Sen. Scott Baldwin

Provides that an employee beneficiary of the state police pre-1987 benefit system or the state police 1987 benefit system who is entitled to a disability pension shall continue to receive the disability pension if the individual is unable to serve as an eligible employee because of a disability incurred on or after January 1, 2006, and subsequently obtains other employment or is elected or appointed to any public office.

Requires a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or postsecondary educational institution (school entity or institution) to file a disclosure report with the auditor of state and the attorney general whenever any school entity or institution is owned or controlled by a foreign source or receives a gift from or enters into a contract with a foreign source, the value of which is $50,000 or more. Provides that whenever it appears that a school entity or institution has failed to comply with gift disclosure requirements, a civil action may be brought by the attorney general or at the request of: (1) a member of the general assembly; (2) the governor; (3) a member of the commission for higher education; (4) a member of the state board of education; or (5) an Indiana taxpayer; to compel compliance with the gift disclosure requirements.

Provides that a candidate for election to the governing body of a school corporation may not be any of the following: (1) A teacher employed by the school corporation. (2) A member, an employee, or a contractor of a labor organization with which the school corporation engages in collective bargaining. Provides that candidates for election to the governing body of a school corporation may request that the candidate's affiliation with a major political party be indicated with the candidate's name on the general election ballot. Provides that, beginning with the 2022 general election, all members of the governing body of a school corporation must be elected, eliminating the appointment of members of the governing body. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census.

Provides that a person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operates a vehicle at a speed more than 24 miles per hour above the posted maximum speed limit for a highway commits a Class C misdemeanor, unless the offense causes bodily injury to a person or damages the property of another person. Requires a juvenile court to recommend the suspension of the driving privileges of a child who causes bodily injury to a person while knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly driving more than 24 miles per hour above the posted maximum speed limit for a highway. Provides that the court shall require a delinquent child to pay the fine that would be imposed for a Class A misdemeanor if committed by an adult if the delinquent child caused bodily injury to a person while the delinquent child knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly drove more than 24 miles per hour above the posted maximum speed limit for a highway. Provides that an amount paid by a delinquent child must be deposited in the county's guardian ad litem fund or court appointed special advocate fund.

Requires the department of natural resources (department) to admit veterans possessing: (1) a driver's license, permit, or identification card containing an indication of their veteran status; or (2) a distinctive license plate designed and issued to a veteran; to state parks, recreational areas, or day facilities under the control of the department without the veteran being charged an admission fee.

Provides that a retired law enforcement officer may possess a firearm on school property under certain conditions.

Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency addressed by an executive order, the local order may be less stringent than the executive order to the extent permitted by the executive order. Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency that is not addressed by an executive order or if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency more stringently than an executive order, the local order may not take effect, or remain in effect, unless the local order is approved by the county legislative body (in the case of a county health department) or by an ordinance adopted by the city legislative body and approved by the mayor (in the case of a city health department). Provides that the appointment of a county health officer is subject to the approval of the county legislative body. Adds other good cause to the reasons for which a local health officer may be removed in counties other than Marion County. Specifies that a local health officer serves until a successor is appointed and qualified. Establishes an appeals process before legislative bodies of enforcement actions taken by local boards of health and local health officers in response to declared state and local public health emergencies.

Amends the law requiring a permit and compensatory mitigation for "wetland activity" (the discharge of dredged or fill material) in a state regulated wetland: (1) by changing the definition of "Class II wetland"; (2) by providing that wetland activity may be conducted without a permit: (A) in a Class I wetland; (B) in a Class II wetland with an area of not more than three-eighths acre; (C) in an ephemeral stream; and (D) in a Class II wetland that is located within the boundaries of a municipality and has an area of not more than three-fourths acre; (3) by providing that a permit is not needed for the development of cropland that has been used for agricultural purposes: (A) in the five years immediately preceding the development; or (B) in the 10 years immediately preceding the development if the United States Army Corps of Engineers has issued a jurisdictional determination confirming that the cropland does not contain wetlands subject to federal jurisdiction; (4) by providing that wetland activity in a Class II wetland with an area of more than three-eighths acre requires an individual permit; (5) by providing that: (A) maintenance of a field tile in a Class II wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met; and (B) maintenance of a field tile in a Class III wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met and the applicant obtains a site-specific approval; (6) by establishing conditions for obtaining a site-specific approval; (7) by eliminating the compensatory mitigation requirements for wetland activity in a Class I wetland; and (8) by requiring the department of environmental management (department) to make a decision to issue or deny an individual permit for wetland activity not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving the completed application. Amends the law concerning a certification under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act for dredge and fill activity in a federally regulated wetland to require the department to make a final determination not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving a completed application if the applicant requests a pre-coordination meeting. Establishes the Indiana wetlands task force, a 14 member body that: (1) is required to study and make recommendations concerning a number of wetlands issues; and (2) not later than November 1, 2022, issue a report to the general assembly and the governor setting forth its recommendations. Requires the department of natural resources to provide staff support to the task force.

Provides that a person who enters a marked off area after having been denied entry by a firefighter commits interfering with public safety. (Under current law, the offense is committed only if the person is denied entry by an emergency medical services provider or a law enforcement officer.) Increases the penalty for obstruction of traffic under certain circumstances.

Adds any variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), including coronavirus disease (COVID-19), to the list of diseases considered an exposure risk disease for purposes of emergency and public safety employee death and disability presumed in the line of duty. Provides, for any employee who is diagnosed after June 30, 2021, with a health condition caused by any variant of SARS, including COVID-19, that if the health condition results in disability or death and the employee wishes to have a presumption of disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee, the employee shall, by written affidavit executed before death, provide verification that the employee has not, outside the scope of the employee's current employment, been exposed to another individual known to have any variant of SARS, including COVID-19. Makes technical corrections.