Sen. Scott Alexander

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Senator Jack Sandlin.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

A SENATE RESOLUTION to honor Senator Eddie Melton upon his retirement from the Indiana Senate.

Provides that the office of administrative legal proceedings (OALP) is the ultimate authority for agencies subject to the jurisdiction of the OALP. Provides that a court conducting a judicial review hearing shall review questions of law and fact de novo. Makes conforming amendments.

Exempts public schools and charter schools from: (1) certain paths to quality program requirements; and (2) certain prekindergarten program eligible provider requirements. Provides that a prekindergarten child care program located in a public school or a charter school is in compliance with certain child care and development fund voucher program requirements if approved by another state regulatory authority. Requires the office of family and social services (office) to request an amendment to include public schools and charter schools in the office's child care and development fund voucher program.

Reduces the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits to 14 times the individual's weekly benefit. (Under current law, the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits is 26 times the individual's weekly benefit or 28% of the individual's wage credits, whichever is less.) Provides for additional benefits in an amount not to exceed two times the individual's weekly benefit if the individual meets certain conditions. Removes outdated provisions. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that, beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school in 2028, an individual must successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course (course) before the individual may graduate. Creates requirements for content that must be covered in a course. Provides that a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school must offer instruction on a course as a separate subject. Provides that the state board may allow a course to satisfy one or more diploma course requirements.

Repeals teacher training requirements regarding: (1) criminal gang organizations awareness; (2) certain information concerning homeless students; and (3) recognizing the signs and symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to the symptoms; and requires that information concerning these subjects be included within the curriculum of teacher preparation programs. Provides that the department of education (department) may establish or license for use an online platform to provide information and training concerning these and other subjects. Removes certain requirements regarding annual performance evaluation plans for certificated employees, including: (1) certain content requirements; and (2) certain requirements that a plan be discussed. Amends requirements to be considered a probationary teacher and professional teacher. Provides that, after a school corporation has assigned an evaluator to perform a certificated employee's evaluation, the certificated employee may request the school corporation to assign another evaluator. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying current school assessments in an effort to reduce and streamline assessments for Indiana students. Removes a provision that requires a school employer to discuss certain items with the exclusive representative of certificated employees and provides that a school employer may discuss: (1) with a certificated employee or group of certificated employees; or (2) at one or more meetings that are open to all certificated employees; any topic that significantly impacts a certificated employee's working conditions or impacts the educational quality of the school employer's students. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) requirements regarding the adoption of model evaluation plans and an approval process for the plans; (2) the obligation to discuss certain items not requiring either party to enter into a contract, agree to a proposal, or make a concession; and (3) the definition of "discuss" for purposes of the collective bargaining provisions.

Allows pharmacists who meet certain requirements to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered hormonal contraceptives (contraceptives). Establishes requirements for pharmacists who elect to prescribe and dispense contraceptives. Provides that a pharmacist is not required to prescribe a contraceptive to a woman if the pharmacist believes the contraceptive is contraindicated or objects on ethical, moral, or religious grounds. Provides that an individual who is a pharmacy technician, pharmacy technician in training, pharmacist student, or pharmacist intern is not required to dispense a contraceptive to a woman if the individual objects on ethical, moral, or religious grounds. Requires the Indiana board of pharmacy (board) to revoke the license of a pharmacist who knowingly or intentionally prescribes a drug that is intended to cause an abortion. Establishes penalties for a pharmacist who prescribes a drug that is intended to cause an abortion. Requires the state health commissioner or the commissioner's designated public health authority to issue a standing order that allows a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense contraceptives until the board adopts rules that adopt the standing order. Establishes requirements for the standing order. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to reimburse a pharmacist for services and prescriptions for contraceptives provided to an eligible Medicaid recipient.