Sen. Linda Rogers

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

A SENATE RESOLUTION to honor Senator Eddie Melton upon his retirement from the Indiana Senate.

Provides that an individual who is an Indiana resident and cannot provide proof of identity and lawful status in the United States may apply for a driving privilege card to obtain driving privileges. Sets forth the requirements to obtain a driving privilege card. Provides that a driving privilege card may not be used as identification for any state or federal purpose (other than to confer driving privileges), for the purpose of voting, or to verify employment. Requires an individual who holds a driving privilege card and operates a motor vehicle to verify and continuously maintain financial responsibility on any motor vehicle operated by the individual who holds the driving privilege card in the amount required by law. Provides that the bureau of motor vehicles may not disclose certain information unless presented with a lawful court order or judicial warrant. Requires an applicant for a driving privilege card or driving privilege card renewal to sign up for selective service. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to submit an annual report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation. Makes conforming amendments. Makes technical corrections.

Provides, with respect to the individual with certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) required to be present at all times when a child is in the care of a child care provider that is eligible to receive reimbursement through the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program, that the individual is not required to be recertified in CPR annually. Amends references to funds provided to children under the On My Way Pre-K program or the CCDF program as grants to instead refer to the funds as child care vouchers. Provides that a child who resides with a parent or guardian who receives disability benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is eligible for the On My Way Pre-K program. Makes technical corrections.

Provides that the office of administrative legal proceedings (OALP) is the ultimate authority for agencies subject to the jurisdiction of the OALP. Provides that a court conducting a judicial review hearing shall review questions of law and fact de novo. Makes conforming amendments.

Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund; (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) career scholarship account donation fund; (5) connecting students with careers fund; (6) teacher higher education and industry collaboration grant program and fund; (7) career coaching grant fund; and (8) intermediary capacity building fund. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the commission for higher education (commission), shall designate and approve a course sequence, career course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study for grants under the CSA program. Provides for revocation of the approval if the sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study fails to achieve an adequate outcome, as determined by the department, in consultation with the commission. Establishes eligibility requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that the commission may approve participating entities that meet certain requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that grant amounts that career scholarship students receive are not included in adjusted gross income for tax purposes. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, certain school corporations shall include instruction for all students regarding career awareness. Provides that the state board of education (state board), in consultation with the commission, shall create certain standards for a career awareness course. Requires the department to collect and aggregate certain data. Requires the department to publish on the department's website a list of skill competencies identified by certain approved participating entities. Requires the state board, in consultation with the department, to establish new high school diploma requirements. Removes a provision that provides that a student who satisfies an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation through a certain alternative course shall not count toward a school's honor designation award. Requires the commission to create a list of approved intermediaries, employers, and labor organizations. Requires certain high school and college students to meet with an approved postsecondary educational institution, an intermediary, an employer, or a labor organization. Requires certain committed offenders to meet with an intermediary, employer, or labor organization. Provides that during each school year, a public high school must hold at least one career fair during regular school hours. Amends requirements for certification of qualified education programs by INvestED Indiana. Repeals certain provisions in law regarding a comprehensive navigation and coaching system and career coaching grant fund and requires the commission to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive career navigation and coaching system for Indiana; and (2) award grants from the career coaching grant fund to certain eligible entities to establish or implement comprehensive career navigation and coaching systems. Provides that the department shall approve career coaching providers for the purpose of eligibility for a career coaching grant. Provides that the commission shall receive, distribute, and account for all funds received for career and technical education under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act. Requires the department to establish and maintain an online platform that allows teachers to access and share information regarding connecting daily classroom lessons with innovations in workplace practices and postsecondary education research. Repeals provisions relating to the industry collaboration certification program. Repeals and replaces a definition of "participating entity" with "ESA participating entity".

Specifies the requirements and the real property improvements considered when determining whether property is a dwelling or a homestead for purposes of the standard property tax deduction law. Removes additional definitions of "homestead" from the statute. Specifies that for purposes of the circuit breaker law "nonresidential real property" refers to real property that is not: (1) a homestead; (2) residential property; (3) long term care property; or (4) agricultural land. Provides that, for assessment dates after December 31, 2023, "residential property" includes any other land, building, or residential yard structure, including a deck, patio, gazebo, or pool that is not attached to a dwelling that: (1) is not part of a homestead; and (2) is predominantly used for a residential purpose. Makes a conforming change.

Allows a fire protection district or fire protection territory to establish a merit system. Provides that unless a resolution or ordinance to establish a merit system is rejected not later than December 31, 2024, a merit system is established on January 1, 2025, for eligible: (1) city and town police and fire departments and township fire departments; and (2) fire protection districts and fire protection territories. Provides that the merit system may be dissolved after January 1, 2025. Requires a unit, district, or territory to vote to either retain or dissolve the merit system after January 1, 2029, and before January 31, 2029. Repeals a provision containing definitions and moves the definitions to another location.

Makes the following changes to the definition of "covered person" for purposes of the statutes concerning restricted addresses: (1) Replaces a "victim of domestic violence" with an individual who is an address confidentiality "program participant". (2) Includes any person who resides in the same household as a person considered a "covered person". Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee the topic of studying certain topics regarding address confidentiality protections.

Provides that, beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school in 2028, an individual must successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course (course) before the individual may graduate. Creates requirements for content that must be covered in a course. Provides that a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school must offer instruction on a course as a separate subject. Provides that the state board may allow a course to satisfy one or more diploma course requirements.