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.
Sponsored bills
Requires a public school that issues, after June 30, 2022, a student identification card to a student in grade 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 to include on the student identification card a local, state, or national: (1) suicide prevention hotline telephone number; and (2) human trafficking hotline telephone number; that provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Provides that the information may be printed on the student identification card or printed on a sticker that is affixed to the student identification card.
A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.
Beginning January 1, 2022, requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide to a covered individual the maximum allowable cost of a generic drug on the written materials provided at the point of sale. Provides that if an agreement between a health plan and a pharmacy benefit manager that is entered into or renewed after December 31, 2021, provides that less than 85% of the estimated rebates will be deducted from the cost of prescription drugs before a covered individual's cost sharing requirement is determined, the pharmacy benefit manager must provide the policyholder with a notice on an annual basis that includes: (1) an explanation of what a rebate is; (2) an explanation of how rebates accrue to the health plan from the manufacturer; and (3) the aggregate amount of rebates that accrued to the health plan for prescription drugs dispensed under the policyholder's health plan for the previous year.
Allows advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to issue written orders for home health services to a home health agency. Eliminates the requirements that a collaborative agreement between a collaborating physician and a physician assistant: (1) include all the tasks delegated to the physician assistant by the collaborating physician (instead requiring that the collaborative agreement include any limitations); and (2) specify the protocol to be followed by the physician assistant in prescribing a drug. Sets forth requirements of a collaborative agreement. Provides, as an exception to the requirement that a physician assistant may practice only subject to a collaboration agreement with a collaborating physician, that if a physician assistant practices in a licensed health care facility that has a credentialing process: (1) the physician assistant shall collaborate with and refer patients to appropriate members of the licensed health care facility's health care team; and (2) the responsibilities of the physician assistant and the degree of collaboration between the physician assistant and other members of the licensed health care facility's health care team shall be determined exclusively for purposes of the physician assistant's practice in the licensed health care facility by one or more persons in authority over the physician assistant. Provides that a physician assistant, without being delegated authority by a collaborating physician, may: (1) prescribe, dispense, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices; (2) plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen; and (3) prescribe and dispense schedule II-V substances and legend drugs. Allows a physician assistant to perform volunteer work regardless of the terms of or the existence of a collaboration agreement.
Provides that after June 30, 2021, a political subdivision may not issue or guarantee a debt obligation until the fiscal officer of the political subdivision has: (1) prepared a debt capacity analysis report (report) on a standard form prescribed by the SBOA with the assistance of the department of local government finance; and (2) presented the report to the fiscal body of the political subdivision in a public hearing. Provides that after June 30, 2021, political subdivisions must provide information concerning pledges, covenants, and agreements that they have made to secure or guarantee a financial obligation of another person to the department of local government finance in the form and on the schedule specified by the department made. Requires the state board of accounts to establish standards for the state and political subdivisions that require disclosure of pledges, covenants, and agreements that have been made to secure or guarantee a financial obligation of another person, including guarantees for private bond issues of private companies. Specifies that the standards must be consistent with generally accepted governmental accounting principles. In reporting periods beginning after June 30, 2021, requires the state and political subdivisions to include the disclosures in the notes of the entity's annual financial statements.
Changes a township trustee's duty to remove certain weeds from a cemetery it maintains from "noxious" weeds to "rampant" weeds. Amends the duties of a township trustee to care for and maintain a public cemetery in the township to include: (1) resetting and straightening all monuments; (2) leveling and seeding the ground; and (3) mowing the lawn. Provides that before entering into a sales contract with a consumer, an owner of a cemetery (excluding a county, city, town, or township cemetery) must provide a written description of available goods and services with a price list. Limits the fee charged by a cemetery owner for opening and closing a burial lot of a family member that is one of at least two burial lots purchased in the same transaction. Requires the state board of funeral and cemetery service to take at least the following actions as to a cemetery owner that charges an excessive opening and closing fee: (1) Issue an appropriate order to correct the violation. (2) Suspend the seller's certificate of authority. (3) Censure the cemetery owner. Provides the following are commodities: (1) A foundation. (2) The marking of a lot in preparation for a foundation. Provides that a service fee for marking a lot must be included with the lot purchase price and collected at the same time.
Provides that an individual who is certified as a level one or level two assessor-appraiser may serve as a tax representative of a taxpayer before the county property tax assessment board of appeals, if authorized by the taxpayer on a form submitted with the taxpayer's notice to initiate an appeal. Provides that an individual who is certified as a level three assessor-appraiser may serve as a tax representative of a taxpayer before the county property tax assessment board of appeals or the Indiana board.
Makes new farm equipment and new agricultural improvements eligible for local tax abatement using the same procedures for tax abatement under current law for new manufacturing equipment, new research and development equipment, new logistical distribution equipment, and new information technology equipment, or redevelopment and rehabilitation in the case of new agricultural improvements. Limits an abatement schedule for new farm equipment and new agricultural improvements to not more than five years. Specifies how agricultural improvements shall be assessed for tax purposes.
Prohibits a state or local law enforcement officer (officer) from firing warning shots. Allows a guard, official, or officer in a state or local penal facility to fire warning shots to prevent the escape of a person. Prohibits a law enforcement agency or merit board from taking an adverse employment action against a law enforcement officer who lawfully exercises the officer's right of self defense, and requires a law enforcement agency to indemnify a law enforcement officer for reasonable expenses incurred by the officer in successfully contesting an adverse employment action.