Rep. Steve Bartels

Provides that a military service applicant who has held an occupational license, certification, registration, or permit (license) in another jurisdiction for at least one year may qualify for an Indiana license. Removes the requirement that an applicant have a license for at least two of the five years preceding the date of the application. Provides that an applicant may not have a complaint or investigation pending before an occupational licensing board that relates to unprofessional conduct or an alleged crime. Provides that a military member's dependent may apply for an occupational license under the same conditions as a military member's spouse. Requires the board to issue a license to an applicant upon application based on work experience in another state if certain conditions are met. Allows an applicant to appeal a final determination of the board. Makes a technical correction.

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. 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. Makes conforming amendments.

Requires the Indiana department of veterans' affairs (department) to provide information regarding services available to veterans, state agencies that provide services to veterans, and additional public and private entities that offer services to veterans to state, county, and city agencies that interact with the public. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services, the department of education, the commission for higher education, the department of workforce development, and the Indiana professional licensing agency to include the following questions in an application for a service, a benefit, assistance, or a professional credential: (1) "Have you served in the armed forces of the United States or their reserves, in the National Guard, or in the Indiana National Guard?". (2) "Are you the surviving spouse of someone who served in the armed forces of the United States or their reserves, in the National Guard, or in the Indiana National Guard?". Provides that the applications must state that the applicant is not required to answer the questions. Requires the agencies to keep the information submitted regarding veteran status in a data base and to report to the department not later than December 31 of each year. Allows the department to use the information to develop outreach programs for veterans and their families.

Establishes the prescription drug donation repository program (program). Allows a person to donate prescription drugs and supplies to a central repository or local repository for use by an individual who is an eligible recipient or qualified individual. Provides that controlled substances are not allowed in the program. Allows a health care facility or pharmacy to elect to participate as a local repository in the program. Establishes criteria for the acceptance and distribution of donated prescription drugs and supplies. Allows an entity that participates in a drug donation program in another state to participate in the program in Indiana. Establishes immunity for certain persons who act reasonably and in good faith under the program.

Requires the division of family resources of the office of the secretary of family and social services (division) to ensure that, to the extent not inconsistent with federal law, the method used by the division to determine the local market rate for purposes of establishing the division's reimbursement schedule for voucher payments to child care providers under the federal Child Care and Development Fund program does not result in a variation in reimbursement rates among geographic areas that does not reasonably reflect the variation in cost of living among the geographic areas.

Provides that a recreational vehicle campground that is not connected to a public sewer system may include one or more holding tanks in which wastewater from recreational vehicles is stored before processing. Limits the capacity of a holding tank to not more than 10,000 gallons.

Requires the state to make payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOTs) for qualified parcels in counties in which at least 19% of all land in the county is: (1) in the aggregate, owned or leased by the state of Indiana or the federal government; and (2) subject to an exemption from property taxes. Defines "qualified parcel" as a parcel that is: (1) owned or leased by the state of Indiana; (2) subject to an exemption from property taxes; and (3) located in a county to which this act applies. Provides that a county containing qualified parcels is entitled to receive PILOTs from the state. Provides that for purposes of calculating a PILOT, each acre of the qualified parcel is considered to have an assessed value of 1/2 of the statewide agricultural land base rate value. Provides that money received from the PILOTs must be used by the taxing units for capital expenditures related to public safety. Annually appropriates from the state general fund the amount necessary to pay the required PILOTs.

Provides that certain eligible applicants for higher education cost exemptions are entitled to a 100% reduction in educational costs.

Requires (rather than allows) the department of natural resources to issue residents of Indiana a lifetime license to fish. Requires (rather than allows) the natural resources commission to adopt rules to establish fees for lifetime licenses to hunt, trap, or fish. Provides that the commission may adopt emergency rules.

Provides that a person who enters a marked off area after having been denied entry by a firefighter commits interfering with public safety. (Under current law, the offense is committed only if the person is denied entry by an emergency medical services provider or a law enforcement officer.) Increases the penalty for obstruction of traffic under certain circumstances.