Rep. Tonya Pfaff

Requires the Indiana department of transportation to take action necessary to construct one or more additional lanes of traffic across Indiana for: (1) eastbound; and (2) westbound; Interstate Highway 70 in areas of Interstate Highway 70 where there are four lanes of traffic. Makes an appropriation.

Provides that a school safety plan developed by a school corporation or charter school must establish an armed intruder drill protocol. Requires safe school committees to develop a policy that considers the effect of armed intruder drills on the safety and mental health of students, faculty, and staff. Prohibits an armed intruder drill that includes sensory components or activities from: (1) requiring student participation; or (2) taking place during regular school hours if a majority of the student body is present on school property. Allows a school corporation or charter school that: (1) employs a school resource officer; or (2) enters into a contract or a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency, private entity, or nonprofit corporation to employ a school resource officer; to participate in the 1977 fund. Provides that a school resource officer hired or rehired after June 30, 2024, who is a member of the 1977 fund shall remain in the 1977 fund. Provides that a school resource officer may become a member of the 1977 fund by meeting certain age and training requirements. Makes corresponding changes.

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.

Provides that an individual who completes a United States Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program to practice cosmetology may take the cosmetologist licensure examination and, upon passage of the examination, practice as a cosmetologist.

Amends the membership of the poet laureate selection committee. Provides that the selection committee shall meet on a biennial basis or as needed. Provides that a person selected as poet laureate may serve one additional consecutive term. Amends the commission's payments for the poet laureate.

Requires each school corporation and charter school to: (1) adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that governs student use of a wireless communication device; and (2) publish the policy on the school corporation's or charter school's website.

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Ireland.

Recognizing Indiana's aluminum recycling industry.

Recognizing the month of February as Turner Syndrome Awareness Month.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing April as Parkinson's Awareness Month and April 11, 2024, as Parkinson's Awareness Day.