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.
Sponsored bills
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.
Defines a "pipeline company" and a "public utility" for purposes of the statute governing the general procedures to be used in acquiring property by eminent domain. Provides that in an eminent domain action filed by a public utility or a pipeline company after June 30, 2022, if a defendant files written exceptions to the assessment of the court appointed appraisers, the defendant may file a request for mediation at the same time the exceptions are filed. Provides that if the defendant files a request for mediation: (1) the court shall appoint a mediator not later than 10 days after the request is filed; (2) the plaintiff shall engage in good faith mediation with the defendant; (3) the mediation must be concluded not later than 90 days after the appointment of the mediator; and (4) the plaintiff shall pay the costs of the mediator. Provides that if the parties are unable to reach an agreement as to the assessment of the damages in a mediation, the case shall proceed to trial. Provides that in any trial of exceptions in an eminent domain proceeding: (1) the court appointed appraisers' report; and (2) the amount of the court appointed appraisers' assessment of damages upon which the exceptions in the trial are based; are not admissible as evidence in the proceedings. Provides, however, that a court appointed appraiser may: (1) testify at trial without reference to the report of the court appointed appraisers or to the appraiser's previous appointment in the case; and (2) be examined as to the value of the property sought to be acquired independent of the report and without reference to it; as set forth in existing Indiana case law. Changes the amount of litigation expenses a court shall allow a defendant in any trial in an eminent domain proceeding in which the amount of damages awarded to the defendant by the judgment is greater than the amount specified in the plaintiff's last offer of settlement.
Provides that, subject to the approval of a county adopting body, a fire protection district or a qualified fire protection territory may apply for distributions of tax revenue. Provides that a township that provides fire protection or emergency medical services (other than a township in Marion County) may apply to a county adopting body for a distribution of tax revenue for public safety purposes. Requires the adopting body to conduct a public hearing to review and approve the application. Specifies the method for determining the amount of the distribution to the qualified township.
Allows a total tax rate levied upon the formation of a fire protection territory established after December 31, 2022, to be implemented over a number of years, not exceeding five, and subject to review and approval by the department of local government finance. Provides that the maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy that would otherwise apply to a participating unit does not apply to property taxes imposed by the participating unit to meet obligations to the fire protection territory over the period of years in which a total tax rate is implemented. Provides that a participating unit's proceeds of property taxes imposed to meet the participating unit's obligations to a fire protection territory are exempt from areas needing redevelopment, redevelopment project areas, urban renewal project areas, economic development areas, or economic development districts established after December 31, 2021. Provides that incremental revenues may be used by a redevelopment commission to pay operating costs, in whole or in part, of: (1) a unit's law enforcement agency; (2) a unit's fire department, including a fire protection district established under IC 36-8-11 or a fire protection territory established under IC 36-8-19; and (3) emergency medical services operated or maintained by a unit; that serve the allocation area. Provides that incremental revenues shared by a redevelopment commission with a school corporation for an education or worker program may also be used by the school corporation to pay operating costs of the school corporation.
Defines a "pipeline company" and a "public utility" for purposes of the statute governing the general procedures to be used in acquiring property by eminent domain. Amends the statute with respect to an eminent domain action filed by a public utility or a pipeline company after June 30, 2022, as follows: (1) Provides that the public utility or pipeline company must pay the defendant landowner not less than the amount of damages specified in the court appraisers' report for the property or easement condemned, subject to the landowner's right to file written exceptions to the court appraisers' assessment and proceed to trial. (2) Eliminates a provision in current law exempting a plaintiff public utility or pipeline company from having to pay a defendant's reasonable costs and attorney's fees (not to exceed $25,000) incurred by the defendant in filing an objection to an eminent domain action, if the objection is sustained by a trial court or on appeal. (3) Requires a plaintiff public utility or pipeline company to pay to the circuit court clerk the amount of damages assessed by the court appraisers. (Current law allows a plaintiff in an eminent domain action to pay such amount to the court in order to take possession of and hold interest in the property acquired.) (4) Provides that the plaintiff public utility's or pipeline company's required offer of settlement before trial may not be less than the amount of damages specified in the court appraisers' report for the property or easement condemned. (5) Makes conforming amendments. Amends the statute with respect to an eminent domain action filed by any plaintiff to provide that if there is a trial and the amount of damages awarded to the defendant by the judgment is greater than the amount specified in the plaintiff's last offer of settlement, the court shall award the defendant costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, in an amount not to exceed the fair market value of the defendant's property or easement (versus an amount not to exceed the lesser of: (1) $25,000; or (2) the fair market value of the defendant's property or easement; under current law).
Provides a property tax deduction for an individual or surviving spouse of a veteran who has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as individually unemployable.
Establishes the public defender retirement fund. Makes conforming amendments. Makes an appropriation.
Increases, from $40,000 to $80,000, the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption. Makes a technical correction.
Provides that certified level two assessor-appraisers and certified level three assessor-appraisers may serve as tax representatives under certain circumstances. Provides that a taxpayer may submit a written complaint to the department of local government finance if the taxpayer has reason to believe the assessing official failed to adhere to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or does not have the necessary competency to perform the assessment. Provides that notice of a taxpayer's right to submit a written complaint must be included on the taxpayer's notice of assessment or reassessment.