Rep. Ethan Manning

Requires the natural resources commission to establish a roster of low head dams in the state that are capable of creating hazardous currents that pose safety issues. Establishes requirements concerning low head dams for the department of natural resources (department) and owners of low head dams. Provides that an owner of at least two low head dams is exempt from certain requirements if that owner has previously installed warning signs, in coordination with the department, and maintains and repairs the existing signs. Except for purposes of an inspection, maintenance, or removal, prohibits a person from accessing a low head dam. Prohibits wading, boating, swimming, or accessing the waters within 50 feet of a low head dam when warning signs are present. Provides that the state is not liable for any death or injury that occurs on or resulting from a low head dam that is not owned by the state. Provides for a penalty for violations. Requires the department to prepare a report that includes recommendations concerning the creation of a low head dam removal program and any recommendations concerning low head dam safety legislation.

Specifies that an "adult" is: (1) a person at least eighteen years of age; or (2) a: (A) married minor who is at least sixteen years of age; or (B) minor that has been completely emancipated by a court; for the purpose of marriage. Raises the minimum age to marry from 15 years of age to 16 years of age. Provides that an individual 16 or 17 years of age may marry only if: (1) the individual's intended spouse is not more than four years older than the individual; (2) a juvenile court has issued an order allowing the individual to marry; and (3) the individual: (A) completes any premarital counseling required under the order; (B) applies for a marriage license not earlier than 15 days after the order is issued; and (C) includes a certified copy of the order with the individual's application for a marriage license. Repeals provisions requiring an individual less than 18 years of age to obtain consent to marry from the individual's parent or guardian. Specifies a process an individual 16 or 17 years of age must follow to petition a juvenile court for an order allowing the individual to marry, and specifies conditions necessary for approval of the petition and conditions requiring denial of the petition. Provides that a court that issues an order allowing an individual at least 16 years of age to marry must also issue an order completely emancipating the individual. Amends the list of records or documents an individual may submit to a court clerk as proof of the individual's date of birth for purposes of applying for a marriage license. Amends the law regarding petitions by minors for emancipation as follows: (1) Provides that a court hearing a minor's petition for emancipation must appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor. (2) Provides that the guardian ad litem shall investigate the statements contained in the minor's petition and file a report of the investigation with the court. (3) Provides that a court may grant a minor's petition for emancipation only if the court finds that emancipation is in the child's best interests. (4) Provides that if the court completely emancipates the child: (A) the child has all the rights and responsibilities of an adult; and (B) the emancipation order may not specify terms of emancipation. Provides that an emancipated child remains subject to: (1) Indiana law concerning minimum age for marriage; and (2) other specific constitutional and statutory age requirements applicable to the emancipated child because of the emancipated child's age. Makes conforming amendments.

Allows the Honor and Remember flag to be displayed at each state office building, the Indiana veterans' cemetery, and each veterans cemetery managed by the Indiana department of veterans' affairs. Provides that the Honor and Remember flag may be annually displayed during the month of May. Allows the Honor and Remember flag to be displayed at any time by certain entities.

Amends the law allowing the adjustment of a water or wastewater utility's rates and charges to enable the utility to recover the cost of eligible infrastructure improvements, by providing that the general maximum limit on the revenues used in determining the adjustment does not apply to infrastructure improvement costs associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a highway, street, or road. Amends the law that allows a public water utility to treat the costs of replacing customer-owned lead service lines as eligible infrastructure improvements for which a utility's rates and charges may be adjusted, by providing that the law applies to municipally owned utilities as well as public utilities. Establishes a procedure under which a public utility, municipally owned utility, or not-for-profit utility that provides water or wastewater service to the public and is under the jurisdiction of the commission for the approval of rates and charges may seek to recover, through a periodic rate adjustment, the cost of certain utility plant or equipment expenditures that are related to compliance with environmental requirements or made for health, safety, or environmental protection purposes.

