Provides that a property owner claiming the industrial waste control facility property tax exemption must: (1) provide a written statement attesting that the property claimed as exempt meets the requirements for the exemption; and (2) file the statement along with the exemption claim. Eliminates provisions under which the property owner must mail a copy of the exemption claim to the department of environmental management (department) and the assessor is required to allow the total exemption claimed by the property owner if the department does not certify its determination to the assessor within 120 days. Amends the law concerning the department's preparation of a list of impaired waters to provide for the list to be posted to the department's Internet web site instead of being published in the Indiana Register and to require that the list be made available for public comment for at least 45 days instead of at least 90 days. Requires the department to establish a state permit program for the implementation of federal regulations for the disposal of coal combustion residuals in landfills and surface impoundments. Requires the environmental rules board (board) to adopt rules for the establishment of the state permit program. Requires the department, not later than May 15, 2021, to notify the United States Environmental Protection Agency of its intention to establish the state permit program and seek federal approval of the program. Establishes the CCR program fund to pay costs incurred by the department in operating the state permit program and conducting program funding reviews. Changes, from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2023, the expiration date of a noncode SECTION of HEA 1278-2019 concerning the adoption of rules to increase the amounts of certain environmental fees.
Prohibits the Medicaid program from specifying originating sites and distant sites for purposes of Medicaid reimbursement. Prohibits the use of telehealth to provide any abortion, including the writing or filling of a prescription for any purpose that is intended to result in an abortion. Changes the use of the term "telemedicine" to "telehealth". Specifies certain activities that are considered to be health care services for purposes of the telehealth laws. Expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners instead of applying only to prescribers. Amends the definition of "prescriber" and "telehealth". Provides that a practitioner who directs an employee to perform a specified health service is held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those standards for health care services provided at an in-person setting. Requires that the telehealth medical records be created and maintained under the same standards of appropriate practice for medical records for patients in an in-person setting. Specifies that a patient waives confidentiality of medical information concerning individuals in the vicinity when the patient is using telehealth. Prohibits an employer from requiring a practitioner to provide a health care service through telehealth if the practitioner believes: (1) that health quality may be negatively impacted; or (2) the practitioner would be unable to provide the same standards of appropriate practice as those provided in an in-person setting. Provides that an applicable contract, employment agreement, or policy to provide telehealth services must explicitly provide that a practitioner may refuse at any time to provide health care services if in the practitioner's sole discretion the practitioner believes: (1) that health quality may be negatively impacted; or (2) the practitioner would be unable to provide the same standards of appropriate practice as those provided in an in-person setting. Amends requirements for a prescriber issuing a prescription to a patient via telehealth services. Requires that if a veterinarian is required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to perform a health care service, the veterinarian shall ensure that a veterinarian-client-patient relationship is established. Repeals the law concerning telepsychology. Prohibits certain insurance policies and individual and group contracts from mandating the use of certain technology applications in the provision of telehealth services.
Allows an employee to request an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy. Requires an employer to respond to an employee's request for an accommodation within a reasonable time frame. Provides that a request for accommodation does not require an employer to provide an accommodation for an employee's pregnancy, or impose a duty or obligation upon the employer to provide an accommodation or an exception to the employer's policies unless existing federal or state laws require that an accommodation must be made. Prohibits an employer from disciplining, terminating, or retaliating against an employee because the employee has requested or used an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy.
Allows a member of a governing body of a political subdivision to participate in a meeting electronically subject to the following: (1) Requires the governing body to adopt a written policy establishing procedures for electronic participation. (2) Requires the technology to permit simultaneous communication between members and the public to attend and observe the proceedings. (3) Requires at least 50% of the members to be physically present at the meeting site. (4) Allows a member participating electronically to be counted for quorum purposes. (5) Provides that a member participating electronically may participate in a final action taken by the governing body only if the member can be seen and heard. Exempts governing bodies of state agencies that have a majority of members with disabilities from certain attendance requirements. Provides that if a statute requires a manual signature for attesting or authenticating an obligation issued by certain state and local public entities, an electronic signature has the same force and effect as a manual signature. Adds provisions applicable to state and local public agencies when a state or local disaster emergency is declared. Makes stylistic changes.
