Rep. Dale DeVon

Provides that juvenile offenders may not be placed in department of correction boot camps beginning July 1, 2022. Provides, for purposes of juvenile offenders who are already participating in the boot camp program on July 1, 2022, that the boot camp program expires December 31, 2023. Provides that a rate for intrastate: (1) collect calling; (2) debit calling; (3) prepaid calling; or (4) prepaid collect calling; in connection with inmate calling services shall not exceed the rate cap for the comparable interstate service, as set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and in effect at the time the call is initiated. Provides that this intrastate rate cap is subject to any distinctions in the comparable interstate rate cap set by the FCC that are based on: (1) the type or size of the correctional facility from which the inmate calling services call is placed; and (2) whether any site commission is sought to be recovered through the intrastate rate. Specifies that a provider that has been granted a waiver by the FCC from the interstate rate caps with respect to a particular: (1) correctional facility; or (2) contract for the provision of inmate calling services; is not subject to the intrastate rate caps for the comparable intrastate services provided to the same correctional facility or under the same contract. Prohibits a provider from charging an ancillary service charge for an intrastate inmate calling services call, other than those ancillary service charges permitted by the FCC for interstate or international inmate calling services calls at the time the call is initiated. Provides that a rate for a permitted ancillary service charge for an intrastate inmate calling services call shall not exceed the rate for the comparable ancillary service charge permitted by the FCC for interstate or international inmate calling services calls at the time the call is initiated. Specifies that a provider that has been granted a waiver by the FCC from the ancillary service charge caps for interstate or international inmate calling services calls with respect to a particular: (1) correctional facility; or (2) contract for the provision of inmate calling services; is not subject to the intrastate caps for the comparable intrastate ancillary services provided to the same correctional facility or under the same contract. Prohibits a provider of inmate calling services from impeding the completion of, or otherwise degrading, intrastate collect calling based on the lack of a billing relationship with the called party's communications service provider. Prohibits a provider from charging any taxes or fees in connection with intrastate inmate calling services calls, except for: (1) authorized fees; and (2) mandatory taxes and fees. Provides that: (1) authorized fees; and (2) mandatory taxes and fees; may not include a markup, unless the markup is specifically authorized by a federal, state, or local statute, rule, or regulation. Prohibits a provider from: (1) imposing a per call or per connection charge for any intrastate inmate calling services call; or (2) offering flat rate calling for intrastate inmate calling services. Provides that after June 30, 2022, a provider shall not enter into or renew a contract for the provision of inmate calling services at a correctional facility in Indiana unless the terms of the contract comply with these provisions. Provides that any term, condition, or provision that: (1) is included in such a contract; and (2) violates these provisions; is void. Provides that a provider that violates these provisions: (1) commits a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general or by a consumer under the deceptive consumer sales act (act); and (2) is subject to the remedies and penalties under the act.

Allows the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to issue a waiver of human services statutory provisions and administrative rules if the secretary determines that the waiver is necessary to claim certain enhanced federal matching funds available to the Medicaid program. Allows the secretary to issue an emergency declaration for purposes of participating in specified authorized federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments. Requires the secretary to prepare and submit any waivers or emergency declarations to the budget committee. Allows the state health commissioner of the state department of health or the commissioner's designated public health authority to issue standing orders, prescriptions, or protocols to administer or dispense certain immunizations for individuals who are at least five years old (current law limits the age for the commissioner's issuance of standing orders, prescriptions, and protocols for individuals who are at least 11 years old). Defines "Indiana governmental entity" and specifies that an Indiana governmental entity (current law refers to a state or local unit) may not issue or require an immunization passport. Provides that an individual is not disqualified from unemployment benefits if the individual has complied with the requirements for seeking an exemption from an employer's COVID-19 immunization requirements and was discharged from employment for failing or refusing to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Provides that an employer may not impose a requirement that employees receive an immunization against COVID-19 unless the employer provides individual exemptions that allow an employee to opt out of the requirement on the basis of medical reasons, religious reasons, or immunity from COVID-19 acquired from a prior infection with COVID-19.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the Youth Service Bureau for its 50 years of service to the young people of St. Joseph County.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Wednesday, February 16, 2022, as a day to honor the work and mission of the regions of the American Red Cross serving the state of Indiana.

Requests that the legislative council assign to the interim study committee on child services the topic of studying a requirement for and funding of court appointed attorneys in certain cases involving juveniles.

Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the topic of availability and affordability of child care in Indiana. Requires the interim study committee to which the topic is assigned to: (1) consider means by which the availability and affordability of child care services in Indiana can be increased; and (2) not later than November 1, 2022, submit to the general assembly a strategic plan for increasing the availability and affordability of child care services in Indiana.

