Sen. Andy Zay

Enacts the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Establishes requirements regarding: (1) speech-language pathology assistants; and (2) the supervision of speech-language pathology support personnel. Requires the speech-language pathology and audiology board to adopt rules not later than June 30, 2022. Makes conforming amendments.

Allows a public employer and a self-funded health plan to use a reverse auction to procure the services of a pharmacy benefit manager. Requires an audit of prescription drug cost sharing for the state Medicaid program once every three state fiscal years. Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to: (1) perform its contractual duties in good faith and in observance of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing; and (2) notify a health plan in writing if any activity, policy, or practice of the pharmacy benefit manager presents a conflict of interest. Adds requirements of pharmacy benefit managers when denying an appeal of the maximum allowable cost pricing of a prescription drug. Requires the department of insurance (department) to develop a process for complaints regarding pharmacy benefit managers. Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to provide the department with certain information within 20 business days after the date of a complaint. Prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from requiring a pharmacy to obtain a signature from an individual for a prescription or immunization during a public health emergency. Requires the legislative services agency to conduct a study of market concentration in Indiana of: (1) the health insurance industry; (2) the hospital industry; (3) the professions of licensed health care practitioners; (4) the retail pharmaceutical industry; (5) the pharmacy benefit manager industry; and (6) the pharmacy services administrative organization industry, including its relationship to pharmaceutical wholesalers. Requires the legislative services agency to present the findings of the study not later than September 1, 2022.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Paul A. Kaiser, PhD. upon his retirement as the superintendent of Beech Grove City Schools.

Effective March 30, 2022: (1) Repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana; (2) Specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana; (3) Prohibits certain individuals from knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun; (4) Creates the crime of "unlawful carrying of a handgun"; (5) Provides that a prohibited person who knowingly or intentionally carries a handgun commits a Class A misdemeanor; (6) Specifies that the unlawful carrying of a handgun is a Level 5 felony if a person: (A) is less than 23 years of age; and (B) has an adjudication as a delinquent child for an act described by IC 35-47-4-5 (unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon); (7) Allows a resident of Indiana who wishes to carry a firearm in another state under a reciprocity agreement entered into by Indiana and the other state to obtain from the superintendent of the state police department a reciprocity license; (8) Requires law enforcement agencies to make use of certain data bases when issuing reciprocity licenses; (9) Specifies the following fees for reciprocity licenses: (A) $0 for five year reciprocity licenses, and (B) $75 for lifetime reciprocity licenses; (10) Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally exerts unauthorized control over a firearm of another person with the intent to deprive the person of any part of its value or use commits theft, a Level 5 felony; and (11) Allows for the imposition of an additional fixed term of imprisonment when a person knowingly or intentionally: (A) points; or (B) discharges; a firearm at someone the person knew, or reasonably should have known, was a first responder. Effective July 1, 2021: (1) Provides that the following must develop a process that allows law enforcement officers the ability to quickly access information about whether a person is a prohibited person who may not knowingly or intentionally carry a handgun: (A) The state police department; (B) The bureau of motor vehicles; (C) Local law enforcement agencies; and (D) Any other state entity with access to information related to persons who may not knowingly or intentionally carry a handgun; (2) Provides that the information made available to law enforcement officers must meet all state and federal statutory, constitutional, and regulatory requirements; and (3) Allows state entities to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure that all legal requirements are met. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson upon her retirement from the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing James C. Clark.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator John C. Ruckelshaus upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

Provides for an expiration date of an allocation area of not more than 50 years in the case of an allocation area established by the redevelopment commission of a qualified city for the purpose of financing a mixed use development project, but only if the legislative body of the qualified city adopts a resolution to approve an independent analysis with regard to the proposed development project that demonstrates the need for an allocation area that exceeds 25 years. Authorizes a qualified city, subject to the same requirement for a resolution of the legislative body, to enter into leases financed with incremental tax revenue from the allocation area for a term not to exceed 50 years for the purpose of financing a mixed use development project. Defines "qualified city" and "mixed use development project" for purposes of these provisions. Provides, that if in any state fiscal year the IEDC determines that it will award an amount of tax credits under $1,000,000, the IEDC must first receive state budget committee review. Establishes the regional economic acceleration and development initiative (READI) fund to provide grants and loans to support economic development and regional economic acceleration and development. Provides that the IEDC administers the fund. Provides that the board of the IEDC (board) may review applications for grants and loans from the fund. Allows the board to form a strategic review committee. Requires the IEDC to establish a policy for the regional economic acceleration and development initiative. Makes an appropriation.

Specifies additional information that a certified technology park (park) is required to provide to the Indiana economic development corporation (corporation) in the course of a review. Provides that if a park has reached the limit on deposits and maintains its certification the park shall become a Level 2 park. Increases, from $100,000 to $250,000, the annual additional incremental income tax deposit amount that a park captures once it has reached its limit on deposits. Clarifies the calculation of the additional incremental income tax deposit amount in the year in which a park reaches its limit on deposits. Provides that when the corporation certifies a Level 2 park the corporation shall make a determination of whether the park shall continue to be designated as a Level 2 park.

Adds a superior court in Hamilton County. Allows the judges of the Decatur circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Decatur County courts. Allows the judges of the Hancock circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Hancock County courts. Allows the judges of the Huntington circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Huntington County courts. Allows the judges of the Knox circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Knox County courts. Allows the judge of the Lake superior court division No. 4 to appoint a magistrate to serve the Lake superior court division No. 4. Makes clarifying changes to the powers and duties of the Marion superior court executive committee. Provides that an appointed judicial officer shall be vested by the judges of the family division of the Marion superior court with suitable powers for the handling of all probate matters of the court. Removes or reallocates the powers and duties of a probate hearing judge, probate commissioner, juvenile referee, bail commissioner, and master commissioner from the Marion superior court. Provides that the Marion County judicial selection committee nomination procedure shall be followed when filling a vacancy that occurs in a court. Provides that the: (1) clerk of a circuit court; (2) clerk of a city or town court; or (3) judge of a city or town court that does not have a clerk; may retain as an administrative fee an amount of up to $3 from the excess amount collected by the clerk for general court costs. Makes conforming changes.