Amends the statute governing the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund as follows: (1) Provides that an "eligible broadband project" for purposes of the statute includes a project for the deployment of terrestrial broadband infrastructure: (A) to buildings used by public school corporations primarily for educating students; (B) to rural health clinics; (C) to ensure that eligible students (defined as Indiana residents who are less than 23 years of age and who are enrolled in a K-12 school in Indiana) have access points providing a connection to eligible broadband service; and (D) in rural areas in Indiana. (Current law provides that an "eligible broadband project" means only a project for the deployment of broadband infrastructure for the provision of eligible broadband service in rural areas in Indiana.) (2) Specifies that terrestrial broadband infrastructure includes infrastructure used for a fixed wireless Internet connection but does not include infrastructure used for a satellite Internet connection. (3) Provides that "eligible broadband service" means a connection to the Internet that provides an actual speed of at least: (A) 1,000 megabits per second downstream for a project involving the deployment of broadband infrastructure to public school corporation buildings or rural health clinics; or (B) 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream for a project to provide to eligible students access points for connections to eligible broadband service, or for a project to provide eligible broadband service to rural areas. (4) Specifies the following priorities for the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund: (A) First, for extending eligible broadband service to public school corporation buildings with respect to which the only available Internet connections are at actual speeds of less than 1,000 megabits per second downstream. (B) Second, for extending eligible broadband service to rural health clinics with respect to which the only available Internet connections are at actual speeds of less than 1,000 megabits per second downstream. (C) Third, for extending eligible broadband service so as to ensure that every eligible student has at the student's residence an access point providing a connection to eligible broadband service. (D) Fourth, extending eligible broadband service to rural areas in which the only available connections to the Internet are at actual speeds of less than 25 megabits per second downstream. (5) Provides that a state agency may fund an eligible broadband project that is designated as a lower priority under the funding priorities set forth in the statute if no competitive applications for eligible broadband projects designated as a higher priority are submitted in a particular round of grant funding. (6) Specifies that a grant may not be awarded from the rural broadband fund: (A) for any project to extend the deployment of eligible broadband service to one or more service addresses for which funding from the federal government has been used or will be disbursed to extend broadband service at actual speeds of at least 25 megabits per second downstream to those same addresses; or (B) if the awarding of the grant would jeopardize funding that has been awarded by the federal government under certain programs for purposes of expanding broadband service in Indiana. (7) Provides that the system of priorities used by the office of community and rural affairs (office) for awarding grants from the rural broadband fund must give preference to projects that require a lower contribution from the fund per passing, as determined by a specified calculation. (8) Provides that the procedures established by the office for the awarding of grants from the rural broadband fund must require the office to: (A) include, in publishing grant applications to the office's Internet web site, specific addresses for which state funds would be used to provide eligible broadband service; and (B) consider, in making a determination as to whether to award a grant to an applicant, all comments or objections received during the statutory comment period, including any new grant application that: (i) is submitted within the statutory comment period by another eligible broadband service provider; and (ii) indicates that such other provider would be willing to provide eligible broadband service to the same addresses at a lower cost to the state. (9) Requires the office to establish a program to expand broadband Internet connectivity by: (A) entering into agreements with broadband service providers under which such providers agree to accept subsidy payments distributed by the office as a form of payment for eligible broadband service; and (B) distributing subsidy payments to participating providers to be used as a form of payment for eligible broadband service provided before July 1, 2025, to certain persons and entities, prioritized as follows: (i) School buildings. (ii) Rural health clinics. (iii) Eligible students. Provides that money in the rural broadband fund may be used to provide financial assistance under the new program. (10) Requires the office to establish and publish on the office's Internet web site: (A) specific, measurable goals; and (B) metrics to be used in assessing the progress made toward accomplishing those goals; for the disbursement of state broadband grant funds. (11) Requires the office to report annually to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (rather than to the general assembly, under current law) concerning the awarding of state broadband grants. (12) Requires the state board of accounts to conduct an annual audit (rather than an audit every three years, under current law) of the awarding of state broadband grants. Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program (connectivity program), under which the office must establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report that minimum broadband Internet (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream) is unavailable at the individual's residential or business address. Provides that the public broadband portal must solicit information as to whether one or more eligible students reside at an address that is reported by an individual through the portal. Provides that the office may contract or consult with one or more third parties in the creation or administration of the portal. Provides that a broadband Internet provider may: (1) register with the connectivity program; (2) receive, at least every three months, notice of addresses submitted to the office as addresses at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable; (3) report to the office any listed address at which the provider's minimum broadband Internet service is already available; and (4) bid for an award of a grant for purposes of extending connectivity to broadband Internet service (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream) to an address at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable. Provides that if the office does not receive notice from any providers that minimum broadband Internet is available at an address reported through the public broadband portal, the office shall transmit to each registered provider a bid notification for provision of broadband Internet service at the address. Specifies requirements for a provider's submission of a bid under the program. Provides that in evaluating the bids received, the office shall select the provider whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state for extension of the provider's broadband Internet infrastructure to the address. Provides that the amount of a grant awarded to a registered provider under the program may not exceed the following: (1) A per-line extension amount that exceeds $25,000. (2) A per-passing amount that exceeds the state's cost per passing for all grants awarded from the rural broadband fund for rural broadband grants as of the last day of the immediately preceding state fiscal year, as calculated by the office. Requires the office to enter into an agreement with a provider that is awarded a grant under the program. Requires the office to provide to the general assembly an annual report containing specified data regarding the connectivity program.
