Rep. Tim O'Brien

Allows the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to issue a waiver of human services statutory provisions and administrative rules if the secretary determines that the waiver is necessary to claim certain enhanced federal matching funds available to the Medicaid program. Allows the secretary to issue an emergency declaration for purposes of participating in specified authorized federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments. Requires the secretary to prepare and submit any waivers or emergency declarations to the budget committee. Allows the state health commissioner of the state department of health or the commissioner's designated public health authority to issue standing orders, prescriptions, or protocols to administer or dispense certain immunizations for individuals who are at least five years old (current law limits the age for the commissioner's issuance of standing orders, prescriptions, and protocols for individuals who are at least 11 years old). Defines "Indiana governmental entity" and specifies that an Indiana governmental entity (current law refers to a state or local unit) may not issue or require an immunization passport. Provides that an individual is not disqualified from unemployment benefits if the individual has complied with the requirements for seeking an exemption from an employer's COVID-19 immunization requirements and was discharged from employment for failing or refusing to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Provides that an employer may not impose a requirement that employees receive an immunization against COVID-19 unless the employer provides individual exemptions that allow an employee to opt out of the requirement on the basis of medical reasons, religious reasons, or immunity from COVID-19 acquired from a prior infection with COVID-19.

Provides that a school corporation must distribute a portion of revenue received from a school operating referendum tax levy or school safety referendum levy to each charter school in which students who receive not more than 50% virtual instruction and who have legal settlement in the school corporation attend. Provides that if a charter school receives a distribution from a school corporation from a school corporation tax levy or a school safety referendum tax levy, the charter school must post the certain information on the charter school's Internet web site. Provides that a charter school that may receive money from a school corporation's tax levy or a school safety referendum tax levy may not promote a position on a referendum in the same manner as a school corporation is prohibited from promoting a position on a referendum. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation in which 10% or more of the school corporation's school buildings are occupied in whole or part by: (1) one or more innovation network schools; or (2) one or more participating innovation network charter schools; may sell a closed, unused, or unoccupied school building without first offering the school building to a charter school or state educational institution. Makes conforming amendments.

Permits political subdivisions, acting jointly, to pool resources to purchase insurance coverage.

Provides that a license agent authorized to sell licenses under the fish and wildlife laws is not prohibited from charging a credit card processing fee of 1.99% to cover credit card processing costs associated with the sale of a license.

Provides that the executives of one or more counties may adopt ordinances designating their counties as members of a proposed watershed development commission and that the proposed watershed development commission is established as a legal entity with the counties as its members if it is recognized by the natural resources commission. Requires the natural resources commission, in deciding whether to recognize a proposed watershed development commission, to answer certain questions. Provides that a nonmember county may become a member of an established watershed development commission if its membership is accepted by the member counties and recognized by the natural resources commission. Requires the department of natural resources (department), with the approval of the natural resources commission, to certify the area of a member county that is within a watershed development commission's designated watershed. Sets forth certain flood control and drainage purposes for which a watershed development commission may be established. Requires a watershed development commission to develop a flood control and drainage plan for its designated watershed and grants a watershed development commission exclusive authority to perform drainage and flood control activities within the channel of the river that is the surface water outlet of the commission's designated watershed. Provides for a watershed development commission to be governed by a board that includes the director of the department (or the director's designee) and one representative of each member county. Establishes an advisory committee for each watershed development commission to provide counsel to the board. Provides for the funding of a watershed development commission through an annual special assessment against each taxable parcel of real property that is located: (1) in a member county; and (2) within the designated watershed of the watershed development commission. Authorizes a member county to adopt any of three alternative methods of funding the watershed development commission. Authorizes a watershed development commission to give preference to an Indiana business over an out-of-state business in contracting for public works. Allows the Maumee River basin commission, the St. Joseph River basin commission, or the Upper Wabash River basin commission to be transformed into a watershed development commission if the county executives of all participating counties, by vote of at least two of the three members of the county executive, approve the proposed transformation.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION terminating the public health emergency first declared on March 6, 2020, in Executive Order 20-02.

Provides that the Indiana archives and records administration shall establish standards for the design and redesign of all forms used by state government.

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

Provides an adjusted gross income tax deduction for Indiana residents who obtain: (1) a bachelor or an associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution; or (2) a certificate from a high value workforce certificate program, as determined by the commission for higher education (commission); in taxable years immediately following the taxable year in which the individual obtained the degree or certificate. Provides that a qualified individual is entitled to the tax deduction in each of the first two or four taxable years, depending on the type of degree or certificate obtained, that begin immediately following the taxable year in which the qualified individual completed the applicable educational program. Provides that the tax deduction for a particular qualified year is equal to the lesser of: (1) the amount of the individual's Indiana adjusted gross income; or (2) $50,000. Requires the commission to, in part, determine and certify an individual's eligibility for the tax deduction.

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.