Rep. Shane Lindauer

Provides an exemption from worker's compensation and occupational diseases coverage for a member of certain religious sects or a division of a religious sect who meets certain requirements and obtains a certificate of exemption (certificate) from the worker's compensation board (board). Provides that if certain information about an individual who holds a certificate is no longer true: (1) the individual and the individual's employer must take certain steps; and (2) the certificate is no longer effective. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that in the event of a disaster emergency, an emergency order issued by a state agency must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest. Entitles a person to relief if a court determines that the person seeking judicial relief has been prejudiced by an agency action issued during a disaster emergency that has not been: (1) applied equally to a similarly situated person; and (2) narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest. Provides that the orders, rules, and regulations made, amended, or rescinded by the governor must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest. Requires any state or local agency, including the Indiana department of health and local boards of health, to only impose a restriction that is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest. Provides that any order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating a local disaster emergency must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest. Provides that, if the disaster that is the basis of the emergency order impacts an area of the state that does not exceed the lesser of: (1) 31 counties; or (2) an area that is inhabited by less than 33 1/3% of the population of Indiana; the state of emergency expires in 30 days. Provides that the governor may renew the emergency declaration in 30 day increments not to exceed a period of 12 months. Provides that all other emergency declarations expire 30 days after the initial date of the governor's executive order and may not be renewed or extended by the governor without the approval of the general assembly. Removes the governor's ability to suspend certain provisions relating to the general assembly, judicial relief of an agency action during an emergency declaration, or provisions relating to emergency management disasters.

Defines "PFAS chemicals" and requires the environmental rules board to use the definition in certain rules concerning industrial processes and research and development.

Defines "bullion" as refined silver or gold, in any shape or form, that has certain specified characteristics. Defines "specie" as bullion that is fabricated into products that are: (1) of uniform shape, size, design, content, weight, and purity; and (2) suitable for, or customarily used as, currency or a medium of exchange. Defines "specie legal tender" as: (1) specie coin issued by the United States government at any time; or (2) any other specie that a federal court determines to be within state authority to make or designate as legal tender under Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States. Authorizes the treasurer of state (treasurer) to establish one or more bullion depositories to provide a secure location for the storage of bullion. Provides that if the treasurer establishes one or more bullion depositories, the treasurer shall designate or engage an administrator to oversee the operation and management of the bullion depositories established. Provides that a person may: (1) establish a bullion depository account with a bullion depository by entering into a depository agreement with the bullion depository; and (2) purchase, sell, deposit, or withdraw bullion through the holder's bullion depository account. Provides that a bullion depository qualifies as a state depository and is eligible to receive public funds of: (1) the state; or (2) a political subdivision; on deposit. Requires the administrator to perform certain record keeping and retention duties with respect to: (1) bullion depository accounts; and (2) transactions associated with bullion depository accounts. Requires a bullion depository to: (1) adopt and implement certain security measures; and (2) maintain insurance coverage to cover the full value of all bullion stored at each of its physical locations. Requires each bullion depository to be audited by an independent third party auditor on a semiannual basis. Requires the treasurer to establish an electronic currency backed by: (1) specie legal tender; or (2) other bullion designated by the treasurer; to the extent of the treasurer's authority to do so under Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution of the United States. Requires the treasurer to maintain enough specie legal tender or other designated bullion to provide for the redemption in specie legal tender or other designated bullion of all units of the electronic currency issued. Requires the administrator to determine, at the time of each transaction involving the issuance or redemption of electronic currency, the value of a unit of electronic currency in legal tender (other than specie legal tender) based on market price. Provides that a bullion depository established under these provisions may not be terminated or transferred to a private entity unless the termination or transfer is: (1) executed in a manner to protect: (A) the security of the bullion on deposit; (B) the rights of bullion account holders; and (C) the financial interests of the state and any affected political subdivision; and (2) authorized by an act of the general assembly. Establishes certain reporting requirements for: (1) the administrator; and (2) the treasurer; concerning bullion depositories established under these provisions. Requires the treasurer to adopt guidelines to implement and administer these provisions. Provides that: (1) specie legal tender; and (2) electronic currency; are recognized as legal tender in Indiana. Provides that except as otherwise specifically provided by law or contract, a person may not compel any other person to tender or accept specie as legal tender. Provides that a prevailing party in an action for breach of any contract provision that expressly designates a type or form of specie as tender is entitled to specific performance of the contract provision. Provides that bullion is: (1) not subject to assessment and taxation under Indiana's property tax statute; and (2) exempt from the state gross retail tax. Provides that the exchange of one type or form of legal tender for another type or form of legal tender is exempt from the state gross retail tax.

