Sen. Jeff Raatz

Amends definitions, requirements, restrictions, and exceptions regarding wireless communication device policies adopted and implemented by school corporations and charter schools. Requires the department of education to publish model policy language and implementation guidance. Provides that, with exceptions, a school corporation, a school maintained by a school corporation, and a charter school, including school personnel, are immune from civil liability for any actions taken in good faith to comply with the school's wireless communication device policy.

Amends good citizenship instruction requirements. Includes the Classic Learning Test in certain references to nationally recognized college entrance examinations. Requires a state educational institution (SEI) to accept the Classic Learning Test examination to the same extent the SEI accepts the ACT or SAT examination with respect to admission criteria. Requires the department of education to identify schools that allow students who are not enrolled in the school to take certain examinations at the school and present the information in a manner that can be conveniently and easily accessed from the department's website.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain immigration matters, the attorney general may defend the law enforcement officer, the governmental body, or the postsecondary educational institution if representation is requested and the actions subject to the suit do not violate federal or state law. Provides that the prohibition on governmental bodies or postsecondary educational institutions limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration law applies regardless of whether the enforcement related activity is carried out by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. Removes the mens rea standard in the statute concerning governmental bodies or postsecondary institutions violating the citizenship and immigration status information and enforcement of federal laws chapter. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that a governmental entity has not complied with certain requests, the attorney general may bring a court action to: (1) enjoin an act or practice constituting a violation; (2) impose a civil penalty for noncompliance; and (3) and obtain other such relief as is necessary. Provides that before bringing an action against a county jail for certain violations, the attorney general shall consult with the department of correction concerning the most recent inspection report and provide the county jail with notice of the attorney general's probable cause determination. Provides that a governmental body that has the custody of an individual who is the subject of an immigration detainer request shall: (1) provide the judge authorized to grant or deny the individual's release on bail notice that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (2) record in the individual's case file that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (3) comply with the immigration detainer request; and (4) inform the individual that the individual is being held pursuant to an immigration detainer request. Provides immunity to a governmental body or an employee of a governmental body for any action taken concerning an immigration detainer request as long as the action does not violate federal or civil law. Requires a judge who receives notice that an individual is subject to an immigration detainer request to ensure that the notice of the immigration detainer request is recorded in the court's record. Provides that the department of correction shall, in consultation with the attorney general, identify options for training concerning minimum standards for county jails. Provides that compliance with certain standards and the results of an inspection do not preclude and are not a defense to the attorney general bringing an action under IC 5-2-18.2. Provides that the department shall submit to the state budget committee status update reports. Requires the office of the secretary to submit a report to the legislative council concerning certain immigration matters. Provides that each hospital shall, not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file with the state department beginning January 1, 2027, in cases where Medicaid is the patient's payor, the form of identification, if any, used by the patient when the patient was admitted. Specifies that it is unlawful for an employer to knowingly or intentionally recruit, hire, or continue to employ an unauthorized alien in Indiana. Allows the attorney general to bring an enforcement action against an employer if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that the employer has violated certain recruitment and hiring restrictions concerning an unauthorized alien. Prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against an employee because the employee communicated or cooperated with the attorney general.Provides that indecent nuisance means a place in which human trafficking is conducted and is not limited to a public place. Provides that a governmental entity that employs a prosecuting official is entitled to investigative costs, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees incurred in an indecent nuisance action if the existence of an indecent nuisance is admitted or established in the action. Makes technical changes.

Authorizes a county that operates a community corrections program to establish a county community corrections trust fund (fund). Specifies the funding sources and permissible uses of the fund. Specifies reporting and auditing requirements relating to the administration of the fund. Makes technical corrections to a reference to community corrections programs located in the civil procedure law.

