Provides that the Indiana finance authority (authority) shall serve as the executive branch coordinator for funds allocated or made available to the state or local communities from federal, state, and other sources for purposes related to drinking water, wastewater, or storm water infrastructure and systems. Sets forth the duties of the authority with respect to this role. Specifies that the authority shall coordinate the executive branch activities related to the state's drinking water and wastewater programs. (Current law provides that the authority shall serve such a role with respect to the state's water programs.) Authorizes the establishment of a drinking water and wastewater infrastructure research and extension program (program) to provide data collection and information, training, and technical assistance concerning: (1) drinking water infrastructure; (2) wastewater infrastructure; and (3) storm water infrastructure; in Indiana. Provides that the authority may: (1) contract with a state supported college or university in Indiana to provide the program; and (2) financially support the program from existing funds appropriated to the authority. Provides that the program may be housed within, or share staff with, the existing research and highway extension program at Purdue University. Provides that the program may provide the following services and programs to, or for the benefit of, utilities providing drinking water, wastewater, or storm water service in Indiana: (1) Assisting utilities in the development of asset management programs. (2) Serving as a central repository for data concerning infrastructure used to provide drinking water, wastewater, or storm water service in Indiana. (3) Providing training and technical assistance to utilities and Indiana's drinking water, wastewater, and storm water utility industry workforces. Requires the authority to make, not later than July 1, 2023, all: (1) utility asset management programs; and (2) information concerning utility asset lifecycle management costs; submitted to or reviewed by the authority available on an Internet web site maintained by the authority or the program. Requires that in carrying out all information gathering and reporting duties under the bill's provisions, the authority and the program shall use any data the authority or the program acquires in a manner that: (1) protects the confidential information of individual utilities and customers; and (2) is consistent with applicable statutory exclusions from disclosure under the state's public records act. Provides that as a condition for receiving a loan, grant, or other financial assistance after June 30, 2023, through the wastewater revolving loan program, the drinking water revolving loan program, the water infrastructure assistance program, or the water infrastructure grant program, a participant must do the following: (1) Submit the participant's required asset management program to the authority not later than the time of submission of the participant's preliminary engineering report for any project for which the loan, grant, or other financial assistance will be provided. (Current law does not specify when the asset management program must be submitted.) (2) Submit to the authority information on the estimated and actual life cycle management costs over the useful life of the asset financed. (3) In the case of a participant that is not under the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC), regularly report to all: (A) customers; (B) counties; and (C) municipalities; within the participant's service territory information concerning the participant's asset management program. Provides that money in the: (1) supplemental drinking water and wastewater assistance fund; (2) water infrastructure assistance fund; and (3) water infrastructure grant fund; may be used to provide grants, loans, or other financial assistance for the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of septic relief systems, in accordance with guidelines of the authority. Provides that the authority's project prioritization system for awarding assistance from the water infrastructure assistance fund and the water infrastructure grant fund must include as a variable the effect of a project on the environment. Provides for the following with respect to a wastewater utility that is not subject to the jurisdiction of the IURC for the approval of rates and charges and that has been issued one or more enforcement orders (orders) relating to environmental or health and human safety issues by the department of environmental management (department) after June 30, 2022: (1) For the first order, the utility is subject to an informal review of its: (A) rates and charges; and (B) asset management program; by the IURC, in accordance with procedures determined by the IURC. (2) For a second order that is issued within two years of the first order, the utility is subject to rate regulation, following two base rate cases, by the IURC for a minimum period of: (A) five years from the IURC's order in the first base rate case; and (B) one year from the IURC's order in the second base rate case. (3) For any order issued during the required rate regulation period, the IURC may, in consultation with the department, initiate a receivership proceeding with respect to the utility. Requires the state board of education (state board) to approve, for purposes of the state's career and technical education graduation pathway, a utility career cluster that allows students to acquire knowledge and skills related to employment in the electric, natural gas, communications, water, and wastewater utility industries. Requires the governor's workforce cabinet, in consultation with the state board, the department of education, and the department of workforce development, to create course sequences for the utility career cluster.
Sponsored bills
Establishes the administrative rules review task force (task force). Describes the duties required of the task force.
Changes the membership of the law enforcement training board. Requires the creation of certain statewide policies and training programs. Requires the creation of minimum standards for certain best practices.
Requires the professional licensing agency to develop and maintain a system that allows an individual who is applying for an initial license or certificate or the renewal of an existing license or certificate to become a donor of an anatomical gift.
Amends the definition of "major component parts" to include a catalytic converter. Provides certain requirements for an automotive salvage recycler who is purchasing catalytic converters. Defines "manufactured home dealer" (dealer). Creates a new chapter concerning the licensing of dealers. Provides that a dealer may hold an offsite sale under certain conditions. Requires certain entities to obtain liability insurance coverage in certain amounts. Provides that it is an unfair practice to sell, exchange, or transfer a salvage vehicle without written disclosure. Provides that a dealer is exempt from certain mailing address requirements. Requires that a dealer must remain in good standing with the state department of health while holding a license.
Establishes a drainage task force consisting of six members of the senate, six members of the house of representatives, and seven other individuals. Requires the task force to: (1) review the responsibilities of landowners and state and local authorities under current laws relating to the drainage of land; (2) make certain determinations concerning drainage and regulatory matters; and (3) determine whether the balance between state authority and local authority over drainage of agricultural land favors state authority more in Indiana than in neighboring states. Authorizes the task force to make recommendations. Requires the task force to issue a report and, not later than December 1, 2023, submit the report to the executive director of the legislative services agency for distribution to the members of the general assembly and to the governor.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Commander Douglas A. Robb, United States Navy, upon his assumption of command over the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111).
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the topic of issuing driving cards to residents of Indiana who cannot provide proof of identity and lawful status in the United States.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Kercher's Sunrise Orchards Inc. on 100 years of family business.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the Indiana State Bar Association Leadership Development Academy.