Sen. Tyler Johnson

Requires governing bodies of state and local agencies (excluding a state supported college or university) to provide, on a publicly accessible platform: (1) live transmissions of public meetings; and (2) an archive of copies of the live transmissions with links to any meeting agendas, minutes, or memoranda. Provides that if a governing body does not have Internet capability for live transmission of public meetings, the governing body shall record the meeting. Provides that transmissions and recordings of public meetings may be destroyed after 90 days.

Allows a board that regulates a health care provider or a regulated professional under IC 25 to use electronic means of communication to conduct meetings if certain requirements are met. Allows the Indiana department of health (state department) to collect certain information from individuals who provide home health services, are a qualified medication aide, or are a certified nurse aide. Adds the board of physical therapy and the state department's consumer services and health care regulation commission for purposes of workforce renewal information and an annual report. Establishes time periods for the professional licensing agency (PLA) to post meeting agendas and meeting minutes on the applicable board's website. Requires the PLA to post certain information concerning board vacancies and application forms. Requires the PLA to send notification to an applicant of incomplete items in an application. Requires that new and renewed licenses with the PLA be submitted electronically, unless a paper application is requested. Requires the PLA to post on its website information about the number of licenses issued and wait times for the licenses. Requires the governor to fill a vacancy on certain occupational boards within 90 days. Allows the PLA to make an appointment to the board if the governor does not make the appointment. Allows the board to issue a temporary permit for a registered nurse applicant and a licensed practical nurse applicant.

Increases the annual scholarship amount that the commission for higher education (commission) may award under the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program from $7,500 to $10,000. Removes limits on the number of next generation Hoosier educators scholarships that may be awarded. Establishes the next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship program and fund. Provides that the commission may award a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship to an eligible applicant in an amount of $10,000 each academic year for not more than four academic years. Establishes criteria an applicant must meet and terms an applicant must agree to in order to receive a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship. Increases the annual scholarship amount that an Earline S. Rogers student teaching scholarship for minority students recipient may receive from $4,000 to $5,000.

Allows a home health agency to: (1) provide services in any county in Indiana; and (2) satisfy supervising home health aide services requirements by complying with federal law. Allows: (1) the Indiana department of health (state department) to adopt rules concerning the oversight and supervision of the services a home health agency provides in noncontiguous counties; and (2) the state health commissioner to waive rules adopted concerning home health agencies if certain conditions are met. Provides that a home health agency is not required to conduct a preemployment physical on a job applicant before the individual has contact with a home health agency patient. Allows a registered home health aide to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings to a specific patient if specified conditions are met. Requires the state department to approve at least one training curriculum concerning the administration of tube feedings. Repeals laws concerning drug testing of home health agency employees.

Provides that an agency of the state or a political subdivision may not provide an individual with an application for an absentee ballot unless requested by the individual or a member of the individual's family. Provides that an absentee ballot application must request that the applicant include: (1) certain identification numbers; or (2) a photocopy of: (A) the applicant's Indiana driver's license, (B) the applicant's Indiana identification card number for nondrivers, or (C) other specified proof of identification. Provides that the application form must state that an applicant may include only one of the identification numbers or one of the documents, but the application may be delayed if the county election board cannot match at least one of the numbers with the voter's registration record. Allows an individual to provide, for purposes of accessing an absentee ballot application submitted in an electronic format: (1) the individual's Indiana identification card number for nondrivers; or (2) the unique identifying number assigned to the voter's registration record in the computerized list; as an alternative to the options available under current law. (Current law requires the provision of the individual's Indiana driver's license number or the last four digits of the individual's Social Security number.) Specifies that certain information and documentation is confidential. Specifies when a county voter registration office is required to redact particular confidential information. Requires a county election board to implement specified procedures if the county election board cannot match at least one of the numbers with the voter's registration record. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (BMV) to provide particular information each day to the secretary of state (secretary) and the election division. Requires the secretary and the election division to provide specified information to each county voter registration office. Specifies that if certain information provided by the BMV is not a part of the voter's registration record, the county voter registration office shall update the voter's registration record to include this information. Requires a circuit court clerk or director of a board of elections and registration (clerk) to transmit certain information to an applicant who submits an application to receive an absentee ballot by mail if the application does not fully comply with particular laws. Specifies a process by which a clerk may: (1) deliver a second absentee ballot application; (2) approve a second absentee ballot application; and (3) provide an absentee ballot; to a voter who timely submits a defective application to receive an absentee ballot. Provides that a voter who receives an absentee ballot under certain provisions may return the voted ballot: (1) in person to the absentee voter board; or (2) to the county election board; before the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots. Requires uniform application if a clerk uses this provision. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that a rule requiring an office based setting to be accredited by an accreditation agency does not apply to certain individuals providing anesthesia in a dental office. Allows an anesthesiologist, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and an anesthesiologist assistant to administer moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia to a patient in a dental office if certain standards are met.

Provides that a declarant may include a person for whom a proxy has executed an out of hospital do not resuscitate (DNR) declaration if the person: (1) is at least 18 years of age and is certified as a qualified person; (2) is incapacitated or incompetent; and (3) has no representative who is able and available to execute an out of hospital DNR declaration. Defines "incapacitated" as related to an out of hospital DNR declaration. Defines "proxy" as related to an out of hospital DNR declaration and a physician order for scope of treatment (POST). Provides that a person's proxy may execute an out of hospital DNR declaration if certain conditions are met. Creates a declaration and order form to be used by hospitals if the declarant is incapacitated or incompetent. Allows a qualified person's proxy to complete a POST form if the person is incapable of making health care decisions and no representative is able and available to act. Allows a proxy to revoke a POST form or request alternative treatment. Provides that if alternative treatment is requested, the treating medical provider shall review the POST form with the declarant, the declarant's representative, or the proxy who has priority to act for the declarant. Makes conforming changes.

Specifies that a person placed on parole following a term of imprisonment that includes a sentence for a crime of violence may be released on parole for not more than 24 months. Provides that time served while confined to a prison or jail does not count toward time served on parole.

Provides that a statewide standing order for the dispensing of an overdose intervention drug must allow for choice in the: (1) purchasing; (2) dispensing; and (3) distributing; of any formulation or dosage of a naloxone product that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Provides that, if the coroner reasonably suspects the cause of the person's death to be accidental or intentional overdose of an opioid or if the person was administered an overdose intervention drug prior to death and was unresponsive to the overdose intervention drug, the coroner shall test certain bodily fluids to determine whether the bodily fluid contained any amount, including a trace amount, of xylazine at the time of the person's death.