Establishes a procedure: (1) to allow a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a school to submit a complaint that a book in the school library is inappropriate; and (2) for the school to respond to the complaint. Establishes an appeal procedure. Provides that a school library may not make a book available that contains obscene matter or matters harmful to children. Removes schools from the list of entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors. Adds colleges and universities to the list of entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors.
Rep. Jake Teshka
Sponsored bills
Provides that if an NPDES permit holder has submitted an approved long term control plan for its combined sewers, water samples used to assess the permit holder's compliance with water quality standards and water quality based effluent limitations for discharges from combined sewer overflows must not be collected: (1) within 96 hours after a combined sewer overflow discharge that is consistent with the approved long term control plan; or (2) during or following excessive precipitation conditions. Requires the environmental rules board to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement the limitation on water samples used to assess a permit holder's compliance.
Establishes a "regulatory sandbox" program (program). Creates the regulatory relief office within the Indiana economic development corporation. Creates, and establishes duties for, an advisory committee within the program. Directs that the secretary of commerce, who serves as executive director of the regulatory relief office, prepare an annual report on the activities of the office. Provides for program application requirements and describes the scope of the program. Makes consumer protection provisions. Describes requirements for exiting the program and for extensions to remain in the program. Makes record keeping and reporting requirements. Provides requirements for the creation and maintenance of a regulatory relief office web page.
Establishes a "right to start act". Requires the department of administration, the department of workforce development, and the Indiana economic development corporation to annually file reports with the general assembly. Requires the state to encourage 5% of the total number of state contracts to be awarded to businesses that have been in operation for fewer than five years and whose principal place of business is in Indiana. Requires the state to encourage 5% of workforce development funding, including funding allocated by workforce development boards across Indiana, to be used to support organizations or programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide services to businesses established within the previous five years and whose principal place is located within Indiana. Requires the state to encourage 5% of funding budgeted for economic development programs to be allocated to supporting organizations or programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide services to businesses established within the previous five years and whose principal place of business is located within Indiana. Requires the state to encourage the elimination of all first year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home based businesses, whose principal place of business is located within Indiana.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the late Governor Joe Kernan and urging the Indiana Department of Administration to place a memorial bust of Governor Kernan within the State Capitol.
Establishes the digital literacy pilot program (pilot program) and fund. Provides that the department of education (department) shall administer the pilot program. Provides that the department may approve: (1) one or more program providers to participate in the pilot program; and (2) a school corporation or charter school to participate in the program; if the school corporation, charter school, and program provider meet certain requirements. Appropriates $500,000 to the digital literacy pilot program fund for each of the following: (1) 2024 state fiscal year. (2) 2025 state fiscal year. (3) 2026 state fiscal year.
Provides that for school board offices, each candidate's affiliation with a political party or status as an independent candidate must be stated on a petition of nomination and on the ballot. Specifies: (1) requirements that apply to a candidate who claims affiliation with a major political party; and (2) a process to challenge a candidate's statement that the candidate is affiliated with a major political party. Makes conforming changes.
Provides that when a person who receives Medicaid has a child born after December 31, 2023, the treasurer of state (treasurer) shall open a college choice 529 education savings plan (529 plan) in the child's name and make a deposit of $250 into the account. Provides that if the student completes one or more age appropriate career exploration activities as determined by the state board of education, and if the child's parent makes certain contributions to the 529 plan, the treasurer shall continue to make intermittent deposits into the 529 plan throughout the child's kindergarten through grade 12 education. Provides that contributions made by a parent to a 529 plan are eligible for a credit against a taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Provides that a parent making a contribution to a 529 plan shall report the contribution to the treasurer. Provides that if a parent contributes volunteer hours to the child's school in lieu of making a contribution to a 529 plan, the child's school shall report the contribution of volunteer hours to the treasurer. Provides that a person in attendance at a live birth shall report to the local health officer whether or not the mother is receiving Medicaid and advise the mother that a 529 plan is being established. Provides that the treasurer shall provide all relevant information to a parent receiving Medicaid regarding the 529 plan contribution program available to a parent receiving Medicaid.
Requires the department of education, in collaboration with the state police department, to identify a set of best practices and develop a set of educational materials concerning the safe possession and storage of a firearm in a home with a child. Provides that the department of education shall provide the best practices and educational materials to certain schools for annual distribution to parents of students.
Provides that state educational institutions may not adopt regulations that prohibit students, faculty, employees, and others on the educational institution's property from carrying pepper spray.