Rep. Matt Pierce

Allows counties that meet certain criteria to adopt an ordinance to impose a surcharge of not more than $2 in addition to the fees charged by the department of natural resources (department) for entry into certain state parks and recreation areas. Provides that the surcharge may not be imposed on: (1) a county resident; or (2) an annual state park pass holder. Requires the department to collect, report, and pay the surcharge to each county treasurer. Provides that the revenue collected is to be used for: (1) public safety purposes; or (2) improvement of reservoir water quality.

Provides for implementation of a health care improvement and cost control strategy in Indiana that requires equalization of hospital reimbursement rates for all payers by July 1, 2025, and a total cost of care model of health care improvement and cost control for all heath care providers by July 1, 2030. Conditions implementation of the strategy upon approval of the strategy by federal Medicare and Medicaid agencies.

Allows individuals with a terminal illness who meet certain requirements to make a request to an attending provider for medication that the individual may self-administer to bring about death. Specifies requirements a provider must meet in order to prescribe the medication to a patient. Prohibits an insurer from denying payment of benefits under a life insurance policy based upon a suicide clause in the life insurance policy if the death of the insured individual is the result of medical aid in dying. Establishes a Level 1 felony if a person: (1) without authorization of the patient, willfully alters, forges, conceals, or destroys a request for medication or a rescission of a request for medication with the intent or effect of causing the individual's death; or (2) knowingly or intentionally coerces or exerts undue influence on an individual to request medication to bring about death or to destroy a rescission of a request for medication to bring about death. Establishes a Class A misdemeanor if a person, without authorization of the patient, willfully alters, forges, conceals, or destroys a request for medication or a rescission of a request for medication in order to affect a health care decision by the individual. Establishes certain criminal and civil immunity for health care providers.

Establishes, rather than allows the president of Indiana University to appoint, a geological and water survey advisory council (council). Increases the number of members from nine to 11 and specifies who shall serve on the council. Requires the state geologist to serve as secretary of the council. Provides that the state geologist may cast the deciding vote to break a tie. Requires the council to meet quarterly. Establishes the center for water within the Indiana geological and water survey (survey) at Indiana University for the purpose of: (1) carrying out the survey's statutory duties concerning Indiana's water resources; (2) supporting long term studies of the state's water resources; and (3) upon request, providing resources to state agencies, municipalities, and soil and water conservation groups. Establishes the center for energy within the survey for similar purposes with respect to Indiana's natural energy resources. Allows the Indiana board of licensure for professional geologists (board) to elect a secretary who is not a member of the board. (Current law requires that the secretary of the board be elected from among the members of the board.) Increases the number of times the board is required to meet to at least two times each year. Allows a licensed professional geologist to request an informal review not more than 30 days after receiving a complaint. (Current law requires the request for an informal review to be made within 20 days.) Provides that if the board compels a licensed professional geologist to respond to a complaint or charges, the notification must be sent by certified mail and the response must be in writing. Allows a geologist who is licensed in another state to be licensed in Indiana if the other state's standards are substantially equal to Indiana's requirements. Requires a licensed professional geologist to obtain continuing education in the geological sciences as a condition of license renewal. Specifies that these continuing education requirements do not apply to a person who is not licensed as a professional geologist under Indiana law. Makes technical changes.

Amends the statute concerning the required annual report by the utility regulatory commission (IURC) to the governor and the legislative council as follows: (1) Requires the IURC to present the annual report to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) before October 1 of each year. (2) Provides that the annual report must include certain information concerning: (A) the energy utility industry; (B) the water and wastewater utility industries; (C) the communications services industry; and (D) Indiana's pipeline safety program. Makes conforming amendments to the statutes requiring the IURC to report annually to the committee concerning: (1) the energy utility industry; and (2) communications services. Makes other conforming amendments to Indiana Code sections referencing the IURC's annual report to the committee concerning communications services. Repeals Indiana Code provisions requiring the IURC to report annually to the committee concerning: (1) acquisitions under the statute concerning acquisitions of offered water or wastewater utilities; and (2) the Indiana voluntary clean energy portfolio standard program. Requires the IURC to adopt rules as the IURC determines necessary to implement Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 2222 concerning distributed energy resources and distributed energy resource aggregators.

Reaffirming the commitment of sister ties between Indiana and Taiwan.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana War Memorials Commission to study and propose the construction of a suitable monument to the men and women of Indiana who died in the service of their country in the global war on terrorism.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

Recognizing February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Establishes additional requirements for the disposition of property held as evidence that may contain biological evidence related to an offense, including matters involving postconviction DNA testing and analysis.