Sen. Ron Alting

Provides that the rules of the environmental rules board may not allow coal combustion residuals produced by the burning of coal to generate electric power (CCR) to be disposed of if, after the disposal: (1) any of the CCR or any portion of the disposal structure, landfill, or impoundment in which the CCR would be disposed of would be within a 500 year flood zone; (2) any portion of the CCR would be in contact with ground water during any portion of the year; or (3) there would be potential for migration of the hazardous constituents of the CCR into the uppermost aquifer. Prohibits the department of environmental management from approving a plan for closure of a disposal facility for CCR located at the site where the CCR were generated if: (1) any portion of the disposal structure, landfill, or impoundment at the site is within a 500 year flood zone; (2) any portion of the CCR disposed of at the site would be in contact with ground water during any portion of the year; (3) there has been documented migration of the hazardous constituents of the CCR into the uppermost aquifer at the site; (4) there is potential for migration of the hazardous constituents of the CCR into the uppermost aquifer at the site; or (5) the impoundment that would be used for disposal of the CCR at the site does not have a liner compliant with federal liner design criteria or is structurally unstable. Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to review an electric utility's plan for closure of its CCR surface impoundment and provides that the IURC must require the utility to provide an assessment of the potential cost of remediating ground water contamination resulting from the surface impoundment. Permits the IURC to allow the utility to recover the costs of closing its surface impoundment if the closure plan is in the public interest and the costs of the plan are not excessive.

Increases the pro bono legal services fee from $1 to $3.

Requires an employer to provide reasonable employment accommodations for a pregnant employee. Requires the department of labor to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve complaints through the use of an administrative law judge. Allows for appeals.

Allows a landlord to apply for assistance from the COVID-19 rental assistance program (program) operated by the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) on behalf of a tenant who: (1) is at least 30 days overdue on monthly rent; and (2) has not applied to the program. Provides that an amount paid by the program to a landlord is considered to be paid by the tenant. Prohibits a landlord that receives assistance from requiring a tenant to pay the difference between the maximum monthly benefit under the program and the monthly rent under the rental agreement. Requires the authority to provide a tenant with notice of assistance received by a landlord on the tenant's behalf.

Amends the statute concerning distributed electricity generation as follows: (1) Provides that an electricity supplier's net metering tariff must be made and remain available to customers until the earlier of: (A) January 1 of the first calendar year after the calendar year in which the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the electricity supplier's net metering tariff equals at least 5% (versus 1.5% under current law) of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load; or (B) July 1, 2024 (versus July 1, 2022, under current law). (2) Provides that before July 1, 2021, each electricity supplier shall petition the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for approval of an amended or a new net metering tariff to do the following: (A) Establish as the allowed limit on the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the net metering tariff an amount equal to at least 5% (versus 1.5% under current law) of the most recent summer peak load of the electricity supplier. (B) Establish a required reservation of capacity under the nameplate capacity limit to require the reservation of: (i) 30% (versus 40% under current law) of the capacity for participation by residential customers; and (ii) 5% (versus 15% under current law) of the capacity for participation by customers that install a net metering facility that uses organic waste biomass. (3) Makes conforming amendments. Adds a noncode provision staying the implementation of a rate for the procurement of excess distributed generation for which an electricity supplier has applied or received approval from the IURC under current law, until such time as the conditions for the expiration of the electricity supplier's net metering tariff, as set forth in the bill, apply to the electricity supplier.

Changes the current incremental finance charge limits that apply to a small loan to a maximum annual rate. Prohibits making, or taking other actions with respect to, a small loan with a greater rate or amount of interest, or other fees and charges, than allowed under the statute governing small loans. Prohibits a credit services organization from providing certain functions with respect to a small loan and makes a violation a deceptive act.

Limits the time in which an order, mandate, or prohibition issued by a local health board or local health officer may be in effect unless approved by the relevant county executive or city executive. Limits the fines that may be assessed for a violation of the order, mandate, or prohibition. Establishes a cause of action for an individual to file a court action concerning certain enforcement actions taken by a local health officer or local health board.

Authorizes wagering on video gaming terminals in licensed congressionally chartered veterans' service organizations. Establishes a licensing structure for participants in video gaming. Provides funding to the department of veterans' affairs for grants for veterans' services.

Establishes the: (1) student learning acceleration grant program; and (2) student learning acceleration grant program fund (fund). Provides that, to be eligible to receive a grant, a school corporation must develop and submit a student learning acceleration plan (plan). Establishes requirements for a plan. Provides that a plan is subject to collective bargaining. Appropriates to the fund from the state general fund for the purposes of the program: (1) $30,000,000 for the 2022 state fiscal year; and (2) $30,000,000 for the 2023 state fiscal year.

Makes the following changes to the deceptive consumer sales act (act): (1) With respect to an action brought by an individual consumer under the act, increases: (A) the amount of statutory damages for an uncured or incurable deceptive act from $500 to $2,000; and (B) the amount of statutory damages for a willful deceptive act from $1,000 to $6,000. (2) In an individual action or a class action under the act, requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing consumer (versus allowing the court to award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in the action, under current law). (3) Provides that an individual action or a class action may be brought under the act with respect to transactions involving the lease of real estate, notwithstanding the act's exemption from such suits for consumer transactions in real property. (4) Removes the act's exemption from individual actions or class actions under the act for violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. (5) Amends the provision concerning prerequisites to bringing an individual action or a class action under the act to provide that a consumer's written notice of a deceptive act to the supplier in the consumer transaction: (A) must be given within the earliest of: (i) one year (versus six months under current law) after the initial discovery of the deceptive act; (ii) one year following the transaction; or (iii) any time limit of at least 30 days under any warranty applicable to the transaction; and (B) is sufficient under the act if the written notice is reasonably calculated to provide notice of the general nature of the deceptive act and the resulting damages. (6) Amends the provision concerning the statute of limitations for actions brought under the act to provide that such actions may not be brought more than six years (versus two years under current law) after the occurrence of the deceptive act.