Authorizes a nonprofit agricultural organization to provide health benefit coverage that is: (1) sponsored by the nonprofit agricultural organization or its affiliate; (2) offered only to members of the nonprofit agricultural organization and their families; (3) deemed by the nonprofit agricultural organization to be important in assisting its members to live long and productive lives; and (4) offered in every county in Indiana. Provides that nonprofit agricultural organization coverage is not insurance and is not subject to the regulatory authority of the department of insurance, and that a nonprofit agricultural organization providing health coverage is not engaged in the business of insurance and is not required to obtain a certificate of authority. Provides that an individual may not apply for health coverage provided by a nonprofit agricultural organization until the individual has been a member of the nonprofit agricultural organization for at least 30 days. Mandates that the health coverage cover ambulatory patient services, hospitalization, emergency services, and laboratory services, and provides that the coverage may not be subject to an annual limit of less than $2,000,000 per year. Requires a nonprofit agricultural organization offering health coverage: (1) to annually file with the department of insurance a written, signed opinion of a qualified actuary that the plan reserves of the nonprofit agricultural organization and its affiliate are adequate and conform to the appropriate actuarial standards of practice; and (2) to reinsure all or a portion of its risks. Provides that an individual entering into a health coverage contract with a nonprofit agricultural organization must acknowledge in a signed writing that the coverage: (1) is not considered insurance; and (2) is not subject to the administrative rules of the department of insurance.

Requires a conveyance, a mortgage, or an instrument of writing to be recorded to be: (1) acknowledged by the grantor; and (2) proven before certain specified individuals; in certain instances. Requires the summons accompanying a complaint for condemnation to include language regarding the defendant's right to object to the condemnation within 30 days from the date notice is served. Requires a court to award reasonable costs and attorney's fees to a defendant whose objection to a complaint for condemnation is sustained. Caps the amount of attorney's fees a court may award if an objection to a condemnation is sustained at $25,000. Exempts a condemnation action brought by a public utility or by a pipeline company from the bill's provisions requiring a court to award a defendant in a condemnation action the defendant's reasonable costs and attorney's fees if the defendant's objections to the proceedings are sustained in the proceedings or upon appeal. Requires a municipality to provide notice by mail to affected owners, both residents and nonresidents of the municipality, of a condemnation. Permits an affected owner to file an objection that a municipality does not have the right to exercise the power of eminent domain for the use sought. Amends the time for a remonstrance hearing for a municipal condemnation and the defendant's right to judicial review of the decision made at the hearing to 30 days. (Current law requires a remonstrance hearing to be set no less than 10 days after notice and the defendant to appeal the decision within 20 days.) Provides parties the right to appeal a court's judgment in the judicial review of a municipal condemnation. Revises the statute allowing a municipality to condemn property for economic development to require a 3/4 affirmative vote of the municipality's legislative body to exercise the power of eminent domain. (Current law requires a 2/3 affirmative vote of the municipality's legislative body.) Allows a property owner to challenge a condemnation for economic development purposes by providing clear and convincing evidence that the owner's parcel is not necessary for the project.

Changes the rural telephone cooperative act to the rural communications cooperative act, allowing the formation of nonprofit cooperative corporations for the purposes of providing telecommunications service and information service, including video service, broadband service, and VOIP service. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides that the office of community and rural affairs, rather than the Indiana economic development corporation, administers the broadband ready communities development center.

Defines "office" as the office of community and rural affairs for purposes of the law governing the shovel ready site development center (center). Provides that the office shall, in cooperation with the Indiana economic development corporation and political subdivisions, administer the center to enable political subdivisions to obtain permits to create sites that are ready for economic development. Provides that the office shall serve as the certifying body for acceptance into the program and determine the criteria to be used to certify sites.

Allows a broker company to pay compensation directly to a business entity owned by a licensed broker that has been formed for the purpose of receiving compensation earned by the broker.