Defines "antisemitism", specifies that the public policy of the state is to provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination, and provides that antisemitism is discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, or national origin.
Prohibits a retail establishment from holding more than one active tobacco sales certificate (certificate) for a retail location at any time. Prohibits the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) from issuing a certificate to certain persons. Provides that, if a majority interest in a business that holds a certificate is sold or transferred: (1) the new ownership must apply for a new certificate; and (2) the certificate and permit number held by the previous ownership are void 90 days after the sale or transfer of the ownership of the business. Specifies that an employee of a certificate holder (employee) must hold a valid: (1) driver's license issued by the state of Indiana or another state; or (2) identification card issued by the state of Indiana, another state, or the United States; to sell tobacco products. Requires an employee to have the driver's license, identification card, or a copy of these documents readily available to show an excise officer or law enforcement when selling tobacco products. Allows an employee who is unable to show these documents to provide certain evidence within five days. Permits the commission to impose a civil penalty on the certificate holder if an employee fails to timely produce this evidence. Provides that a person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally sells a tobacco product without a valid certificate commits a Class C infraction. Makes it a Class C misdemeanor for a person to operate a tobacco and vaping business within 1,000 feet of school property. Specifies exceptions.
Allows a political subdivision to publish notice in the print or electronic edition of a newspaper or locality newspaper that issues a print edition not more than three times a week. Allows, if a newspaper or locality newspaper issues a print edition not more than two times a week, a political subdivision to publish notice: (1) in the print edition or on the newspaper or locality newspaper's website; or (2) if the newspaper or locality newspaper does not have a website, in the print edition or the political subdivision's official website. Allows a notice regarding the sale of certain tracts of real property by a political subdivision to be published solely on the official website of the political subdivision. Provides that if the assessed value of a tract is less than $10,000, based on the most recent assessment of the tract or of the tract of which it was a part before it was acquired, the disposing agent or redevelopment commission is not required to have the tract appraised.
Defines "election worker" and makes it a Level 6 felony under certain circumstances to: (1) threaten an election worker; or (2) to obstruct, interfere with, or injure an election worker.
Defines, for purposes of the unsafe building law, a "building or structure". Increases from $10,000 to $25,000 the estimated cost of work required by an order of a unit's enforcement authority which the unit's enforcement authority may perform using its own workers and equipment. Provides, with certain exceptions, that a governmental body may not regulate or restrict, by regulation or otherwise, the continued residential use of a mobile home, a manufactured home, or an industrialized residential within a mobile home community based on certain characteristics of the structure. Provides that a mobile home, manufactured home, or industrialized residential structure on private property constituting a legal, nonconforming use, may not be replaced with a mobile home, manufactured home, or industrialized residential structure that is older or smaller than the legal, nonconforming structure being replaced. Makes certain changes to local planning and zoning standards and requirements relating to manufactured homes.
Makes changes to the permissible uses for the state disaster relief fund (fund). Makes changes to the requirements for an eligible entity to receive financial assistance from the fund. Makes changes to the calculations used to determine the amount of financial assistance an eligible entity may receive from the fund. Increases, from $10,000 to $25,000, the amount of loss that may be compensated for damages to an individual's property. Repeals provisions that: (1) provide a definition of "public facility"; (2) provide limitations for an entity suffering multiple disaster emergencies; and (3) provide requirements for an application of an eligible entity that is an individual to obtain financial assistance from the fund.
Makes the office of administrative law proceedings the ultimate authority in any administrative proceeding under its jurisdiction. Provides certain exceptions. Provides that the bill applies to certain proceedings filed after June 30, 2024. Specifies when a state agency may be required to pay reasonable attorney's fees for judicial review proceedings. Outlines procedures for the ultimate authority regarding nonfinal orders and procedures to file objections to final orders. Permits a final order to be corrected by means of a motion to correct error. Provides that the court shall decide all questions of law, including any interpretation of a federal or state constitutional provision, state statute, or agency rule, without deference to any previous interpretation made by the state agency. Provides that a court is not bound by a finding of fact made by the ultimate authority if the finding of fact is not supported by the record. Requires the state agency to transmit the agency record to the court for judicial review. Eliminates the office of environmental adjudication and transfers proceedings to the office of administrative law proceedings. Creates requirements for administrative law judges that are assigned to certain environmental matters. Provides that until the office of administrative law proceedings adopts or amends rules related to environmental matters, it must continue to follow and implement rules under 315 IAC. Requires the office of administrative law proceedings to continue to index and make publicly available, in a substantially similar online searchable format, the final orders of contested appeals currently maintained by the office. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the definition of "eligible student" to include a sibling of a student with a disability with regards to the education scholarship account program (ESA). Provides that the sibling may not use the ESA account for certain ESA qualified expenses. Provides that an annual grant amount awarded under the career scholarship account (CSA) program may be used for costs related to obtaining a driver's license if certain conditions are met. Establishes conditions regarding the amount of funds that may be used from CSA annual grant amounts for transportation costs. Amends certain requirements regarding ESA and CSA participating entities regarding providing evidence of unencumbered assets. Changes certain CSA application time frames from seven days to 30 days. Requires each state educational institution to provide to the commission for higher education (commission) certain information regarding degrees, degree completion, faculty members, administrative support staff, costs, compensation, and debt loads. Requires the commission to prepare longitudinal analysis regarding certain data. Requires each private postsecondary educational institution and each out-of-state public and nonprofit degree granting institution that offers instructional or educational services or training in Indiana to provide to the department of education information to carry out certain reporting requirements and requirements related to the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard. Allows for the revocation of an out-of-state public or nonprofit degree granting institution's authorization if the institution fails to provide the information. Adds teaching to the employment sectors eligible for the next level jobs employer training grant program. Amends requirements regarding: (1) eligibility for career coaching grants; and (2) instruction on career awareness.
Provides that a state employee may affirmatively elect to enroll in the deferred compensation plan prior to the auto enroll date on day 31 of the state employee's employment. Removes a provision that sets a maximum employer surcharge for the legislators' defined benefit plan, state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan, public employees' retirement fund, and Indiana state teachers' retirement fund (fund). Requires the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system (board) to develop the technological and administrative capabilities sufficient to categorize fund members into separate groups in which: (1) certain members receive a service based thirteenth check; and (2) certain members receive a cost of living adjustment. Requires the board to set the surcharge rates at a level to actuarially prefund: (1) annual indexed thirteenth checks for all current retired members and beneficiaries retired before July 1, 2025; and (2) 1% annual cost of living adjustments to future in-payment members and beneficiaries retired on or after July 1, 2025. Provides that the board shall not reduce the surcharge rates from the prior year. Allows the board to increase the surcharge rates by not more than 0.1% of payroll from the prior year. Requires certain political subdivisions to present to the interim study committee on pension management oversight regarding a delinquent employee retirement plan offered by the political subdivision. Requires, effective July 1, 2025, the trustee of the state police pension trust to maintain two supplemental allowance reserve accounts for the purpose of paying postretirement benefit adjustments. Increases the maximum date that a member or participant of certain retirement funds can participate in the deferred retirement option plan from 36 to 60 months. Requires the member or participant to notify their employer if the member or participant elects to enter or extend the deferred retirement option plan. Provides for a thirteenth check in 2024 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.
Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish a training program to certify a competency evaluator to assist a court in determining competency. Provides that certain licensed individuals may examine a defendant and testify as to whether the defendant can understand the criminal proceedings and assist in the preparation of the defendant's defense. Allows a court to dismiss criminal charges, without prejudice if the defendant has a certain diagnosis and the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor or Level 6 felony. Makes conforming changes.
