Rep. Jake Teshka

Provides that the department of child services may not require an individual to undergo an immunization as a condition of issuing the individual a foster family home license, or renewing the individual's foster family home license, if the individual provides: (1) written notice that the individual objects to the immunization on religious grounds; or (2) written certification from a physician that the immunization is or may be detrimental to the individual's health.

Excludes craft hemp flower from the definition of "hemp product". Removes references to smokable hemp. Removes an exemption to a person who knowingly or intentionally grows or handles smokable hemp without a license from the penalty of growing or handling hemp without a license. Repeals a law that requires that a hemp bud or a hemp flower be sold only to a processor licensed in Indiana. Provides that a food is not considered adulterated for containing low THC hemp extract or craft hemp flower. Creates contaminant testing and packaging requirements for the distribution and sale of craft hemp flower. Establishes penalties for selling or distributing craft hemp flower in violation of the requirements. Makes it a Class C infraction if a person knowingly: (1) sells or distributes craft hemp flower to a person less than 21 years of age; and (2) purchases craft hemp flower for delivery to another person who is less than 21 years of age. Provides that a retail establishment that sells or distributes craft hemp flower to a person less than 21 years of age commits a Class C infraction. Makes it a Class C infraction if a person less than 21 years of age: (1) purchases craft hemp flower; (2) accepts craft hemp flower for personal use; or (3) possesses craft hemp flower on his or her person. Provides that a person who, while a motor vehicle is in operation or located on the right-of-way of a public highway, possesses a container that contains craft hemp flower, and: (1) the container does not have tamper evident packaging; or (2) the tamper evident packaging has a broken seal; commits a Class C infraction. Provides that a violation is not considered a moving violation. Defines "craft hemp flower". Provides that craft hemp flower is not included in the definition of "controlled substance analog", "hashish", "low THC hemp extract", or "marijuana". Repeals the definition of "smokable hemp" and criminal penalties concerning smokable hemp. Makes conforming changes. Makes technical corrections.

After marijuana is removed as a federal schedule I controlled substance, permits the use of cannabis by: (1) a person at least 21 years of age; and (2) a person with a serious medical condition as determined by the person's physician. Establishes the adult use cannabis excise tax, and requires a retailer to transfer the tax to the department of state revenue for deposit in the state general fund. Exempts veterans from payment of the sales tax on medical or adult use cannabis. Establishes a cannabis program to permit the cultivation, processing, testing, transportation, and sale of cannabis by holders of a valid permit. Establishes the Indiana cannabis commission (ICC) as a state agency to oversee, implement, and enforce the program, and establishes the ICC advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the program. Requires that permit holders take steps to prevent diversion of cannabis to unauthorized persons. Requires that cannabis and cannabis products be properly labeled, placed in child resistant packaging, and tested by an independent testing laboratory before being made available for purchase. Prohibits packaging cannabis in a manner that is appealing to children. Authorizes research on cannabis in accordance with rules set forth by the ICC. Establishes a procedure for the expungement of a cannabis related conviction if the act constituting the conviction becomes legal. Makes conforming amendments.

Removes a requirement that a school corporation record or include certain immunization information in the official high school transcript for a high school student. Specifies that only the general assembly (rather than the Indiana department of health) may expand or modify the list of communicable diseases that require documentation of immunity for a student.

Requires a township or county assessor to document any changes made to the parcel characteristics of real property from the previous year's assessment in an assessment of the real property. Provides that in an appeal of the assessment, the township or county assessor has the burden of proving the validity of any change to the parcel characteristics. Allows a taxpayer to submit a preferred appraisal approach for assessment of certain rental property. Provides that, on appeal, if a township or county assessor has failed to use the preferred appraisal approach, the taxpayer shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other reasonable expenses.

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.

Provides that redistricting election districts for local and school board offices must occur at certain times. Removes a provision that limited the number of school board members that may reside in the same school board district for the Indianapolis public school board. Changes the entity that establishes the Indianapolis public school districts within the school city from the Indiana state board of education to the board of school commissioners. Removes the discretionary ability of political subdivisions to redistrict election districts at times other than those required by statute. Allows for additional time for redistricting after the 2020 decennial census. Consolidates certain local redistricting statutes in the same location. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census. Repeals obsolete statutes and makes other conforming changes.

Provides that not later than October 1, 2022, the department of administration (department), on behalf of the office of technology (office), shall issue a request for information for purposes of exploring how blockchain technology could be used by a state agency to: (1) achieve greater cost efficiency and cost effectiveness; and (2) improve consumer convenience, experience, data security, and data privacy. Requires the office to compile a report concerning the request for information and submit the report to the legislative council in an electronic format not later than March 31, 2023. Defines "blockchain technology" and "distributed ledger technology". Requires an agency to submit an emergency rule to the attorney general for review and approval before the emergency rule may take effect. Provides that emergency rules may not be effective for a period that exceeds 180 days. Provides that certain emergency rules expire not more than two years after the rule takes effect. Requires an agency adopting an administrative rule to submit an economic impact statement and an explanation of any penalty, fine, or other similar negative impact included in the proposed rule to the publisher of the Indiana Administrative Code (publisher). Requires the publisher to provide a copy of the materials concerning a proposed rule or pending readoption to the members of the appropriate standing committee, the governor, and the office of management and budget. Provides that administrative rules expire on July 1 of the fourth year after the year in which the rule takes effect (instead of January 1 of the seventh year after the year in which the rule takes effect). Requires an agency intending to readopt an administrative rule to provide to the publisher, not later than January 1 of the third year after the year in which the rule most recently took effect: (1) notice of; and (2) information concerning; the pending readoption. Requires that all broadband infrastructure projects that are funded in whole or in part by a grant or loan from the regional economic acceleration and development initiative (READI) fund must satisfy the criteria and requirements as described in the rural broadband program. Makes corresponding changes.

Makes changes to the requirements necessary to obtain an initial practitioner license for an individual who completes an alternative teacher certification program and changes regarding teaching special education under the license. Provides that, for school years beginning after June 30, 2022, a school corporation may provide a supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan. (Current law allows a school corporation to provide supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan if certain circumstances apply.)

Provides that, for purposes of determining the funding floor for teachers of a school corporation, the amount a school corporation expends for full-time teacher salaries shall include the amount the school corporation expends for participating in a special education cooperative or a career and technical education cooperative that is directly attributable to the salaries of full-time teachers employed by the cooperative, as determined by the department of education (department). Requires the department to annually report to the legislative council and the state budget committee on certain matters regarding full-time teacher salaries and benefits and the issuance of waivers of the requirement that a school corporation expend a specified percentage of tuition support for full-time teacher salaries. Authorizes the treasurer of state (treasurer) to deduct up to 10% of funds made available for the Indiana education scholarship account program (program) to cover costs of administering the program in the first year and up to 5% of funds made available in each year thereafter. Establishes the Indiana education scholarship account administration fund (fund) to support the administration of the program. Requires any amounts deducted by the treasurer for administration costs to be deposited in the fund. Removes a requirement for certain participating entities in the program to post a surety bond. Makes technical corrections.