Establishes the sensory kit grant program to provide grants to public safety agencies for the purpose of purchasing sensory kits to be used during an emergency to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder or a cognitive disorder. Requires the department of homeland security to administer the grant program. Makes an appropriation.
Establishes the pediatric mental health professional recruitment pilot program. Provides that the purpose of the pilot program is to increase the availability of pediatric mental health care services for residents of Indiana by providing incentives to students who agree to provide pediatric mental health services in a pilot program county immediately after becoming pediatric mental health professionals. Specifies that the pilot program counties include Lake County, Marion County, and a county having a population of less than 65,000. Requires an applicant for a scholarship to execute a written agreement with the commission for higher education promising to provide pediatric mental health care services in a pilot program county for at least four years after graduation. Appropriates $1,000,000 per state fiscal year for the pilot program.
Provides that, in addition to eligible certificate programs, a workforce ready credit-bearing grant may be used for costs of enrolling in an English as a new language program or course.
Requires the person or entity having authority over a school building to test the drinking water in the school building by a specified time frame. Provides that a person having authority over a school building who knowingly or intentionally fails to have the school building tested in the specified time frame commits the crime of neglect of a student, a Level 6 felony.
Maddy summaryHB 1237 designates the Indiana bat as Indiana's official state mammal. This symbolic bill directly affects all Indiana residents by formally recognizing this native species as a state emblem. The key provision is the legislative designation itself, with no additional policy changes or mechanisms beyond naming the bat. It is a non-substantive, ceremonial measure focused on state symbolism.
Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the United States Department of Health and Human Services to allow school corporations to seek Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary school based Medicaid covered services (program). (Current law allows for the state plan amendment.) Sets forth requirements of the state plan amendment and program. Removes language that would have allowed for offsetting reductions to distributions of state tuition support or other state funds to school corporations in the amount of certain nonfederal reimbursements. Specifies how school corporations can expend the funds. Requires the office and the department of education (department) to each employ one employee for the program and to train school corporations concerning the program. Requires the department to conduct a study concerning workload levels for school based health providers who are licensed occupational therapists and licensed physical therapists. Specifies components to consider in determining a methodology and requirements of the study. Requires the department to submit a report of the study to the legislative council before November 1, 2025, and to post the report on the department's website.
Provides a $1,000 credit against state tax liability to a behavioral health professional who provides a preceptorship for at least 20 days in the applicable tax year.
Provides that a court shall order: (1) joint physical custody of a child unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that joint physical custody is not in the child's best interests; and (2) joint legal custody of a child unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that joint legal custody is not in the child's best interests. Requires a court that does not order joint physical custody or joint legal custody to issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the order is based. Provides that a parent's knowing false allegation to a court in a child custody proceeding that the other parent abused or neglected the child is: (1) a factor the court shall consider in determining custody of the child; and (2) a ground for modification of a child custody order. Requires the office of judicial administration (office) to annually publish on the office's website statistics regarding the number and proportion of child custody orders issued in the immediately preceding calendar year for: (1) joint physical custody; (2) a physical custody arrangement other than joint physical custody; (3) joint legal custody; and (4) a legal custody arrangement other than joint legal custody.
Provides that a pregnant woman charged with a drug crime may be referred to a forensic diversion program or a drug court at an initial hearing.
Provides that a state employee may affirmatively elect to enroll in the deferred compensation plan prior to the auto enroll date on day 31 of the state employee's employment. Removes a provision that sets a maximum employer surcharge for the legislators' defined benefit plan, state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan, public employees' retirement fund, and Indiana state teachers' retirement fund (fund). Requires the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system (board) to develop the technological and administrative capabilities sufficient to categorize fund members into separate groups in which: (1) certain members receive a service based thirteenth check; and (2) certain members receive a cost of living adjustment. Requires the board to set the surcharge rates at a level to actuarially prefund: (1) annual indexed thirteenth checks for all current retired members and beneficiaries retired before July 1, 2025; and (2) 1% annual cost of living adjustments to future in-payment members and beneficiaries retired on or after July 1, 2025. Provides that the board shall not reduce the surcharge rates from the prior year. Allows the board to increase the surcharge rates by not more than 0.1% of payroll from the prior year. Requires certain political subdivisions to present to the interim study committee on pension management oversight regarding a delinquent employee retirement plan offered by the political subdivision. Requires, effective July 1, 2025, the trustee of the state police pension trust to maintain two supplemental allowance reserve accounts for the purpose of paying postretirement benefit adjustments. Increases the maximum date that a member or participant of certain retirement funds can participate in the deferred retirement option plan from 36 to 60 months. Requires the member or participant to notify their employer if the member or participant elects to enter or extend the deferred retirement option plan. Provides for a thirteenth check in 2024 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.
