Rep. Dale DeVon

Provides that if the governor declares a state of disaster emergency, the department of child services (department) may: (1) allow older youth who are receiving collaborative care services at the time of the declaration to continue to receive collaborative care services for the duration of the state of disaster emergency; and (2) modify or suspend enforcement of a statute or rule specifying a time within which a foster parent must provide for a child to be examined by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse after the child's placement in the foster parent's home.

Exempts from day care licensure requirements a child care program that: (1) is operated by a public or private organization under a contract with a public or private school; (2) serves children who are enrolled in a public or private school in grades kindergarten through 12, or in a preschool program offered by the public or private school; and (3) serves children who are: (A) attending school through remote or e-learning due to a disaster emergency; or (B) participating in a learning recovery program that administers an assessment to measure student learning loss and provides Indiana academic standards aligned instruction.

Provides that before a governing body may sell, exchange, lease, demolish, hold without operating, or dispose of a school building, the governing body shall: (1) obtain a certification from the attorney general's office; and (2) make the building available for lease or purchase by a charter school or state educational institution. Provides that before a governing body may sell, exchange, lease, demolish, hold without operating, or dispose of a school building, the governing body must receive a certification from the attorney general to ensure that the governing body is in compliance with requirements for making a vacant school building available for sale or lease to a charter school or state educational institution for $1. Requires the attorney general to investigate complaints that a school corporation has not complied with the requirements for making a vacant school building available for sale or lease to a charter school or state educational institution for $1. Provides that, in the event that a complaint is substantiated, the attorney general, in consultation with the department of education (department) and Indiana state board of education (state board), is authorized to take any action necessary to remedy a substantiated complaint, which may include actions to be performed by the state board or the department to ensure compliance of a school corporation. Provides that, if a school corporation does not comply with the requirements to sell a vacant school building, as determined by the attorney general, the school corporation shall submit any proceeds from the sale of the vacant school building to the state board. Provides that the state board shall distribute proceeds collected equally between each charter school located in the attendance area of the school corporation. Provides that, if no charter schools are located in the attendance area, the state board must use the proceeds to provide grants under the charter school and innovation grant program. Provides that a lease of school property entered into by a governing body prior to January 1, 2019, with a state accredited nonpublic school shall remain in full force and effect. (Current law provides that a lease of school property entered into by a governing body prior to July 1, 2019, with a state accredited nonpublic school shall remain in full force and effect.) Provides that a school corporation is responsible for maintaining a vacant school building until it is: (1) sold or leased to a charter school or state educational institution; (2) sold to an accredited nonpublic school or postsecondary educational institution other than a state educational institution; or (3) eligible to be sold or otherwise disposed.

Defines "permanent registration" for purposes of motor vehicles. Provides that the owner of a trailer that weighs 3,000 pounds or less may apply to the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) for a permanent registration for a fee of $82. Requires the owner of a trailer that applies to the bureau for a permanent registration to pay twice the amount of the surtax otherwise due when the owner obtains a permanent registration. Provides that the owner of a trailer that obtains a permanent registration is not subject to additional surtax payments.

Allows the Indiana kids first trust fund board (board) to create a nonprofit subsidiary corporation to solicit and accept private funding, gifts, donations, bequests, devises, and contributions. Provides that the members of the board serve terms of four years (rather than two years under current law) and provides for the terms of the appointed members of the board to be staggered. Provides that a majority of the appointed members of the board constitutes a quorum for purposes of board meetings. Provides that an affirmative vote of the majority of the board members participating in a board meeting is required for the board to take action at the meeting. Provides that: (1) the board; and (2) the board of directors of a subsidiary corporation formed by the board; must post meeting minutes to the Internet not later than 10 days after the minutes are approved. Requires the board to study the topic of establishing a nonprofit subsidiary corporation and provide a report to the general assembly with the board's findings.

Requires the department of education (department) to provide an initial practitioner license to an individual that competes an alternative teacher certification program. Requires the individual to complete a one year clinical experience program. Provides that the individual may not teach a special education course or be a teacher of record for a special education student. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school shall submit a plan to the department if the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school hires one or more individuals who have received an initial practitioner license. Requires a teacher preparation program to include curriculum that instructs teachers about social emotional learning practices that are helpful in supporting students who have experienced trauma. Mandates that a teacher preparation program consider training teachers on evidence based social emotional learning practices that are consistent with the state's social emotional learning competencies established by the department of education. Makes conforming changes.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Hoosier Direct Support Professionals.

Requires the state board of education (state board) to adopt administrative rules to allow an organization to provide credit under a Core 40 curriculum model for alternative programs in which students obtain credit counting toward the student's graduation requirements from nonschool educational experience that applies or incorporates content area knowledge in lieu of a required or elective course in the Core 40 curriculum model.

Provides that the innkeeper's tax board of managers (board of managers) shall support and assist the Potawatomi Zoo to secure bonds up to a term of 20 years to pay costs associated with financing projects for the Potawatomi Zoo. Authorizes the county fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to increase the tax rate to not more than 8% on a person renting or furnishing lodging accommodations in St. Joseph County. (Under current law, the tax rate is 6%.) Provides that if the county fiscal body adopts an ordinance to increase the tax rate, the county fiscal body must specify the effective date that the ordinance takes effect and immediately send a certified copy of the ordinance to the commissioner of the department of state revenue. Creates the Morris Performing Arts Center fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Creates the tourism capital investment fund, which shall be administered by the board of managers. Establishes an application process to award investment money to projects that have a substantial likelihood of increasing overnight guests in the hotel motel industry of St. Joseph County. Specifies the amount of tax revenue that the county treasurer shall deposit in the: (1) convention and exhibition center fund; (2) Mishawaka indoor sports complex fund; (3) Potawatomi Zoo fund; (4) Morris Performing Arts Center fund; and (5) tourism capital investment fund.

Changes the membership of the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana (commission). Provides that the affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members appointed to the commission are required for the commission to take action on any measure.