Rep. Chris Judy

Requires a merchant that: (1) offers for sale, lease, or rent; or (2) sells, leases, or rents; goods and services to the public for a profit in Indiana to accept cash as payment for such transactions. Provides that a merchant may offer to a customer who is owed change in a cash transaction the option to do either of the following, but may not require the customer to do either of the following: (1) Receive the change in the form of a gift card, gift certificate, or store credit. (2) Donate an amount: (A) equal to part or all of the amount of the change owed; or (B) exceeding the amount of the change owed; to a charity. Provides that the following apply to a merchant that chooses to make one or more of these options available to customers: (1) If a customer does not choose one of these options, the merchant must provide to the customer in cash an amount equal to at least the amount of change owed to the customer, regardless of whether the merchant is able to provide the customer the exact amount of change owed. (2) The merchant must provide certain specified forms of notice informing customers of the options available for receiving change in a cash transaction, including a customer's right to receive in cash at least the amount of change owed. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a sports or entertainment venue if cash is accepted in exchange for a debit card or other cash equivalent point of sale. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a transaction conducted by telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet. Provides that a person that violates any of these requirements: (1) commits a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general or by a consumer under the deceptive consumer sales act (act); and (2) is subject to the remedies and penalties under the act.

Establishes the Indiana cyber civilian corps program (program). Provides that the program includes civilian volunteers who have expertise in addressing cybersecurity incidents and may volunteer at the invitation of the office of technology (office) to provide rapid response assistance to a client in need of expert assistance during a recognition of a potential vulnerability that could lead to a cybersecurity incident. Requires the office to develop and administer the program. Provides that the work product of a cyber civilian corps volunteer or advisor, including any information voluntarily submitted to the volunteer or advisor, is exempt from disclosure. Provides that a cyber civilian corps volunteer or advisor is immune from tort liability for an injury to a person or damage to property that occurred while deployed and acting on behalf of the office if certain conditions are met.

Defines a "qualified school". Provides that a student shall not be required to participate in a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey that is established or administered by: (1) a school corporation; (2) a school; (3) the department of education (department); or (4) a third party vendor of a school corporation, a school, or the department; without the prior consent of the student if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor or the prior written consent of the student's parent if the student is an unemancipated minor. (Current law provides that a student shall not be required to participate in a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey that is not directly related to academic instruction and that reveals or attempts to affect the student's attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings concerning certain matters without the prior consent of the student if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor or the prior written consent of the student's parent if the student is an unemancipated minor.) Provides that a state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school, or an employee of the state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school acting in an official capacity, may not include or promote certain concepts as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or direct or otherwise compel a school employee or student to adhere to certain tenets relating to the individual's sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Defines an "operator". Establishes online privacy protection requirements to protect the disclosure of certain information of a student of a school corporation or qualified school by an operator. Provides that a student shall not be required to participate in a personal analysis, evaluation, or survey that reveals or attempts to affect the student's attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings without parental consent. Provides that before a school corporation or qualified school may provide or administer school psychology services to a student, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent to provide or administer school psychology services. Establishes procedures for a petitioner to file a complaint form alleging that certain violations occurred within a school corporation or applicable school. Provides that a petitioner may appeal a school corporation's or applicable school's findings to the department. Requires the department to appoint an administrative law judge to adjudicate appeals. Requires the department to issue a final order. Requires the attorney general or the attorney general's designee to review a school corporation's or applicable school's findings or the department's final order. Provides that the attorney general may assess civil penalties if the attorney general determines a violation occurred. Provides that a school corporation or applicable school may not take retaliatory action against a petitioner or an individual related to or associated with the petitioner.

Provides new eligibility requirements for applicants whose mother or father are actively serving on Title 10 or Title 32 orders and have either served during wartime or performed equally hazardous duty, or who have received a Purple Heart decoration or have been wounded. Provides for educational cost reductions of certain amounts for applicants who have qualified under the new requirements.

Exempts military pay earned by members of an active component of the armed forces of the United States from the individual income tax. Phases in the exemption over four years beginning in taxable year 2024. (Current law exempts from the individual income tax the military pay earned by members of the National Guard and reserve components of the armed forces of the United States while serving on active duty.)

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

Provides that art therapy services provided by a licensed art therapist to an individual who receives mental health services or to an individual who receives services from a community mental health center are reimbursable under Medicaid. Provides for the licensure of music therapists, art therapists, and art therapist associates. Adds music therapists and art therapists to the behavioral health and human services licensing board (board). Creates the music therapist and art therapist sections of the board. Requires music therapists to be licensed. Establishes requirements and procedures for an individual to be licensed as a music therapist, art therapist, and art therapist associate. Prohibits a person who is not licensed as a music therapist, art therapist, or an art therapist associate from using certain titles or certain words in a title. Makes technical and conforming changes.

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.

Removes specified emergency powers of the governor. Provides that an emergency order issued by: (1) the Indiana state department of health expires after 14 days unless renewal is authorized by the general assembly; and (2) a local health officer order expires after 14 days unless renewal is authorized by the local legislative body. Makes conforming amendments.

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