Rep. Bob Heaton

Provides that a school, an employee or staff member of a school, or a third party vendor used by a school to provide instruction may not provide any instruction to a student in prekindergarten through grade 3 on human sexuality. Provides that a school employee or a school staff member is not prohibited from responding to a question from a student regarding certain topics. Requires a school to notify in writing at least one parent of a student, if the student is an unemancipated minor, of a request made by the student to change the student's name or pronoun, title, or word to identify the student.

Provides, for purposes of the law prohibiting the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that "the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine" includes attaching to an individual's name the words "allergist", "electrophysiologist", "geriatrician", "immunologist", "medical geneticist", "neonatologist", or "pulmonologist".

Exempts military pay for members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard from the individual income tax. (Current law provides an individual income tax exemption for members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard for the period the member is mobilized and deployed.) Exempts military pay earned by members of an active component of the armed forces of the United States from the individual income tax. (Current law exempts from the individual income tax the military pay earned by members of the National Guard and reserve components of the armed forces of the United States while serving on active duty.)

Allows a utility company that: (1) provides both water and wastewater service; and (2) has acquired wastewater utility property; to request, in the context of a petition by the utility company to the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for preapproval of a plan for proposed service enhancement improvements to the utility company's wastewater utility property, authorization from the IURC to allocate a portion of the eligible costs of the utility company's wastewater utility property to the utility company's water customers. Provides that if the petition includes such a request for an allocation of costs, the utility company shall provide a copy of: (1) the petition; and (2) the utility company's case in chief; to each intervenor in the utility company's last general rate case. Provides that the IURC may approve the request if the IURC finds that: (1) because of reasonable and necessary improvements that are proposed for the wastewater utility property, the resulting rates charged to wastewater customers would reach levels necessitating the provision of financial assistance to those customers; (2) the total rates charged by the utility company for water service will not increase unreasonably as a result of the allocation; (3) the utility company has included information in its proposal regarding the availability of grants or low interest loans and whether the utility company considered using grants or low interest loans to help finance or reduce the cost of the service enhancement improvements; and (4) the utility company has developed an asset management program. Provides that an increase in the total rates charged for water service by the utility company as a result of the allocation is not unreasonable to the extent the allocation results in an increase in authorized total revenues of 2% or less. Provides that if the IURC approves a utility company's request for an allocation of costs, the utility company shall include a notice on or with water customer monthly bills specifying the amount of the service enhancement improvement adjustment rider approved by the commission that recovers necessary wastewater utility improvements.

Provides that the definitions for the uniform business organizations code apply to agricultural cooperatives. Removes the requirement that articles of incorporation for agricultural cooperatives must be acknowledged by at least one incorporator before a notary public. Provides that the uniform business transactions act applies to agricultural cooperatives for certain purposes. Adds business trusts and agricultural cooperatives to lists of entities that the secretary of state may revoke registrations for or dissolve. Makes conforming changes. Amends the statute concerning the securities restitution fund (fund) as follows: (1) Provides that 2% of funds received from fees and revenues from the administration of the Indiana Uniform Securities Act must be deposited in the fund instead of the state general fund. (2) Provides that any amount of the balance of the fund at the end of a particular state fiscal year that exceeds $2,000,000 reverts to the state general fund. (3) Provides that to ensure the financial viability of the fund, the securities commissioner may: (A) divide into installments; (B) delay; or (C) divide into installments and delay; any payments owed to claimants.

Amends the law concerning civil proceeding advance payment (CPAP) transactions to provide that in a civil proceeding in which a consumer claimant has entered into a CPAP contract, the consumer claimant or the consumer claimant's attorney is required to provide to: (1) each of the other parties in the civil proceeding; and (2) each insurer that has a duty to defend another party in the civil proceeding; written notice that the consumer claimant has entered into a CPAP contract with a CPAP provider. Provides that in a civil proceeding in which a consumer claimant is a party, the existence and contents of the CPAP contract are subject to discovery under the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure by: (1) a party other than the consumer claimant; or (2) an insurer that has a duty to defend another party in the civil proceeding. Provides that a written notice concerning a CPAP contract with a CPAP provider is not admissible in a court proceeding.

Defines the term "pore space". Corrects a spelling error in the address of the carbon sequestration pilot project (pilot project). Provides that the pilot project will construct, operate, or use not more than two (2) carbon dioxide pipelines and will maintain operations only in Vigo and Vermillion counties. Requires the director of the department of natural resources to designate the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project not more than 30 days after the Class VI well permit authorizing the operation of carbon dioxide injection wells at the site of the pilot project is issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that, for purposes of the pilot project, the title to pore space is vested in the person who holds in fee simple the surface interest in the land or water, as identified by the property records of the county, except in case of an explicit conveyance, exception, or reservation through a recorded conveyance to another person. Requires the pilot project operator, before the anticipated migration of injected carbon dioxide into pore space to notify the person who owns the pore space in fee simple of the anticipated migration of the carbon dioxide. Requires the carbon sequestration pilot project operator to make an offer of compensation to a pore space owner to provide that the offer of compensation must be at least a yearly payment of 40% of the average estimated cash rent per acre for the area of Indiana and the class of land, according to the Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey Results published by Purdue University most recently before the offer of compensation is made, every year until the cessation of injection of carbon dioxide. Provides that a person who claims ownership of pore space may initiate non-binding mediation of the dispute with the pilot project operator concerning the pore space. Establishes a procedure for mediation and allows the pilot project operator to consolidate multiple requests for mediation into one or more mediation proceedings. Provides that if a person who claims ownership of pore space is unable to reach an agreement with the pilot project operator concerning the acquisition, lease, or occupancy of the pore space through negotiation or mediation, the person may pursue a civil action against the pilot project operator. Provides that, generally, in a civil action against the pilot project operator, the court may not grant injunctive relief, an order of possession, or monetary relief that exceeds the fair market value of pore space in Indiana. Provides, however, that these limits on monetary recovery do not apply in case of direct and tangible physical injury or damage to a person, tangible property, or an animal or in case of an effect of the pilot project on the sources of the public water supply used by a public utility. Provides that the code section authorizing the establishment of the carbon sequestration pilot project expires July 1, 2028, if the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project is not issued a Class VI permit by the United States Environmental Protection Agency by that date.

Amends the law requiring a health plan operator to fairly negotiate rates and terms with any ambulance service provider willing to become a participating provider with respect to the operator's health plan. Provides that, if negotiations between an ambulance service provider and a health plan operator that occur after June 30, 2022, do not result in the ambulance service provider becoming a participating provider with respect to the health plan, each party, beginning May 1, 2023, is required to provide to the department of insurance (department) a written notice: (1) reporting the unsuccessful conclusion of the negotiations; and (2) stating the points that were discussed in the negotiations but on which agreement was not reached. Requires the department, not later than May 1, 2024, to submit to the legislative council and the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services a report summarizing the written notices that the department has received from ambulance service providers and health plan operators.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Michael D. McDaniel.

Reaffirming the commitment of sister ties between Indiana and Taiwan.