Rep. Ethan Manning

Provides that an electric utility that has certain qualified costs that: (1) are associated with an electric generation facility that will be retired from service within 24 months; and (2) are equal to at least 5% of the electric utility's total electric base rate; may file a petition with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a financing order authorizing the securitization of the qualified costs. Provides that an "electric utility", for purposes of the bill, is a public utility that: (1) owns or operates any electric generation facility for the provision of electric utility service to Indiana customers; (2) is under the jurisdiction of the IURC; and (3) has a total of not more than 200,000 retail electric customers. Provides that not later than 240 days after a petition for a financing order is filed, the IURC shall conduct a hearing and issue an order on the petition. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that: (1) the electric utility has proposed a reasonable mechanism to reflect a reduction in the electric utility's base rates and charges upon the assessment of securitization charges on customer bills, so as to remove any qualified costs from the electric utility's base rates; and (2) the mechanism will provide timely rate savings for customers. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that the electric utility will make capital investments in Indiana in an amount equal to or exceeding the amount of the electric utility's qualified costs, over a period of not more than seven years immediately following the issuance date of the securitization bonds. Provides that if the IURC makes the required findings with respect to the petition, the IURC shall issue a financing order that authorizes: (1) the issuance of securitization bonds with a term of not more than 20 years; (2) the collection of securitization charges from the electric utility's customers; and (3) the encumbrance of the resulting securitization property with a lien and security interest. Provides that qualified costs authorized in a financing order shall be allocated to the electric utility's customer classes using the same cost allocation methodology approved by the IURC in the electric utility's most recent base rate case, subject to certain exceptions. Provides that if an electric utility does not cause securitization bonds to be issued not later than 90 days after the date of a final, non-appealable financing order, the electric utility shall file a statement of abandonment with the IURC stating the reasons for the abandonment. Provides that a financing order issued by the IURC under these provisions must include a mechanism: (1) requiring that securitization charges be reviewed and adjusted by the IURC at least annually; and (2) allowing an electric utility, on its own initiative, to apply to the IURC at any time during a calendar year for an adjustment of its securitization charges, as the electric utility determines to be necessary; to correct any over collections or under collections of securitization charges, and to ensure the recovery of amounts sufficient to timely make all payments of debt service in connection with the securitization bonds. Sets forth provisions concerning the encumbrance of securitization property with a lien and security interest, including provisions concerning: (1) the attachment and perfection; and (2) the priority; of a security interest in securitization property. Specifies that securitization bonds are not: (1) a debt or obligation of the state; or (2) a charge on the state's full faith and credit or on the state's taxing power. Pledges that the state will not: (1) take or permit any action that would impair the value of securitization property; or (2) reduce, alter, or impair related securitization charges; until certain obligations in connection with the related securitization bonds have been paid or performed in full. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the task of studying during the 2022 legislative interim: (1) the implementation; and (2) use by electric utilities; of the bill's provisions concerning the securitization of costs for retired electric utility assets. Provides that if the committee is assigned to study this topic, the committee: (1) shall consider available data and other information concerning participating electric utilities to which the IURC has issued a financing order under the bill's provisions; (2) may request this data and information from certain parties; and (3) shall, not later than November 1, 2022, submit to the legislative council a report setting forth the committee's findings and recommendations, including the committee's recommendations as to whether to allow, under the bill's provisions, additional electricity suppliers to securitize costs associated with retired electric utility assets.

Provides that a public utility (defined in the bill as a utility listed in the utility regulatory commission's (IURC's) rule concerning integrated resource planning) that owns and operates an electric generating facility serving Indiana customers shall operate and maintain the facility using good utility practices and in a manner: (1) reasonably intended to support the provision of reliable and economic electric service to customers; and (2) reasonably consistent with the resource reliability requirements of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) or any other appropriate regional transmission organization. Provides that, not later than 30 days after the deadline for submitting an annual planning reserve margin report to MISO, each public utility providing electric service to Indiana customers shall file with the IURC a report that provides the following information for each of the next three resource planning years: (1) The capacity, location, and fuel source for each electric generating facility that is owned and operated by the electric utility, and that will be used to provide electric service to Indiana customers. (2) The amount of generating resource capacity or energy, or both, that the public utility has procured under contract, and that will be used to provide electric service to Indiana customers. (3) The amount of demand response resources available to the public utility under contracts and tariffs. (4) The planning reserve margin requirements and other federal reliability requirements that the public utility is obligated to meet, including a comparison of each reported planning reserve margin requirement with the planning reserve margin requirement for the 2021-2022 planning year. (5) The reliability adequacy metrics (as defined in the bill) for the public utility, as forecasted for the three planning years covered by the report. Provides that in reviewing a public utility's report, the IURC may request technical assistance from MISO or any other appropriate regional transmission organization in making certain determinations concerning the adequacy of the public utility's available capacity resources to support the provision of reliable electric service. Provides that if, after reviewing a public utility's report, the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can: (1) provide reliable electric service to the public utility's Indiana customers; or (2) meet its planning reserve margin requirement or other federal reliability requirements; during any of the planning years covered by the report, the IURC may conduct an investigation as to the reasons. Provides that if, after such an investigation, the IURC determines that the capacity resources available to the public utility will not be adequate to support the provision of reliable electric service to the public utility's Indiana customers, or to allow the public utility to meet its planning reserve margin requirements or other federal reliability requirements, the IURC shall issue an order directing the public utility to acquire or construct such capacity resources as are reasonable and necessary to enable the public utility to meet these requirements. Provides that not later than 90 days after the date of such an order by the IURC, the public utility shall file for approval with the IURC a plan to comply with the order. Provides that the IURC shall annually submit to the governor and to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications a report that includes the following: (1) The IURC's analysis regarding the ability of public utilities to: (A) provide reliable electric service to Indiana customers; and (B) meet their planning reserve margin requirements or other federal reliability requirements; for the next three resource planning years. (2) A summary of: (A) the projected demand for retail electricity in Indiana over the next calendar year; and (B) the amount and type of capacity resources committed to meeting this demand. Authorizes the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions.