Establishes the Indianapolis public education corporation (corporation) and board (corporation board). Establishes the duties and powers of the corporation and corporation board. Provides that the Indianapolis public schools school corporation (school city) is not subject to building closure or certain transfer of school building laws. Allows only certain authorizers to grant or renew charters for charter schools located within the geographic boundaries of the school city. Specifies authority and duties of the corporation related to imposition of property taxes. Provides that the corporation is authorized to pursue a controlled project, operating referendum, or school safety referendum (instead of the school city). Requires the county auditor to transfer to the corporation a percentage of the amount of revenue collected from the operations fund property tax levy that would otherwise be distributed to the school city and applicable charter schools. Establishes the corporation operations fund and corporation debt service fund. Provides that the corporation may issue bonds, enter leases, or otherwise incur indebtedness after March 31, 2026, and before July 1, 2027, only if the board of school commissioners of the school city first adopts a resolution approving the issuance of the bonds, entering into the lease, or incurring of indebtedness. Provides, beginning April 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the reduction of distributions to pay for debt service obligations issued by the corporation must be made from reductions of distributions to the school city for failure to pay debt service obligations.

Includes the general assembly in the list of state entities to which the management performance hub (MPH) must make available certain government information. Provides that the MPH's annual data product: (1) must include certain sources of information; and (2) must be made available to the general assembly. Amends the definition of "workforce focused agency" to include the state workforce development board. Provides that certain workforce related programs include apprenticeship programs, unless the apprenticeship program receives certain funding. Requires a regional representative appointed to the Ivy Tech Community College (college) state board of trustees (state board of trustees) to serve as a nonvoting member of the college campus board (campus board) for the region the member represents. Requires each college campus to review building utilization data prior to approving capital requests or requests for proposals. Requires the state board of trustees to create and approve evaluation tools for campus boards to provide annual feedback on the performance of the campus chancellors. Requires the college to annually provide: (1) certain program and student metrics information; and (2) an analysis of market labor outcomes; to each campus board. Requires each college campus to: (1) prepare a campus strategic plan that connects to the college's strategic plan; and (2) submit the campus strategic plan to the state board of trustees for approval. Provides that, when a vacancy occurs in the position of a campus chancellor, a member of the campus board, selected by the campus board, shall serve on the search committee appointed by the president of the college. Establishes requirements and restrictions regarding adolescent use of social media. Makes a violation of the requirements and restrictions a deceptive act.

Establishes the Indiana rural health transformation fund and makes allotments and expenditures from the fund subject to budget committee review before the allotment and expenditure may occur. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to report biannually to the budget committee concerning the use of the money in the fund. Prohibits recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from using SNAP benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a waiver or authorization to implement the prohibition if a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is required. Terminates the state's participation in the use of expanded categorical eligibility within the federal SNAP. Specifies gross income standards and countable resources for SNAP eligibility. Establishes immigration eligibility requirements for SNAP and requires the division of family resources to verify compliance with the requirements and submit information to the federal government about individuals for whom the division could not verify the immigration status. Specifies the time frame for Medicaid eligibility redeterminations. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to transmit certain information to the federal government to prevent multiple state Medicaid enrollment. Specifies the time frame concerning the initial date of Medicaid assistance based on the application date. Sets forth additional countable income requirements for Medicaid. Modifies immigration status requirements for Medicaid, including presumptive eligibility and the healthy Indiana plan (HIP), and requires the office to verify compliance of the requirements and report information to the federal government. Modifies work and exemption requirements for HIP and requires the conditions to be met in the three preceding months before an individual applies to HIP. Requires the office to verify compliance with the work requirements on an ongoing basis and at least quarterly. Prohibits the office from expanding the medically frail exemption beyond the federal definition of the term. Removes the 12 month eligibility period for HIP and requires semiannual renewal. Sets forth additional copayments for the use of an emergency room setting for nonemergency services and other services under HIP.

