Provides that the polls close at 7 p.m. (Under current law, the polls must close at 6 p.m.) Provides that an application to obtain or renew a motor vehicle driver's license or permit or an identification card serves as a voter registration application unless the applicant expressly declines on the application to register to vote. Provides that a voter becomes registered to vote when: (1) the county voter registration office determines the voter appears to be eligible to vote at the address on the voter's voter registration application; and (2) the voter receives notice of this determination. Requires a county voter registration office to note that a voter is in inactive status if the notice of voter registration is returned by the United States Postal Service due to an unknown or insufficient address. Eliminates the seven day period during which a voter's voter registration application is considered pending. Permits a voter to register at the polls by completing a voter registration form and an affirmation that the person has not voted elsewhere in the election and by providing proof of residence. Permits a voter who is qualified to vote in person to vote by absentee ballot. Removes all other qualifications for a voter to vote by absentee ballot except for a voter with disabilities who is unable to make a voting mark on the ballot or sign the absentee ballot secrecy envelope. (Such a disabled voter is currently required to vote before an absentee voter board.) Requires each absentee ballot mailed to a voter to be assigned a unique tracking number as prescribed by the election division using IMb Tracing. Requires the election division to incorporate a feature in the computerized list that enables county election officials and a voter to use IMb Tracing to track the voter's absentee ballot from the time the absentee ballot was mailed to the voter until the time the absentee ballot was received by the county election officials. Permits a county election board to authorize nonpartisan election observers for educational purposes to be present at the polls. Permits a county election board to authorize a public health safety officer to be present at the polls to monitor the public health. Requires each county to establish one satellite office for absentee voting in addition to absentee voting provided in the circuit court clerk's office. Requires each county to establish an additional satellite office for each 25,000 or fraction of 25,000 active voters in the county. Requires that in a township with at least 25,000 active voters, a satellite office must be established for each 25,000 active voters in the township. Provides that a voter may return a completed absentee ballot sealed in an absentee ballot envelope to the county election board by depositing the absentee ballot envelope in an absentee ballot drop box. Provides that absentee ballots may be scanned, but not tabulated, before election day. Provides that a person who knowingly does any electioneering in an area within 100 feet of an absentee ballot drop box commits a Class A misdemeanor. Repeals a provision that requires the rejection of an absentee ballot marked and forwarded by a voter who subsequently dies before election day. Repeals obsolete statutes relating to counting absentee ballots in precincts. Makes conforming changes.
Sponsored bills
Establishes the Indiana passenger rail commission to do the following: (1) Facilitate development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest. (2) Coordinate interaction among federal, state, and local elected officials relating to passenger rail issues. (3) Facilitate development and implementation of long range plans for modern passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest. (4) Coordinate public and private sectors at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure cooperation among the various entities having an interest in passenger rail service and promote Indiana interests regarding passenger rail service. (5) Facilitate the efforts of the Indiana department of transportation and other transportation agencies involved in developing and implementing passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest.
Provides a death benefit to the survivors of an essential worker who dies from COVID-19. Makes an appropriation.
Provides that a person employed as a fire marshal or fire investigator by a political subdivision is: (1) recognized as an Indiana first responder; (2) eligible for a line of duty death benefit from the state special death benefit fund; and (3) for purposes of disability benefit eligibility in the 1977 fund and 1937 fund, presumed to have incurred a disability in the line of duty if diagnosed with a disease related to exposure to a known carcinogen or an adverse substance or condition.
Establishes the food desert grant program within the state department of health (ISDH) to assist new and existing retail businesses in offering fresh and unprocessed foods within a "food desert" (an underserved geographic area where, as determined by the ISDH, affordable fresh and healthy foods are difficult to obtain). Provides that a grant awarded under the program may be used to establish a new retail grocery store or to renovate, expand, or upgrade an existing retail business that will increase the availability and quality of fresh produce and other healthy foods. Requires the ISDH to consider certain criteria when determining whether to award a grant and requires the recipient of a grant to abide by certain terms and conditions. Establishes the food desert fund for purposes of awarding grants under the program. Requires the ISDH to report on the program annually to the general assembly.
