Sen. Jeff Raatz

Establishes the education policy committee (committee) consisting of four legislative members, the secretary of education, and four alternate legislative members. Provides that the primary function of the committee is to serve as liaison between the legislative and executive branches of government about all matters relating to education policy of the state and the implementation of that policy by the executive branch. Provides that the committee's chair may place on the committee's meeting agenda any topic relating to education policy for discussion by the committee and for the committee to make an advisory recommendation about that topic. Requires the committee to provide an advisory recommendation about the adoption of any rule permitted or required to be adopted under IC 20 or to decline to provide an advisory recommendation about the adoption of the rule. Requires the committee's advisory recommendation or declination to give an advisory recommendation to be published with the text of the proposed rule at the time the proposed rule is published as provided in the rulemaking statute.

Provides that the governing body of a school corporation, a charter school, a state accredited nonpublic school, or an eligible school: (1) may require a student or employee to wear a face mask or face covering on school premises or while using school transportation; and (2) may not require a student or employee to quarantine or isolate unless the student or employee tests positive for COVID-19 or exhibits a symptom of COVID-19. Allows a student or employee who exhibits a symptom of COVID-19 to return to school if the student or employee has a subsequent negative COVID-19 test. Requires a school to adopt a policy concerning a student's or employee's religious and medical needs. Provides that certain governmental entities may make recommendations to, but may not impose certain requirements on, a school concerning the prevention of COVID-19. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the membership of the state board of education.

Provides that an educational program that is validated as a Montessori program by the United Montessori Schools of Indiana is exempt from licensure as a day care center.

Permits a city or town, county, and township to appoint a cemetery caretaker to control and manage cemeteries in the entity's care. Establishes requirements for a city or town to appoint a cemetery caretaker through a proposed ordinance. Provides that a cemetery caretaker is employed at the will of an executive of a city or town, a county board of commissioners, or a township trustee. Provides deadlines by which a vacancy in the cemetery caretaker position must be filled.

Authorizes a local unit (county, municipality, town, township, or school corporation) to establish a workforce retention and recruitment program (program) and fund (fund) for the purposes of recruiting and retaining individuals who will satisfy the current and future workforce needs of the unit's employers or provide substantial economic impact to the unit, including providing incentives in the form of grants or loans to qualified workers. Defines "qualified worker" for purposes of the program. Requires a qualified worker who receives a grant or loan from the fund to enter into an incentive agreement. Authorizes the unit to transfer money into the fund from other sources. Provides that the executive of the unit shall administer the fund in coordination with a workforce fund board of managers (workforce fund managers) appointed by the executive of the unit. Requires the workforce fund managers to annually submit a report setting out their activities during the preceding calendar year to the executive of the unit, the fiscal body of the unit, and the department of local government finance. Makes conforming changes.

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 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 definition of "home health agency", for purposes of the home health agency licensure laws, to provide that a person may provide or offer to provide nursing services and at least one home health service for compensation. Specifies that the term does not include: (1) services under the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); or a person that only administers home infusion therapy based on a specialty medication prescription.

Adds mental health providers to the list of persons who may not be required to participate in specified procedures and practices concerning abortion or aborted remains if the mental health provider objects to such procedures and practices on the basis of ethical, moral, or religious belief. Provides that an abortion inducing drug may not be dispensed, prescribed, or given to a woman after eight weeks of postfertilization age. Requires a physician to dispense the abortion inducing drug in person and have the pregnant woman consume the drug in the presence of the physician. Removes FDA guidelines from a provision concerning manufacturer instruction sheets and patient agreement forms pertaining to abortion inducing drugs. Requires an ultrasound image of a pregnant woman's fetus to be provided: (1) to a pregnant woman for her to keep; and (2) at no cost or charge to the pregnant woman; in the event of fetal ultrasound imaging. Requires certain information concerning the reversal of specified abortion inducing drugs to be provided to a pregnant woman in certain instances. Requires a specified report to identify the: (1) facility; and (2) city or town; where required information concerning an abortion was provided. Requires specified individuals to include, or to ensure the inclusion of, a copy of a pregnant woman's ultrasound report in the applicable patient file. Prohibits an abortion clinic from receiving an annual license renewal if ultrasound reports are not included in a pregnant woman's patient file. Provides that the written parental consent for purposes of abortion laws concerning an unemancipated pregnant woman less than 18 years of age must be notarized. Prohibits the state department of health from renewing an abortion clinic's license if noncompliance discovered during an annual inspection is not remedied. Prohibits the use of telemedicine to provide any abortion, including the writing or filling of a prescription for any purpose that is intended to result in an abortion. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments.