Rep. Steve Bartels

Requires that the Indiana department of labor consult with the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to create and distribute a veterans' benefits and services poster. Provides that the veterans' benefits and services poster must contain certain information. Requires that Indiana employers with more than 50 full-time employees (or their equivalent) display the veterans' benefits and services poster in a conspicuous place.

Provides that a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor: (1) that applies to the entire state may not continue for more than 60 days unless a renewal is authorized by the general assembly; and (2) that only applies to part of the state may not continue for more than 30 days unless renewed by the governor. Provides that the renewal of a statewide disaster emergency authorized by the general assembly may continue for not more than 60 days. Specifies that if a state of disaster emergency that applies to the entire state has ended, the governor may not call a new state of disaster emergency that applies to the entire state unless the new disaster is wholly unrelated to the earlier disaster. Defines "wholly unrelated".

Removes references to "enhanced 911 service". Increases the penalty for false informing if the false report is that a person is dangerous and certain other circumstances exist. Changes references from the "enhanced prepaid wireless charge" to the "911 service prepaid wireless charge". Provides that information relating to security measures or precautions used to secure the statewide 911 system may be excepted from public disclosure at the discretion of the statewide 911 board. Makes changes to or repeals certain definitions relating to the state 911 system. Provides that all originating service providers that provide 911 service for their customers: (1) shall connect to the state 911 system using an industry standard or functional equivalent; and (2) must establish and maintain the connection in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements requiring service continuity and ensure access to public safety assistance.Provides that an emergency communications center included in the definition of PSAP may not be construed to create an additional PSAP. Makes a technical correction. Makes conforming amendments.

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.

Provides that the department of homeland security (department) shall not inspect, and operating permits are not required for, certain regulated amusement devices. Provides that the department may perform an inspection of an exempted regulated amusement device only if a valid complaint or incident is reported to the department concerning the regulated amusement device.

Provides that an individual less than 18 years of age is not required to wear a helmet while operating or riding on an off-road vehicle if certain requirements are met. Provides that a person may not knowingly authorize or permit an individual less than 18 years of age to operate or ride on an off-road vehicle in violation of the statute providing helmet requirements for off-road vehicle operators.

Provides that the crime of trafficking with an inmate includes the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to deliver contraband, and that the crime of public safety remote aerial interference includes operation of a drone to intentionally obstruct or interfere with the duties of a correctional officer, including a county jail officer.