in the period beginning after April 30, 2023, and ending before July 1, 2026: (1) The enhanced prepaid wireless charge. (2) The statewide 911 fee. (Current law allows the board to adopt one time increases to each fee in the period that began after April 1, 2020, and ends before July 1, 2023.)

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1228: Child seduction.

Provides that "solicit", for purposes of the crime of child solicitation, includes luring and enticing. Defines "coach", "workplace supervisor", and "youth sports organization", and provides that the coach of a youth sports organization or a workplace supervisor commits child seduction if the person engages in sexual activity with a child less than 18 years of age and certain other conditions are met. Reduces the age difference from five years to four years for child seduction committed by a law enforcement officer. Makes conforming amendments.

signed · Indiana · House May 1, 2023

HB 1335: Various election law matters.

Modifies the date associated with references in the election code to a federal statute or regulation. Removes and updates obsolete date references from Indiana election law. Specifies additional requirements for a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors. Modifies the day of the week that presidential electors must assemble to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

signed · Indiana · Senate May 1, 2023

SB 474: Home health agencies.

Allows a home health agency to: (1) provide services in any county in Indiana; and (2) satisfy supervising home health aide services requirements by complying with federal law. Allows: (1) the Indiana department of health (state department) to adopt rules concerning the oversight and supervision of the services a home health agency provides in noncontiguous counties; and (2) the state health commissioner to waive rules adopted concerning home health agencies if certain conditions are met. Provides that a home health agency is not required to conduct a preemployment physical on a job applicant before the individual has contact with a home health agency patient. Allows a registered home health aide to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings to a specific patient if specified conditions are met. Requires the state department to approve at least one training curriculum concerning the administration of tube feedings. Repeals laws concerning drug testing of home health agency employees.

Bill results