Provides that the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) shall stay a suspension of a person's driving privileges, and terminate that suspension, upon a showing of proof of future financial responsibility, and provides that an individual whose suspension has been terminated because the individual submitted proof of future financial responsibility is not required to pay a reinstatement fee. Requires that the bureau terminate a suspension of a person's driving privileges if the bureau does not receive proof that financial responsibility is not in effect after 180 days. Provides that a suspension may be stayed and then terminated if a person fails to pay the judgment. Provides that a warrant may be issued for failing to appear in a traffic violation case if the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony. Provides that a person whose support obligation is enforced by the Title IV-D agency may have the obligor's driving privileges reinstated. Provides that the bureau shall place in forbearance license reinstatement fees of individuals who: (1) are nonviolent offenders; (2) have completed a criminal sentence or are serving terms of probation or parole; and (3) are enrolled in job training or maintain consistent employment for at least three years following completion of job training. Provides that the bureau shall waive all reinstatement fees and reinstate the driving privileges of an individual who has had reinstatement fees placed in forbearance after the individual maintains consistent employment for at least three years. Provides that the bureau, in collaboration with the department of correction, shall administer programs and activities to facilitate the reinstatement of driving privileges for convicted offenders not later than July 1, 2021. Extends the traffic amnesty program for one year to permit certain persons owing unpaid traffic fines, or who may be required to pay a fee for reinstatement of driving privileges, to obtain a reduction in the amount owed or amount payable.
Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) to implement a statewide electronic lien and title system (system) to process: (1) vehicle titles; (2) certificate of title data in which a lien is notated; and (3) the notification, maintenance, and release of security interests in vehicles; through electronic means instead of paper documents. Provides that the bureau may: (1) contract with one or more qualified vendors to develop and implement a system; or (2) develop an interface to provide qualified electronic lien service providers secure access to data to facilitate the creation of a system. Sets forth certain requirements that apply if the bureau elects to implement the system through a qualified vendor versus through qualified electronic lien service providers. Specifies that a contract entered into between the bureau and: (1) a qualified vendor; or (2) a qualified electronic lien service provider; may not provide for any costs or charges payable by the bureau to the qualified vendor or the qualified electronic lien service provider. Sets forth dates by which the bureau must implement and allow or require the use of: (1) a statewide electronic lien system; and (2) a statewide electronic title system. Sets forth certain conditions that apply to the use of a statewide electronic lien system implemented by the bureau under these provisions. Provides that under certain circumstances, the bureau may not charge state agencies or their agents with certain fees associated with the statewide electronic lien and title system. Authorizes the bureau to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement these provisions.
Includes reporting to the statewide maternal mortality review committee (committee) for the release of mental health records without the consent of the patient. Requires the committee to review cases of maternal mortality involving the death of a woman occurring during pregnancy, through one year after the pregnancy. Requires a health care provider and a health facility to report deaths during pregnancy, through one year after a pregnancy to the committee for review. Requires the committee to review all cases of maternal death. Specifies that a health care provider includes a mental health professional for purposes of the review of records by the committee. Requires the committee to: (1) determine whether an abortion was performed on the individual and whether the abortion contributed to the maternal mortality; (2) determine whether a miscarriage occurred and whether the miscarriage contributed to the maternal mortality; and (3) include the findings in the committee's annual report. Requires the statewide maternal mortality review coordinator to establish a process to report cases to the committee. Changes the expiration date of the statewide maternal mortality review committee to June 30, 2025.
Provides that the bulk wine purchasing limits for farm wineries apply only to wine sold directly to a consumer in Indiana, and that no limit is imposed on the amount of bulk wine that may be used in producing wine sold through a wholesaler or sold outside of Indiana. Allows the holder of an artisan distiller permit to also hold a distiller's permit. Provides that a holder of an artisan distiller's permit that also holds an interest in a distiller's permit may manufacture and bottle liquor on the same equipment on the premises of the artisan distillery. Requires a permit holder to store liquor manufactured or bottled under an artisan distiller's permit in an area separate and distinct at all times from the liquor manufactured under a distiller's permit. Also requires that the manufacture, bottling, and storage of liquor under certain provisions must conform with federal laws, rules, and regulations.
Provides a list of violations for which the state chemist may impose a civil penalty. Eliminates the schedule of civil penalties as adopted by the Indiana pesticide review board. (Under current law, the state chemist imposes a civil penalty in accordance with a schedule of civil penalties as adopted by the Indiana pesticide review board.) Provides that the state chemist may adjust a civil penalty by 20% for certain violations if a person responsible for the violation takes mitigating actions.
Requires the state board of education (state board) to adopt administrative rules to allow an organization to provide credit under a Core 40 curriculum model for alternative programs in which students obtain credit counting toward the student's graduation requirements from nonschool educational experience that applies or incorporates content area knowledge in lieu of a required or elective course in the Core 40 curriculum model.
Provides that an enterprise zone may be renewed for an additional five year period if the fiscal body of the municipality in which the enterprise zone is located adopts a resolution to renew the enterprise zone. Provides that a zone business located in the renewed enterprise zone may only access the property tax deduction incentive.