Specifies that the bill is severable. Provides that the general assembly may convene in an emergency session if the legislative council adopts a resolution making certain findings concerning a state of emergency declared by the governor. Specifies the maximum length of an emergency session. Provides that in an emergency session the general assembly may enact only bills relating to the agenda stated in the legislative council's resolution. Provides that the general assembly may adopt concurrent resolutions and each house may adopt simple resolutions during an emergency session. Establishes the legislative state of emergency advisory group. Creates the economic stimulus fund (ESF) for the deposit of all discretionary funds received by the state. Defines "discretionary funds" to mean federal economic stimulus funds received under federal legislation granting the state authority to determine the amounts and manner in which the federal economic stimulus funds may be expended. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may not be allotted or expended unless appropriated by the general assembly or reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that before discretionary funds deposited into the ESF during a period in which the general assembly is not convened in a regular session, an emergency session, or a special session may be allotted to or expended by a state agency or instrumentality, the allotment or expenditure must be reviewed by the budget committee. Provides that discretionary funds deposited into the ESF may not be expended, transferred, assigned, or otherwise removed from the ESF by the state board of finance, the budget agency, or any other state agency except as permitted under the provisions of the statute. Exempts federal economic stimulus funds obligated or expended before April 29, 2021, from the application of the statute. Provides that a violation of the disaster statute (IC 10-14-3) or an order authorized by that statute is a Class B infraction instead of a Class B misdemeanor.

Requires the division of aging (division) to develop a strategic plan concerning dementia in Indiana. Requires the division to submit an annual report to the general assembly concerning the dementia strategic plan and the outcomes of implementing the dementia strategic plan.

Honoring healthcare workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Kristina Box.

Requires the Indiana law enforcement training board to establish mandatory training in de-escalation as part of the use-of-force curriculum, and requires de-escalation training to be provided as a part of: (1) pre-basic training; (2) mandatory inservice training; and (3) the executive training program. Establishes a procedure to allow the Indiana law enforcement training board to decertify an officer who has committed misconduct. Defines "chokehold" and prohibits the use of a chokehold under certain circumstances. Specifies that a law enforcement officer who turns off a body worn camera with the intent to conceal a criminal act commits a Class A misdemeanor. Requires an agency hiring a law enforcement officer to request the officer's employment record and certain other information from previous employing agencies, requires the previous employing agency to provide certain employment information upon request, and provides immunity for disclosure of the employment records. Makes an appropriation to the Indiana law enforcement training academy for making capital improvements.

Extends the Indiana women's suffrage centennial commission (IWSCC) until July 1, 2024. Requires the IWSCC to commission the creation of a suitable monument to the people of Indiana active in the women's suffrage movement and the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Requires the department of administration to install the monument commissioned by the IWSCC on the grounds of the state house before January 1, 2024.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson upon her retirement from the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State.

Amends the statute concerning the statute of limitations for actions for the recovery of the possession of real estate to provide that such an action that: (1) involves a line located and established by a professional surveyor; and (2) accrues before the lines are located and established by the surveyor; must be commenced before the expiration of the appeal period set forth in the statute governing county surveyors. Amends the provision concerning the establishment of property lines by means of a legal survey to specify that the lines established are binding on all affected landowners, including a landowner who claims title under a claim of adverse possession. Provides that certain information must be contained in a notice of survey sent to adjoining landowners, and that a legible copy of the plat of the legal survey must be enclosed with the notice.