Requires the department of child services (department) to provide the criminal history check results obtained by the department in connection with an individual's employment with the department to a child caring institution, group home, or child placing agency (child care provider) with which the individual is employed or has applied for employment. Provides that an individual may be employed by a child care provider before the state mandated criminal history check of the individual is completed if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The individual's: (A) fingerprint based check of national crime information data bases; (B) national sex offender registry check; (C) in-state local criminal records check; and (D) in-state child protection index check; have been completed. (2) If the individual has resided outside Indiana at any time during the five years preceding the individual's date of hire, the individual's: (A) out-of-state child abuse registry check; and (B) out-of-state local criminal records check; have been requested. (3) The individual's employment before the completion of the state mandated criminal history check is limited to training during which the individual: (A) does not have contact with children who are under the care and control of the child care provider; and (B) does not have access to records containing information regarding children who are under the care and control of the child care provider. (4) The individual completes an attestation, under penalty of perjury, disclosing: (A) any abuse or neglect complaints made against the individual with the child welfare agency of a state other than Indiana in which the individual resided within the five years preceding the date of the attestation; and (B) any contact the individual had with a law enforcement agency in connection with the individual's suspected or alleged commission of a crime in a state other than Indiana in which the individual resided within the five years preceding the date of the attestation. Provides that if: (1) an individual who applies for employment with a child care provider was previously employed by the child care provider; and (2) the child care provider still possesses the results of any criminal history check of the individual conducted in connection with the individual's previous employment with the child care provider; the criminal history check of the individual may be limited to a check of the state records of each state in which the individual resided after the date on which the individual's previous employment with the child care provider ended. Allows a child care provider to provide the criminal history check results obtained by the child care provider in connection with an individual's employment with the child care provider to another child care provider with which the individual is employed or has applied for employment.

Establishes various work search requirements for the purpose of unemployment compensation. Provides that the department of workforce development (department) shall establish a process to share information with an individual who is receiving unemployment benefits regarding open positions that are submitted to a job board that is administered by a state agency. Requires the department to refer individuals to the open positions. Requires the department to perform certain cross-check activities to verify an individual's eligibility for unemployment benefits. Provides that the department shall cooperate and enter into a memorandum of understanding with the family and social services administration and the Indiana housing and community development authority to share information concerning whether an individual who receives benefits becomes employed. Requires an employer to report to the department if the employer offers paid work to an individual and the individual refuses the offer of work. Specifies that an employer is not required to report an individual's refusal of work if the employer has reason to believe that the individual is employed at the time the offer was made.

Amends the circumstances under which the department of child services (DCS), or a prosecuting attorney on behalf of DCS, may file a paternity action as next friend of a child. Provides that a child who is the subject of: (1) a petition alleging that the child is a child in need of services (CHINS); or (2) a proceeding to terminate parental rights; may initiate a paternity action on the child's own behalf through the child's next friend. Specifies the basis for survival of orders of a court in a CHINS or delinquency action when a separate court has reciprocal jurisdiction over the child in a concurrent paternity action.

Requires the division of family resources (division) of the family and social services administration (FSSA) to: (1) enter into information sharing agreements with: (A) the state lottery commission; (B) the state department of health; (C) the department of workforce development; (D) the department of state revenue; and (E) the department of correction; and (2) review information received by FSSA with regard to individuals receiving assistance under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); for purposes of determining the continuing SNAP eligibility of individuals receiving SNAP assistance. Allows the division to enter into an agreement with any other public or private entity for purposes of obtaining information pertinent to determining the continuing SNAP eligibility of individuals receiving SNAP assistance. Requires the division, in cooperation with state or federal law enforcement entities as necessary, to annually conduct an onsite inspection of each retailer located in Indiana that participates in the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) program for purposes of identifying fraudulent EBT transactions. Requires a household receiving SNAP assistance to report a change in circumstances affecting the household's SNAP eligibility to the division not later than 10 days after the household becomes aware of the change. Requires the division to post on the division's Internet web site aggregated, nonconfidential, nonidentifying information regarding the division's findings of noncompliance and fraud with regard to the SNAP program. Prohibits consideration of noncash or in-kind public assistance benefits for purposes of determining an individual's categorical eligibility for SNAP assistance. Requires FSSA to: (1) enter into information sharing agreements with: (A) the state lottery commission; (B) the state department of health; (C) the department of workforce development; (D) the department of state revenue; and (E) the department of correction; and (2) review information received by FSSA with regard to individuals receiving Medicaid; for purposes of determining the continuing Medicaid eligibility of individuals receiving Medicaid. Allows FSSA to enter into an agreement with any other public or private entity for purposes of obtaining information pertinent to determining the continuing Medicaid eligibility of individuals receiving Medicaid. Requires FSSA to request approval from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for a waiver allowing FSSA to: (1) deny benefits under; and (2) prohibit reenrollment in; Medicaid for not less than six months for a nondisabled, nonpregnant individual not less than 19 years of age and not more than 64 years of age who fails to report to FSSA changes in circumstances that affect the individual's Medicaid eligibility. Requires FSSA to post on FSSA's Internet web site aggregated, nonconfidential, nonidentifying information regarding FSSA's findings of noncompliance and fraud with regard to the Medicaid program. Prohibits a county office of the division from: (1) determining an individual's Medicaid eligibility based solely on a determination regarding the individual's eligibility for Medicaid made by a health benefit exchange established under the federal Affordable Care Act; or (2) accepting for purposes of determining an individual's eligibility for Medicaid the individual's attestation as to the individual's income, age, household composition, status as a caretaker, familial relationships, or receipt of benefits under another state or federal assistance program.