Rep. Chris May

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.

Allows the town of Plainfield to be a part of central Indiana transportation projects without Hendricks County participating. Provides that if a resolution is adopted, the amount of the certified distribution attributable to the additional tax rate imposed must be: (1) received by the county auditor; (2) distributed to the town of Plainfield for deposit into a separate fund titled the town of Plainfield public transportation fund; and (3) used for certain purposes instead of as a property tax replacement distribution. Makes conforming changes.

Eliminates the $100,000 fee cap for purposes of the formula specifying the amount of the fee paid to the county treasurer by a property owner receiving a property tax abatement.

Eliminates local income tax councils beginning July 1, 2024, and instead provides that the county fiscal body is the adopting body in all counties for purposes of the LIT.

Repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana. Prohibits certain individuals from knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun. Creates the crime of "unlawful carrying of a handgun" and specifies the penalties for committing this crime. Allows particular individuals who do not meet the requirements to receive a handgun license and are not otherwise prohibited to carry a handgun in limited places. Allows a resident of Indiana to obtain in certain circumstances a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Makes theft of a firearm a Level 5 felony. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments and repeals obsolete provisions.

Repeals code provisions regarding commercial fishing on Lake Michigan. Removes the requirement that the director of the department of natural resources (department) send, to a person who has a license that is placed on probationary status, notice that includes a description of the amount of child support in arrears and an explanation of the procedures to pay child support arrearage. Repeals the mussels license issued by the department. Provides that a law enforcement officer or an employee of the department is not liable for the destruction of a permitted animal that escapes an enclosure and poses a threat to public safety. Provides instances when a construction permit for a floodway is not required to remove a logjam or mass of wood debris that has accumulated in a river or stream. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2022, the director of the department shall not exercise authority to remove or eliminate an abode or residence from a floodway if the abode or residence was constructed before January 1, 2022. (Current law provides that the director of the department shall not exercise the authority if the residence or abode was constructed before January 1, 2020.) Provides that before July 1, 2023, the department shall adopt a license for the removal of trees; channel maintenance; and bank reconstruction, repair, and stabilization in a floodway. Provides that a local floodplain administrator shall utilize the best floodplain mapping data available as provided by the department and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing a permit application for a structure or a construction activity in, or near, a floodplain. Provides that a contract to purchase timber must be in writing. Allows the collection of damages for costs associated with a claim or action, including attorney's fees, or damages specified in a contract with a timber buyer or a person who cuts timber but is not a timber buyer. Requires a timber buyer to keep complete and accurate records for at least five years after a transaction. Allows the director of the department to suspend a timber buyer's license for not more than 90 days before a final adjudication if the director of the department finds that the holder of the timber buyer's license poses a clear and immediate danger to public health, safety, or property if allowed to continue to operate. Provides that the director of the department may renew the suspension for periods of not more than 90 days. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Specifies that the amount of excess combined reserves that may be transferred to the pre-1996 account in 2022 may not exceed $2,500,000,000. Reduces the individual adjusted gross income tax rate from 3.23% in 2022 to 3.15% in 2023 and 2024. Phases down the individual adjusted gross income tax rate after 2024 depending on certain conditions being met. Allows a taxpayer to elect a special property tax valuation method for mini-mill equipment. (Current law allows the method to be used only for certain integrated steel mill and oil refinery/petrochemical equipment.) Repeals the utility receipts and utility services use taxes. Requires a utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the approval of rates and charges to file a rate adjustment with the IURC that adjusts the utility's rates and charges to reflect the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Requires a utility that is subject to the utility receipts tax and not under the jurisdiction of the IURC to adjust the utility's rates and charges to reflect the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Requires each utility to provide notice to the utility's customers that the adjustment in rates and charges reflects the repeal of the utility receipts tax. Specifies taxpayer procedure for the repeal of the utility receipts and utility services use tax. Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services may not enter into a final contract that would implement a risk based managed care program or capitated program for the specified Medicaid population before January 31, 2023. Makes conforming changes.

Amends and updates certain terms involving direct placement in a community corrections program. Updates the definition of "community corrections program". Specifies that a court may suspend any portion of a sentence and order a person to be placed in a community corrections program for the part of the sentence which must be executed. Provides that a person placed on a level of supervision as part of a community corrections program: (1) is entitled to earned good time credit; (2) may not earn educational credit; and (3) may be deprived of earned good time credit. Provides that when a person completes a placement program, the court may place the person on probation. Provides that a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony for an offense committed after June 30, 2022, to the department of correction (department), and that, consistent with current law, a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony for an offense committed before July 1, 2022, to the department only if certain circumstances exist. Establishes certain conditions of parole for a person on lifetime parole and makes the violation of parole conditions and commission of specified other acts by a person on lifetime parole a Level 6 felony, with an enhancement to a Level 5 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Provides that, for purposes of calculating accrued time and good time credit, a calendar day includes a partial calendar day. Makes conforming changes.

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.

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.