A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the members of the South Bend Fire Department for their bravery and heroic actions while responding to a house fire.
Clarifies various wetland definitions. Eliminates certain wetland rulemaking requirements. Provides that certain wetland activity requires state authorization. Clarifies the compensatory mitigation that must be offered to offset certain wetland activity. Makes conforming changes and technical corrections.
Amends the descriptions of "reliability" and "resiliency" as attributes of electric utility service in the Indiana Code section that sets forth state policy concerning Indiana's electric generation resource mix, energy infrastructure, and electric service ratemaking constructs. Repeals the Indiana Code section concerning the retirement, sale, or transfer of electric generation facilities. Adds new language that does the following: (1) Defines an "electric generating unit" as one or more fossil fuel fired: (A) combustion; or (B) steam; generating sources that are used for generating electricity and that deliver all or part of the electricity generated to the electric grid for sale. (2) Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) has the authority to approve or deny the retirement of an electric generating unit (unit). (3) Provides that before retiring a unit, a public utility must apply to the IURC for an order approving the retirement. (4) Provides that in an application to retire a unit, a public utility must: (A) provide evidence regarding the costs of retiring the unit; and (B) demonstrate that the retirement will result in a cost savings to customers. (5) Requires the IURC to issue an order: (A) approving; (B) approving with conditions; or (C) denying; an application to retire a unit not later than 180 days after receiving the application. (6) Provides that there is a rebuttable presumption against the retirement of a unit. (7) Prohibits the IURC from: (A) approving the retirement of unit; (B) authorizing a surcharge in connection with the retirement of a unit; or (C) authorizing or allowing for the recovery of costs in connection with the retirement of a unit; unless the IURC makes certain findings. Requires the IURC to include in its annual report certain information about the retirement of electric generating units with respect to the state fiscal year covered by the report. Authorizes the IURC to: (1) issue a general administrative order; or (2) adopt administrative rules; to implement the bill's provisions. Makes corresponding changes to the Indiana Code section concerning public utilities' depreciation rates.
Allows a school corporation or charter school to employ or accept as a volunteer a school chaplain under certain circumstances. Provides that a school chaplain is not required to disclose privileged or confidential communications with a student under certain circumstances.
Defines "exempted minor" for purposes of the law concerning employment of minors. Permits certain exempted minors to work at farm labor during school hours on a school day. Permits certain exempted minors to work during school hours on a school day with limitations.
Provides that neither the state nor any political subdivision may: (1) make a payment from any fund for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion; (2) allow the use of facilities or funds controlled by a hospital or ambulatory outpatient surgical center for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion; or (3) make a payment or grant from any fund under its control to an organization that performs abortions, makes referrals for individuals to obtain abortions, or uses state or political subdivision funds for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion. Provides an exception. Defines "private entity" and "political subdivision".
Provides that a contractor that employs 10 or more employees on a design-build public works project must provide its employees access to a training program applicable to the tasks to be performed in the normal course of the employee's employment with the contractor on the public project. Provides that a tier 1 or tier 2 contractor that employs 50 or more journeymen must participate in an apprenticeship or training program that meets certain standards. Requires design-builders and any member of a team working on a design-build public works project to comply with certain statutes. Provides that a public agency awarding a contract for a construction manager as constructor project may not take certain actions based on a bidder's, offeror's, or contractor's entering into, refusing to enter into, adhering to, or refusing to adhere to an agreement with a labor organization.
Requires an adult oriented website operator that displays material harmful to minors to use a reasonable age verification method to prevent a minor from accessing an adult oriented website. Creates a cause of action to permit: (1) the parent or guardian of a child harmed by a violation of the age verification requirement to obtain monetary damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney's fees; and (2) any other person to bring an action to obtain injunctive relief and reasonable attorney's fees. Prohibits a person that conducts age verification from retaining the identifying information of an individual seeking to access an adult oriented website that displays material harmful to minors, and permits an individual whose identifying information is retained to bring an action to obtain monetary damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.
Provides that a health care provider, health care entity, and a health carrier may not be required to provide or refer an individual for a health care service that violates the conscience of the health care provider, health care entity, or health carrier. Establishes an exception for a health carrier. Specifies that a health care provider, health care entity, or a health carrier may not be subject to discrimination and certain other acts and liability for declining to provide the health care service. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions. Provides that a person who prevails in a civil action is entitled to certain relief.
Specifies certain entities, actions taken, or factors considered to which the ESG commitment provisions do not apply. Provides that if the treasurer of state concludes that the service provider has made an ESG commitment, the treasurer of state shall provide the name of the service provider and research supporting the conclusion to the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system (board). Prohibits the board from making an investment decision with the purpose of influencing any social or environmental policy or attempting to influence the governance of any corporation for nonfinancial purposes. Prohibits the Indiana public retirement system (system) from making an ESG commitment with respect to system assets. Provides that in making and supervising investments of the system, the board shall discharge its duties solely in the financial interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the system for the exclusive purposes of providing financial benefits to participants and beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the system. Provides that the board, in accordance with certain fiduciary duties, shall make investment decisions with the primary purpose of maximizing the target rate of return on the board's investments. Prohibits the board from entering a contract or modifying, amending, or continuing a contract with a service provider that has made an ESG commitment unless taking the action violates the board's fiduciary duty to the system's participants and beneficiaries. Requires the board to continue contracting with a service provider that has made an ESG commitment if the board determines that there is not a comparable service provider to replace the service provider. Requires the board to, at least annually, tabulate and report all proxy votes made by a service provider that is not a private market fund in relation to the administration of the system. Specifies certain persons and entities that are immune from civil liability and entitled to indemnification. Requires the board to: (1) ensure that reasonable efforts are made during the due diligence process before an investment is made and in monitoring investments in the public employees' defined contribution plan, an annuity savings account for the public employees' retirement fund or the Indiana state teachers' retirement fund, the teachers' defined contribution plan, the legislators' defined contribution plan, and a private market fund to determine whether any investments would violate the requirement that the board discharge its duties solely in the financial interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the system; and (2) take appropriate action, if necessary, consistent with the board's fiduciary duties. Defines terms and makes conforming amendments.
