Rep. Dollyne Sherman

Authorizes the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) commissioner to declare an emergency when a part of the state highway system has been damaged to the extent it is unusable by the traveling public or unsafe to use. (Under current law, the governor must declare such an emergency. Current law permits INDOT to award a contract for repairs by soliciting bids from at least three prequalified persons without use of the formal bidding process.) Repeals a provision that permits a contract to be awarded under such circumstances only if three bids are received and the lowest bid does not exceed the engineer's estimate to repair by more than 10%.

Amends the law allowing the adjustment of a water or wastewater utility's rates and charges to enable the utility to recover the cost of eligible infrastructure improvements, by providing that the general maximum limit on the revenues used in determining the adjustment does not apply to infrastructure improvement costs associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a highway, street, or road. Amends the law that allows a public water utility to treat the costs of replacing customer-owned lead service lines as eligible infrastructure improvements for which a utility's rates and charges may be adjusted, by providing that the law applies to municipally owned utilities as well as public utilities. Establishes a procedure under which a public utility, municipally owned utility, or not-for-profit utility that provides water or wastewater service to the public and is under the jurisdiction of the commission for the approval of rates and charges may seek to recover, through a periodic rate adjustment, the cost of certain utility plant or equipment expenditures that are related to compliance with environmental requirements or made for health, safety, or environmental protection purposes.

Amends the access to public records act to provide that personal information regarding a correctional officer, probation officer, community corrections officer, law enforcement officer, judge, crime victim, or their family members may be withheld from disclosure when requested by a person confined in a prison, county jail, detention facility, or in a community corrections program as a result of the person's arrest or conviction for a crime, or that person's agent or relative. (Currently the law permits withholding personal information of officers, judges, victims, or their family members, if the information is requested by a person incarcerated in a penal institution after conviction for a crime.) Provides that the term "agent" does not include an attorney in good standing admitted to the practice of law in Indiana.

Provides that a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan (EG&C plan) who dies after January 31, 2018, is not required to have a minimum number of years of creditable service in the EG&C plan at the time of the participant's death in order for the participant's nominated survivor to be entitled to receive survivors' benefits. Provides that if a participant in the EG&C plan dies in the line of duty after January 31, 2018, the participant's nominated survivor is entitled to an annual survivors' allowance for life equal to 100% of the amount to which the participant would have been entitled had the participant retired with 25 years of service at 50 years of age. Provides that in the EG&C plan if: (1) an active participant regardless of the participant's years of creditable service and (2) an inactive participant with at least 15 years of creditable service dies other than in the line of duty after January 31, 2018, the participant's nominated survivor is entitled to an annual survivors' allowance for life equal to 50% of the amount to which the participant would have been entitled had the participant retired with 25 years of service at 50 years of age. Makes technical corrections. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension management oversight.)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Lisa H. Kobe upon her retirement.

Congratulating Richard A. Arkanoff, the second.

Urging the pursuit of policy that increases organ donor supply.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing dyslexia in Hoosier youth.

Honoring the National Association of Women Business Owners of Indianapolis.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the creation of a Medal of Honor Memorial Highway in Indiana.