Sen. J.D. Ford

Provides that a member of the state teachers' retirement fund who retires after June 30, 2022, and served time in voluntary or involuntary active military service is entitled to a military service credit for the member's active military service in an amount equal to the duration of the member's active military service, if the member: (1) received an honorable discharge; and (2) has at least 10 years of in-state service credit. Provides that not more than six years of military service credit may be granted. Makes conforming amendments.

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.

Sets the income eligibility requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program at a specified percentage of the federal income poverty level. Requires the division of family resources (division) to amend the state TANF plan or take any other action necessary to implement the income requirements. Increases certain payment amounts under the TANF program. Requires the payments to be annually adjusted using the Social Security cost of living adjustment rate, but provides that the total adjustment in a year must be reduced to the extent the adjustment would result in the transfer to the Child Care and Development Fund grant program being less than the maximum allowable transfer under federal law. Authorizes emergency rulemaking concerning the payments. Repeals language regarding: (1) payments for a child born more than 10 months after a family qualifies for assistance; (2) the adoption of rules authorizing certain vouchers; (3) eligibility for child support enforcement services; (4) encouraging a family that receives assistance to receive family planning counseling; and (5) requiring the division to apply a percentage reduction to the total needs of TANF applicants and recipients in computing TANF benefits. Makes conforming changes.

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing the life of Zachary Steven Eckert.

Allows a disabled veteran who rents a dwelling for use as the disabled veteran's principal place of residence to claim an additional renter's deduction from the disabled veteran's adjusted gross income. Provides that the additional deduction may not exceed $3,000.

Requires each electric utility other than a municipally owned utility or a rural electric membership corporation (electricity provider) to biennially establish, or issue a request for third party proposals to establish, at least five community solar facilities, in which customers of the electricity provider: (1) subscribe to pay for and receive a specified amount of electricity generated by the community solar facility; and (2) are credited by the electricity provider in each billing cycle for the amount of electricity from the community solar facility for which the customer subscribes. Establishes a process for: (1) solicitation and selection of proposals by an electricity provider for the construction, ownership, and operation of community solar facilities in the electricity provider's service area; (2) submission of a community solar facility project plan by each electricity provider to the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission); and (3) review and approval of submitted community solar facility project plans by the commission.

Amends the statute concerning distributed electricity generation as follows: (1) Repeals provisions requiring an electricity supplier's net metering tariff to 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 1.5% of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load; or (B) July 1, 2022. (2) Repeals provisions requiring an electricity supplier to: (A) petition the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a rate for the procurement of excess distributed generation produced by customers owning a distributed generation facility; and (B) credit, at the approved rate, customers for excess distributed generation supplied to the electricity supplier. (3) Provides that an electricity supplier's net metering tariff must be made and remain available to customers at least until 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. (4) Requires an electricity supplier to petition, before July 1, 2022, the IURC for approval of a new or amended net metering tariff that does the following: (A) Provides that the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity made available for participation by customers under the net metering tariff is at least 5% of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load. (B) Provides that the minimum net metering facility nameplate capacity made available is subject to the reservation of: (i) 30% (versus 40% under current law) for participation by residential customers; and (ii) not more than 5% (versus 15% under current law) for participation by customers that install a net metering facility that uses organic waste biomass. (5) Provides that before July 1, 2022, the IURC shall make similar amendments to its net metering rules. (6) Provides that a customer that installs a net metering facility on the customer's premises before the net metering tariff of the customer's electricity supplier terminates under the bill's provisions shall continue to be served under the net metering tariff until the customer removes from the customer's premises or replaces the net metering facility. (Current law requires the customer to continue to be served under the net metering tariff until: (A) the customer removes or replaces the net metering facility; or (B) either July 1, 2032, or July 1, 2047, depending on the date of installation; whichever is earlier.) Specifies that any repairs, updates, or upgrades to portions of a net metering facility that do not increase the nameplate capacity of the net metering facility are not considered a replacement of the net metering facility for purposes of these provisions. (7) Makes conforming changes in other provisions of the statute. Adds a noncode provision to address electricity suppliers that have applied for approval, or received approval, for an excess distributed generation rate or tariff from the IURC under current law, and to require: (1) the IURC to: (A) close any pending proceeding for an electricity supplier that has not yet received approval for an excess distributed generation rate or tariff; and (B) direct the electricity supplier to file a petition with the IURC for approval of a new or amended net metering tariff, as required under the bill; and (2) an electricity supplier that has been granted approval by the IURC of an excess distributed generation rate and tariff to file with the IURC, not later than 30 days after the enactment of the bill, a petition for approval of a new or amended net metering tariff, as required under the bill.

Provides that, in calculating whether a school corporation has met the 45% teacher compensation threshold, a school corporation: (1) may include only salaries paid from the state tuition support distributions during the state fiscal year; and (2) shall count the total funds received in state tuition support distributions to the school corporation during the state fiscal year. Provides that a school corporation is not considered to be in deficit financing if the sum of the ending respective cash balance on June 30 of the immediately preceding state fiscal year of: (1) the school corporation's rainy day fund; plus (2) the school corporation's education fund; exceeds an amount equal to 20% of the school corporation's most recently adopted annual budget. Requires a school employer to bargain collectively class size, health and safety matters, and teacher preparation time with an exclusive representative.

Creates a task force to study pharmacy deserts in Indiana. Requires the task force to report findings and recommendations to the general assembly and the governor not later than November 1, 2023.

Requires a farmers' market administrator or representative who is responsible for managing a farmers' market that has qualified retailers to accept electronic benefit transfer (EBT) payments and coupons from participants in the following food assistance programs: (1) The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (2) The women, infants, and children nutrition program (WIC). (3) The WIC farmers' market nutrition program (FMNP).