Sen. Jeff Raatz

A SENATE RESOLUTION recognizing March 21, 2023, as World Down Syndrome Day.

Establishes the Indiana imagination library. Provides that the state library shall administer the Indiana imagination library. Provides that the state library, in consultation with the department of education and the family and social services administration, shall either establish a statewide nonprofit organization or enter into an agreement with a statewide nonprofit organization to carry out the responsibilities related to statewide partnerships and programs. Requires that the statewide nonprofit organization manage the daily operations of and promote the program. Establishes the Indiana imagination library fund, which is nonreverting. Requires the state library, in conjunction with the statewide nonprofit organization, to review the program and report to the governor and the interim study committee on education by November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2023. Sets forth the information that the report must include.

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Master Trooper James R. Bailey.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the National FFA Organization and the Indiana FFA Association for exemplary work in the advancement of agricultural education in Indiana and across the country.

Defines "antisemitism", specifies that the public policy of the state is to provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination, and provides that antisemitism is discrimination on the basis of religion.

Provides that the state of Indiana, a political subdivision or other governmental entity of the state of Indiana, a government official, or any other person acting under the color of law shall not infringe on the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of the parent's child without demonstrating that the infringement: (1) is required by a compelling governmental interest of the highest order as long recognized in the history and traditions of the state of Indiana; and (2) as applied to the child, is narrowly tailored and not otherwise served by a less restrictive means. Creates a right of action for violation of a parent's rights with respect to the upbringing, education, and health care of the parent's child. Provides that a child is not a child in need of services due to the child's parent, guardian, or custodian: (1) referring to and raising the child consistent with the child's biological sex; or (2) declining to consent to the child receiving: (A) specified medication; (B) a medical procedure the purpose of which is to alter the apparent gender or sex of the child or affirm the child's perception of the child's gender or sex in a manner inconsistent with the child's biological sex; or (C) counseling or other mental health services the purpose of which is to affirm the child's perception of the child's gender or sex if the child's perception is inconsistent with the child's biological sex. Provides that if the juvenile court finds that a child is a child in need of services because the child substantially endangers the child's own or another's health, the court shall release the child to the child's parent, guardian, or custodian and may not enter a dispositional decree ordering removal of the child, unless: (1) the court also finds that the child is a child in need of services for another reason; or (2) the parent, guardian, or custodian consents to the child being removed from the child's home. Specifies that the parental rights and responsibilities do not: (1) authorize a parent to: (A) abuse or neglect a child; or (B) make the decision to end the child's life; or (2) prohibit a court from issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law. Makes conforming changes.

Requires a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) providing benefits for employers that are public entities to provide each public entity that has 51 or more employees covered under the arrangement access to claims data specific to that public entity. Provides that, within a reasonable time after receiving a written request from a participating employer that is a public entity, a MEWA must provide to the public entity certain loss history information concerning the benefits provided by the MEWA for the public entity. Also imposes the duty to provide the loss history information upon the insurer providing the group insurance policy if the MEWA provides benefits for the public entity through a group insurance policy and upon the health maintenance organization if the MEWA provides benefits for the public entity through a group health maintenance contract. Provides that a policy of stop loss insurance issued by a reinsurer to a MEWA providing benefits for a public entity must cover claims submitted within the timely filing limit of the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage. Prohibits the department of insurance from adopting or enforcing any rule that would reduce the timely filing limit specified within the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage. Makes the violation of the requirements relating to a MEWA that provides benefits for a public entity an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act and practice for which the insurance commissioner may issue a cease and desist order, impose a civil penalty, and suspend or revoke a MEWA's certificate of registration.

Removes the threshold conditions for establishing a residential housing development program and a tax increment allocation area for the program, including the condition that the governing body of each school corporation affected by the program pass a resolution approving the program before the program may go into effect. Provides that the fiscal body of a county may adopt an ordinance to designate an economic development target area.

Requires the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system (board) to make investment decisions with the primary purpose of maximizing the target rate of return on the board's investments. Prohibits the board from making an investment decision with the purpose of influencing any social or environmental policy or attempting to influence the governance of any corporation for nonpecuniary purposes. Specifies an exception. Requires the board to adopt a policy that ensures proxy voting and engagement is based primarily on maximizing the target rate of return on the board's investments. Provides certain guidelines and reporting requirements for proxy voting in relation to the administration of the public pension and retirement funds of the system.

Provides that the commission for higher education may administer a program to support JobSource, Inc., for the management of the Heartland/Anderson Scholar House. Provides that the purposes of the program include: (1) the expansion of program participant services; (2) residential and other support facility improvements and a one time debt reduction of $250,000; (3) outreach to impoverished single mothers in minority communities; and (4) the provision of a scholarship gap fund for graduates staying in Indiana. Provides that administration costs incurred in the management of the Heartland/Anderson Scholar House may not exceed two percent 2% of the total program costs