Sen. Blake Doriot

Makes changes to the requirements necessary to obtain an initial practitioner license for an individual who completes an alternative teacher certification program and changes regarding teaching special education under the license. Provides that, for school years beginning after June 30, 2022, a school corporation may provide a supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan. (Current law allows a school corporation to provide supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan if certain circumstances apply.)

Establishes, rather than allows the president of Indiana University to appoint, a geological and water survey advisory council (council). Increases the number of members from nine to 11 and specifies who shall serve on the council. Requires the state geologist to serve as secretary of the council. Provides that the state geologist may cast the deciding vote to break a tie. Requires the council to meet quarterly. Establishes the center for water within the Indiana geological and water survey (survey) at Indiana University for the purpose of: (1) carrying out the survey's statutory duties concerning Indiana's water resources; (2) supporting long term studies of the state's water resources; and (3) upon request, providing resources to state agencies, municipalities, and soil and water conservation groups. Establishes the center for energy within the survey for similar purposes with respect to Indiana's natural energy resources. Allows the Indiana board of licensure for professional geologists (board) to elect a secretary who is not a member of the board. (Current law requires that the secretary of the board be elected from among the members of the board.) Increases the number of times the board is required to meet to at least two times each year. Allows a licensed professional geologist to request an informal review not more than 30 days after receiving a complaint. (Current law requires the request for an informal review to be made within 20 days.) Provides that if the board compels a licensed professional geologist to respond to a complaint or charges, the notification must be sent by certified mail and the response must be in writing. Allows a geologist who is licensed in another state to be licensed in Indiana if the other state's standards are substantially equal to Indiana's requirements. Requires a licensed professional geologist to obtain continuing education in the geological sciences as a condition of license renewal. Specifies that these continuing education requirements do not apply to a person who is not licensed as a professional geologist under Indiana law. Makes technical changes.

Repeals the following: (1) Indiana advisory commission on intergovernmental relations. (2) Public highway private enterprise review board. (3) Lake Michigan marina and shoreline development commission. (4) Orange County development advisory board. Moves a definition from a statute being repealed. Requires the interim study committee on government to biennially make recommendations to the legislative council regarding: (1) repeal of inactive groups; and (2) continuation of membership in interstate compacts. Requires the salary matrices prescribed for certain officers of the state police department, alcohol and tobacco commission, department of natural resources, and the Indiana gaming commission to be reviewed and approved by the budget agency biennially in even-numbered years. Requires the justice reinvestment advisory council to report to the legislative council before November 1, 2022, regarding how to reduce the membership of an advisory board, with recommendations regarding membership of a community corrections advisory board, including how to reduce the membership of an advisory board. Changes the name of the Indiana commission to combat drug use to the Indiana commission to combat substance use disorder. Requires the services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities task force to make certain recommendations to the legislative council. Adds one member representing the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities to the 211 advisory committee.

Consolidates Medicaid telehealth language. Provides that "health care services" does not include certain case management services, care management services, service coordination services, or care coordination services for purposes of telehealth. Adds occupational therapist assistants, school psychologists, specified developmental therapists, peers, clinical fellows, students and graduates of certain professional programs, physical therapist assistants, and certain community mental health center providers to the definition of "practitioner" for purposes of practicing telehealth. Allows behavior health analysts to temporarily perform telehealth during the time when the professional licensing agency is preparing to implement licensure for the profession.

Provides that a person that: (1) owns, operates, or leases electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment; and (2) makes the EV supply equipment available for use by the public for compensation; may charge the public for such use based in whole or in part on the kilowatt hours of electricity sold. Specifies that a person that makes EV supply equipment available for use by the public for compensation, regardless of whether the person charges the public for such use based on: (1) the kilowatt hours of electricity sold; (2) the amount of time spent by an EV at a designated charging space; or (3) a combination of both; is not a public utility solely by reason of engaging in this activity. Authorizes the utility regulatory commission (IURC) to approve: (1) time-varying price structures and tariffs; or (2) other alternative pricing structures and tariffs; for retail energy service. Defines a "public use electric vehicle" (public use EV) as any of the following electric vehicles that is used primarily to serve the public: (1) An electric school bus. (2) An electric transit bus. (3) An electric vehicle used by a public or private commercial enterprise primarily to deliver goods or services to the public. Authorizes an electric utility (defined as a public utility that is subject to the jurisdiction of the IURC) to request approval from the IURC to implement a public use EV pilot program (pilot program) to do any of the following: (1) Install, own, or operate charging infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure to support public use EVs. (2) Provide incentives or rebates to customers to encourage customer investment in public use EVs and in associated EV supply equipment. Sets forth certain required information that an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program must include. Provides that an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program may include a request for: (1) assurance of cost recovery for pilot program capital costs, up to the amount of an approved cost estimate; and (2) deferral of pilot program capital costs. Sets forth the processes by which an electric utility may request the IURC's approval of a pilot program. Provides that the IURC shall approve an electric utility's request for approval of a pilot program if the IURC determines that the proposed pilot program is reasonable, just, and in the public interest. Sets forth certain factors that the IURC must consider in making this determination. Specifies that an electric utility is not prohibited from: (1) installing, owning, or operating charging infrastructure or make-ready infrastructure for electric vehicles; and (2) seeking to include the associated capital costs in the electric utility's basic rates and charges by initiating a proceeding before the IURC. Provides that in such a case, the IURC shall approve the inclusion of the capital costs in the electric utility's basic rates and charges if the IURC finds that the capital costs incurred are reasonable, just, and in the public interest. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions.

Changes the property damage requirement to $2,500 (current law is $1,000) for certain failures to provide evidence of financial responsibility following a motor vehicle accident. Changes the apparent damage requirement for a law enforcement officer to investigate motor vehicle accidents involving property damage to $2,500 (current law is $1,000). Provides that a law enforcement officer shall assist operators with the requirements of IC 9-26-1-1.1 under certain circumstances. Adds certain infractions and offenses to the list of violations enforceable by weigh station supervisors or operators.

Establishes the housing task force (task force) to review issues related to housing and housing shortages in Indiana. Sets forth membership, and requires the task force to issue a report to the general assembly and the governor not later than November 1, 2022.

Prohibits a person that owns or possesses a specified animal from allowing a member of the public to come into direct contact, or enter into a proximity that allows for or permits direct contact, with the specified animal. Prohibits the department of natural resources from adopting a rule to designate additional specified animals. Requires that a person who owns a specified animal must have a commercial animal dealer, breeder, or exhibitor's license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture. Provides that a violation of the law is a Class B infraction. Excludes from the substance of the bill physical contact or proximity between certain persons and a specified animal. Defines terms.

Provides for protection for a buyer who purchases a converted motor vehicle for personal, noncommercial use, when the converted motor vehicle suffers from a nonconformity.

Establishes additional requirements for the disposition of property held as evidence that may contain biological evidence related to an offense, including matters involving postconviction DNA testing and analysis.