Makes changes to various education provisions concerning the following: (1) Certain school corporation accounting requirements. (2) The "nonpublic school" definition. (3) Recodification and state board of education (state board) transition provisions. (4) The state board's duties. (5) Powers of the governing bodies of school corporations. (6) Public-private agreements by charter schools for the construction or renovation of schools. (7) Adoption of certain rules by the state board. (8) Provisions that apply to a qualified district or qualified high school. (9) Department of education's (department) duties regarding initiatives for teacher recruitment and retention of certain educators. (10) Internet use policy. (11) Graduation plan requirements. (12) Instruction on alcoholic beverages, tobacco, prescription drugs, and controlled substances. (13) Recognition program criteria application. (14) Reporting on certain student expenditure information. (15) Excused absences. (16) Automated external defibrillator (AED) requirements. (17) Grant awards from the Indiana secured school fund. (18) Joint meetings of governing bodies of school corporations. (19) The borrowing of money by school corporations for certain hardware. Relocates a provision regarding certain possession and storage of a firearm educational materials from the department to the department of homeland security. Allows use of temporary teacher contracts for teachers who have been issued an emergency permit. Removes or repeals various education and higher education provisions concerning the following: (1) Expired and expiring provisions. (2) Duties, discretionary actions, and restrictions regarding the department. (3) Posting of certain information by schools. (4) Discretionary display of certain words by qualified districts. (5) Academic receivership. (6) Staff performance evaluations regarding Indianapolis Public Schools. (7) Certain powers of governing bodies of school corporations. (8) Certain student teaching agreement requirements with postsecondary educational institutions. (9) Certain discretionary authority of school corporations regarding joining regional school study councils, distributing payroll based on contractual and compensation plans, and establishing and using funds for nursery schools. (10) Spending restrictions for remediation programs. (11) Certain website posting requirements for school corporations and charter schools. (12) Reporting regarding students who meet certain requirements during their expected graduation year. (13) Discretion regarding certain feasibility studies. (14) Certain rights and privileges of teachers employed in a joint program or special education cooperatives or with regard to certain interlocal cooperation agreements. (15) Joint investment funds. (16) Application of certain laws to joint programs. (17) Establishment of certain students as transfer students. (18) Discretion regarding employee health coverage for certain individuals. (19) Notification to the secretary of education by a superintendent regarding a conviction or certain final actions. (20) References to an online platform for training. (21) Reports regarding adjunct teachers. (22) Teacher contract requirements regarding the number of work hours per day. (23) Voiding of contracts with teachers if certain conditions apply. (24) Regular teacher's contract requirement for principals, assistant principals, and directors of special education. (25) The provision of certain individual test scores regarding examinations required for teacher licensure. (26) The definition of "secondary school" regarding the federal teacher loan forgiveness program. (27) The definition of "deficit financing" with regard to the Gary Community School Corporation and the Muncie Community school corporation. (28) Allowing instruction on bullying prevention and child abuse by certain individuals. (29) Timing of statewide assessment requirements for state accredited nonpublic schools and eligible schools. (30) Requirement that the department make available certain diagnostic tools. (31) Discretionary portfolio programs by governing bodies of school corporations. (32) Allowing expulsion if a student's legal settlement is not in an attendance area. (33) Report requirement by the education commission of the states. (34) Duty of a school corporation to preserve instructional programs. (35) The primary care physician loan forgiveness program. (36) Required payments by postsecondary credit bearing proprietary educational institutions regarding cost of performing team onsite investigations. (37) Indiana excellence in teaching endowment. (38) Listing of funds established outside certain education provisions. Repeals and relocates education provisions regarding programs administered by the state with the following changes: (1) Removes or repeals the following: (A) Dissemination of certain information regarding the teacher referral system. (B) Expired provisions. (C) Certain uses of the Senator David C. Ford educational technology fund. (D) The technology plan grant program and requirements. (E) School social worker qualification requirements. (F) An annual report regarding system of teacher and student advancement grants. (G) The Indiana education residency pilot program. (H) A biannual progress report regarding the next level computer science program and fund. (I) A noncompliance and transfer of responsibility provision regarding the next level computer science program and fund. (2) Amends certain requirements regarding the process for evaluating curricular materials. Makes conforming changes.

Allows a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor option for the payment of the participant's retirement allowance. Provides for a thirteenth check in calendar year 2026 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.

Requires an intermediary and an employer to enter into an agreement that sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the intermediary and the employer when participating in a work based learning program. Repeals provisions relating to the federal School to Work Opportunities Act under the worker's compensation and worker's occupational diseases compensation laws. Provides that, subject to certain limitations, a student who performs services for an employer as part of a work based learning program is entitled to benefits under the worker's compensation and worker's occupational diseases compensation laws. Provides that any underwriting decision made by an insurer or rating factor applied to a participant must be based on objective risk based criteria that are applied uniformly and without regard to the age of the student to be covered under the policy.