Prohibits a mental health provider from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient less than 18 years of age, and subjects a mental health provider who violates the prohibition to disciplinary action.
Provides that each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic school shall maintain at least one equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Establishes duties for the equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Requires the department of education (department) to provide certain information and resources for an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer. Provides that the department, with the approval of the state board of education, may assign additional duties to an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer to: (1) improve comprehensive strategy fostering equitable, diverse, and inclusive training; and (2) provide and promote education to cultivate an awareness and understanding of the various federal, state, and local laws and policies regarding nondiscrimination. Requires an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer to meet certain annual professional development requirements. Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic school to submit a report to the department. Requires that the school's annual performance report include the number of times an equity, diversity, and inclusion officer responds to referrals by the governing body or school administrative staff.
Makes various changes to the statutes concerning: (1) first lien mortgage lenders; (2) persons licensed under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC); (3) civil proceeding advance payment providers; (4) debt management companies; (5) banks; (6) credit unions; (7) pawnbrokers; (8) money transmitters; and (9) licensed cashers of checks. Repeals a provision in the statute governing credit unions that concerns loans made by a credit union to the credit union's individual directors and committee members. Amends a provision in the statute governing credit unions that concerns loans made by a credit union to the credit union's individual officers to: (1) include extensions of credit made to the credit union's individual directors and supervisory committee members (and to the immediate family members and related interests of the credit union's individual directors and supervisory committee members); and (2) specify that such extensions of credit shall be made in accordance with Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Provides that an appraisal required in connection with a real estate mortgage loan to a credit union member must be: (1) a written appraisal; or (2) a written estimate of market value; consistent with the appraisal standards and transaction value limitations set forth in the appraisal regulations of the National Credit Union Administration.
Provides that a candidate for the certified public accountant examination (exam) may not apply for or take the exam prior to meeting certain education requirements. Provides an exception to the application restriction if a candidate applies up to 60 days prior to the candidate's completion of the education requirements. Provides the Indiana board of accountancy (board) may cancel an exam score if a candidate fails to meet certain requirements. Provides that a candidate must attain a grade of at least 75 on the exam. Provides that a candidate may take the required exam sections individually and in any order and that credit for a passed section shall be valid for 18 months. Provides that a candidate must pass all exam sections within a rolling 18 month period and if a candidate does not do so, credit for any section passed outside of the rolling 18 month period expires and the exam section must be retaken. Provides that a candidate shall retain credit for exam sections passed as a candidate of another state if applicable. Provides that a candidate is considered to have passed the exam once the candidate simultaneously holds credit for each passed section. Provides that the board may extend a term of credit validity under certain circumstances. Provides that the board shall notify eligible candidates of the time, place, and procedures for the exam, or that a candidate shall independently contact the board, the board's designee, or a test center operator to schedule the time, place, and procedures for the exam at an approved site. Provides that these requirements expire on July 1, 2021. Requires the agency to adopt rules to implement the provisions in the bill. Voids certain sections of the Indiana Administrative Code.
Provides that money earned by a child or a member of the child's family as a student participating in a paid internship, a work based learning course, or a paid postsecondary work experience that allows the individual to apply for a related apprenticeship is: (1) disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance or the amount of assistance for a child under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); (2) disregarded for certain Medicaid category populations in determining eligibility for Medicaid; and (3) factored by applying a reasonable method to include a prorated portion of reasonably predictable future income in determining Medicaid eligibility for certain Medicaid category populations. Specifies that income earned by an individual employed in a temporary job as a census worker is not counted for purposes of: (1) TANF; (2) SNAP; (3) Medicaid; (4) a school lunch program; and (5) determining eligibility for certain scholarships, grants, or awards. Changes the amount of equity value in a motor vehicle disregarded for purposes of eligibility in the TANF program from $5,000 to $10,000.