Veterans Affairs and Public Safety

Provides that any type of law enforcement civilian oversight board or commission or any other entity established by a county, municipality, or township to provide civilian oversight over a law enforcement agency, excluding merit boards and commissions, may operate only in an advisory capacity to the applicable law enforcement agency and does not have binding authority over the law enforcement agency.

Provides that the state police department is the statewide coordinating agency for counter-UAS activities authorized under federal law. Provides that the bill's provisions apply: (1) if a federal law is enacted that authorizes state or local law enforcement personnel to detect, track, identify, or mitigate a UAS under federal approval, certification, or oversight; and (2) after the governor publishes a notice in the Indiana Register that includes a description of the authorization and identifies the federal statute or program that provides the authorization. Provides that the state police department may designate a law enforcement agency of a political subdivision as a participating agency if the agency satisfies federal requirements for personnel training and operational readiness. Provides that the state police department may designate Indianapolis as a pilot project location due to the concentration of high-risk sites and special event assessment rating events. Provides that mitigation activities may not be performed unless expressly authorized under federal law.

Provides that the law enforcement training board (board) shall select an executive director to serve at the pleasure of the board. Provides that a person confined to a county jail may be required to make a copayment in an amount of not more than $30 (current law is $15). Provides that a person confined to a county jail is not required to make a certain copayment if, among other things, the person does not have funds in the person's commissary account or trust account within 180 days after the service is provided (current law is 60 days). Provides that a correctional professional is considered a public safety officer for purposes of determining eligibility for line of duty death benefits. (Current law provides that a correctional officer is considered a public safety officer for determining eligibility for line of duty death benefits.) Provides a process for certain sex and sex or violent offenders to submit certain information to the department of correction (department) regarding sex offender status in other states or jurisdictions. Provides that a person who is a: (1) sex offender; or (2) sex or violent offender; shall register for the period required by another jurisdiction or the period in Indiana, whichever is longer. Repeals the integrated public safety commission. Establishes the Indiana department of emergency communications. Changes the name of the "integrated public safety communications fund" to the "emergency communications fund". Provides that if: (1) the department releases a child who is a ward of the department; and (2) the child is less than 18 years of age; the department's wardship of the child ends. Provides that if a child who is a ward of the department is released and no parent or guardian allows the child to live with them, the department must immediately notify a certain court that the child needs to be a ward of the department of child services. Provides that the department is not required to send certain notices sent by offenders within the jurisdiction of the department by registered or certified mail. Makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person to knowingly or intentionally possess an imitation firearm: (1) in or on school property; or (2) on a school bus. Provides that the department of emergency communications shall issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the purchase, or before issuing a change order, of any communications systems and equipment by the department that may be made available to public safety agencies. Provides that the communications equipment must be compatible with existing communications equipment used by public safety agencies. Provides that proposals shall be evaluated and awarded on a competitive basis using a scoring rubric established by the department. Makes conforming changes.

Requires firefighters and persons who are certified or licensed providers of emergency medical services to complete training on Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Requires a law enforcement officer to administer a lethality assessment for domestic violence incidents. Requires data to be transmitted to a local domestic violence fatality review team and the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee. Provides that a law enforcement officer responding to the scene of an alleged crime involving domestic or family violence shall use all reasonable means to prevent further violence, including administering a lethality assessment. Provides that all statements communicated in a lethality assessment are not admissible as evidence against the victim in any judicial proceeding and not discoverable in any litigation. Provides that the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee shall collect and analyze data concerning domestic violence lethality assessments. Makes conforming changes.