Provides that the results of a national criminal history background check of an individual conducted for purposes of the individual's presence on the premises of a provider's child care center apply for purposes of the individual's presence on the premises of any child care center operated by the provider. Allows a child care center to allow an individual to work, while supervised, at the child care center during the period after submission of requests for any required preemployment verification of the individual but before the child care center receives the results of the preemployment verification. Provides that a child care center may allow an employee of the child care center who: (1) is at least 18 years of age; and (2) has successfully completed all criminal background checks and educational requirements required for employment by a licensed child care center; to be the sole supervisor of a classroom or area for children of any age. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to amend the office's rules to provide that, for the purposes of staffing child care centers: (1) "infant" means a child who is less than 12 months of age; and (2) "toddler" means a child who is at least 12 months of age but less than 24 months of age.

Amends the: (1) definition of "eligible student" for purposes of eligibility under the Indiana education scholarship account program; and (2) grant amount that an eligible student may receive under the program.

Prohibits the state, a state agency, and a political subdivision from entering into a contract with a prohibited person for the provision of goods or services. Amends the amount of a gift received from a foreign source that must be reported by a postsecondary educational institution. Prohibits certain individuals and business entities from purchasing real property located within Indiana. Permits the attorney general to investigate and issue subpoenas upon receipt of information that leads the attorney general to believe a violation of the critical infrastructure or foreign ownership of real property statutes has occurred. Permits the attorney general to bring an action on behalf of the state or a political subdivision for a violation of the critical infrastructure and foreign ownership of real property statutes.

Provides that, subject to certain procedures and requirements, the office of the secretary of family and social services may apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services: (1) for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or (2) to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish and maintain a help line: (1) to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and (2) that is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number. Establishes the Indiana behavioral health commission (commission) and sets forth the commission's membership. Changes the name of the "9-8-8 crisis hotline center" to "9-8-8 crisis response center". Makes conforming changes.

Provides that a forestry operation that conducts its operations in compliance with the Indiana Logging and Forestry Best Management Practices Field Guide published by the Indiana department of natural resources is exempt from any requirement to obtain a permit from the department of natural resources or the department of environmental management concerning forestry activities confined to a waterway that has a watershed not greater than 10 square miles. Defines forestry operation. Defines waterway.

Repeals the requirement that local floodplain administrators use the "best floodplain mapping data" as provided by the department of natural resources (department) and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing an application for a permit to authorize construction in or near a floodplain. Provides that, after June 30, 2023, a county or municipality may not issue a permit for construction activity in or near a floodplain unless the permit applicant is allowed to elect whether the local floodplain administrator will use: (1) the department's "best floodplain mapping data"; or (2) an engineering study provided by the permit applicant; in reviewing the permit application. Prohibits a local floodplain administrator from issuing a permit authorizing a structure or construction activity in or near a floodplain if the issuance of the permit will violate National Flood Insurance Program requirements. Provides that, after June 30, 2025, an individual may not serve as the floodplain administrator of a county or municipality unless the individual has successfully completed: (1) the Certified Floodplain Manager program of the Association of State Floodplain Managers; or (2) another course or training program for local floodplain managers that is approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the department. Provides that a person that has: (1) an ownership interest; (2) a leasehold interest; or (3) a security interest; in a parcel of real property may at any time request a review by the department of the department's "best floodplain mapping data" that applies to the parcel of real property. Requires the department to conduct the review at no cost to the person requesting the review and to use a detailed hydrologic modeling method in conducting the review. Provides that: (1) if the person requesting the review has applied to a local floodplain administrator for a permit authorizing the construction of a structure or other construction activity on the parcel of real property; and (2) the department does not complete the review within 120 days after the review was requested; the person may elect whether the local floodplain administrator, in reviewing the person's permit application, will use the department's "best floodplain mapping data" or an engineering study provided by the person. Provides that, in the disclosure form that is adopted by the Indiana real estate commission and that must be submitted to a prospective buyer of real estate before the prospective buyer's offer is accepted, the owner of real estate must disclose the fact that all or a portion of the owner's real estate is located within a community's floodplain boundaries, as indicated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map, if the owner has personal knowledge of that fact.