Rep. Karlee Macer

Requires the executive director of the Indiana criminal justice institute to work with local coordinating councils and other stakeholders when implementing certain recommendations concerning substance use and substance use disorder. Includes public safety programs in the statutory definition of "criminal justice services and activities". Specifies that local coordinating councils responsible for the combating of drug and substance use are: (1) collaborative; and (2) open to the public. Permits county drug free community funds to supplement local government spending on: (1) drug use recovery programs; (2) drug use intervention programs; and (3) drug use prevention programs. Defines certain terms.

Requires the director of veterans' affairs to be a resident of Indiana for at least two cumulative years prior to being appointed. Requires certain veterans' affairs service officers (officers) to be a resident of Indiana or to become a resident of Indiana not more than six months after the officer's start date and to: (1) be an honorably discharged veteran with at least six months of active service in the armed forces of the United States; or (2) be a service officer assistant (assistant) with at least two years of experience. Requires an assistant to be a resident of Indiana or become a resident of Indiana not later than six months after the assistant's start date and to: (1) satisfy certain officer eligibility requirements; or (2) be the spouse, surviving spouse, parent, or child of an officer that satisfies certain eligibility requirements. Allows county recorders to keep an electronic record of discharges. Requires the department of veterans' affairs (department) to develop a process concerning the release of discharge records by county recorders. Provides the department with rulemaking authority, including emergency rulemaking authority, for the purpose of developing and implementing a discharge record process. Revises certain program eligibility provisions to reference participants more precisely. Repeals statutes related to unused programs. Makes technical changes.

Designates an Indiana first responder to include the following employees and volunteers of state and local public safety agencies: (1) Law enforcement officers. (2) Firefighters, including volunteer firefighters. (3) Corrections officers. (4) Public safety telecommunicators. (5) Providers of emergency medical services. (6) Providers of emergency management services. (7) Any other individuals whose duties in serving a public safety agency include rapid emergency response. Provides that the designation of an individual as an Indiana first responder does not affect an individual's terms of employment or volunteer service with the public safety agency. Provides that a certified emergency medical technician or a licensed paramedic is not liable for transporting any person to an appropriate health care facility when the emergency medical technician or the licensed paramedic makes a good faith judgment that the emergency patient or the emergency patient's primary caregiver lacks the capacity to make an informed decision about the patient's: (1) safety; or (2) need for medical attention; and the emergency patient is reasonably likely to suffer disability or death without the medical intervention available at the facility.

Renames the offense of "interfering with law enforcement" to "interfering with public safety", and provides that a person who enters a marked off area after having been denied entry by an emergency medical services provider commits interfering with public safety. (Under current law, the offense is only committed if the person is denied entry by a law enforcement officer.)

Provides that a political subdivision served by a volunteer fire department may make contributions to the public employees' defined contribution plan for the members of the volunteer fire department in an amount determined by the governing body of the political subdivision. Provides that a unit's obligation to provide insurance coverage for a volunteer firefighter or member of an emergency medical services personnel supersedes the obligation of another medical insurance carrier. Increases the maximum age for police officers to begin membership in the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund from 35 to 39 years of age.

Extends eligibility for National Guard license plates to former members of the National Guard.

Implements the emergency medical services personnel licensure interstate compact.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing dyslexia in Hoosier youth.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing teachers and the work they do.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring volunteer firefighters.