Rep. Blake Johnson

Honoring the 2021 NBA Rising Star Award Recipients.

Establishes the remote worker grant program (program). Provides that the Indiana destination development corporation (corporation) shall administer the program, including awarding grants to a new remote worker for qualifying remote worker expenses. Requires that: (1) the corporation; and (2) the commissioner of the department of administration; shall submit reports to the legislative council.

Requires the fire prevention and building safety commission to adopt, by rule, and maintain: (1) the International Plumbing Code of the International Code Council; (2) the International Building Code of the International Code Council; (3) the International Mechanical Code of the International Code Council; (4) the International Fuel Gas Code of the International Code Council; (5) the International Fire Code of the International Code Council; (6) the International Energy Conservation Code of the International Code Council; (7) NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association; and (8) NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the topic of studying the viability of using social impact bonds to advance goals related to: (1) homelessness; (2) crime prevention; and (3) mental health.

Establishes an application process for: (1) operators of qualifying performing arts venues; (2) producers; and (3) promoters; to apply for grants for purposes of offsetting the economic impact to the music, comedy, and performing arts industry as a result of COVID-19. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation shall administer the grants. Provides that grants shall be issued with money received from the federal government in relation to COVID-19. Makes an appropriation.

Requires the department of insurance to establish, not later than January 1, 2022, a family leave insurance program (program) for the purpose of providing benefits to employees who elect to participate in the program. Requires that: (1) the program be voluntary for both employers and employees; (2) both employers and employees make contributions to the program to fund benefits; (3) employee contributions be made by payroll deduction; (4) the benefit eligibility requirements established for the program include, at a minimum, the requirements that qualify an employee for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act; and (5) an employee have the option to select whether the employee's benefit is equal to 100%, 75%, or 50 % of the employee's salary and the number of weeks that a benefit will be paid. Requires the department of insurance to develop the program with the assistance of and in coordination with the department of labor. Requires the department of insurance, not later than November 1, 2021, to submit a report to the legislative council and the budget committee concerning the proposed program. Establishes the family leave insurance program trust fund (trust fund) for the purpose of paying program benefits. Transfers and appropriates the balance in the political subdivision risk management fund to the trust fund.

Provides for a credit against an individual's adjusted gross income tax liability for student loan interest. Specifies that the amount of the credit is the lesser of $500 or the total amount expended for student loan interest during a taxable year. Specifies that for a married couple filing a joint return the maximum amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that the Indiana commission for higher education shall study the feasibility of transferring up to $120,000,000 in unrestricted funds from the Indiana secondary market for education loans to the state general fund and submit a report with its findings to the state budget committee.

Provides that an application to obtain or renew a motor vehicle driver's license or permit or an identification card serves as a voter registration application unless the applicant expressly declines on the application to register to vote. Provides that a voter becomes registered to vote when the county voter registration office determines the voter appears to be eligible to vote at the address on the voter's voter registration application.

Provides that a hospital police officer may, within one year after being appointed as a hospital police officer, complete training to become a crisis intervention team trained officer. Provides that the governing board of the hospital shall require an individual appointed as a hospital police officer to annually attend inservice training courses approved by the governing board of the hospital, including training courses on verbal deescalation skills, immediate detention laws and best practices, and suicide prevention.