Sen. Cyndi Carrasco

Makes changes to the permissible uses for the state disaster relief fund (fund). Makes changes to the requirements for an eligible entity to receive financial assistance from the fund. Makes changes to the calculations used to determine the amount of financial assistance an eligible entity may receive from the fund. Increases, from $10,000 to $25,000, the amount of loss that may be compensated for damages to an individual's property. Repeals provisions that: (1) provide a definition of "public facility"; (2) provide limitations for an entity suffering multiple disaster emergencies; and (3) provide requirements for an application of an eligible entity that is an individual to obtain financial assistance from the fund.

Makes the office of administrative law proceedings the ultimate authority in any administrative proceeding under its jurisdiction. Provides certain exceptions. Provides that the bill applies to certain proceedings filed after June 30, 2024. Specifies when a state agency may be required to pay reasonable attorney's fees for judicial review proceedings. Outlines procedures for the ultimate authority regarding nonfinal orders and procedures to file objections to final orders. Permits a final order to be corrected by means of a motion to correct error. Provides that the court shall decide all questions of law, including any interpretation of a federal or state constitutional provision, state statute, or agency rule, without deference to any previous interpretation made by the state agency. Provides that a court is not bound by a finding of fact made by the ultimate authority if the finding of fact is not supported by the record. Requires the state agency to transmit the agency record to the court for judicial review. Eliminates the office of environmental adjudication and transfers proceedings to the office of administrative law proceedings. Creates requirements for administrative law judges that are assigned to certain environmental matters. Provides that until the office of administrative law proceedings adopts or amends rules related to environmental matters, it must continue to follow and implement rules under 315 IAC. Requires the office of administrative law proceedings to continue to index and make publicly available, in a substantially similar online searchable format, the final orders of contested appeals currently maintained by the office. Makes conforming changes.

Provides that an action for injury to a person that results from the sexual abuse of a child, that has expired under the current statute of limitations, may be commenced before July 1, 2025, against specified entities seeking bankruptcy protection, if certain circumstances exist. Provides that certain images created by artificial intelligence or similar means constitute an "intimate image" for purposes of: (1) a civil action involving nonconsensual pornography; or (2) the crime of distributing an intimate image. Specifies that an intimate image, for purposes of the criminal offense, must appear to depict the alleged victim. Exempts certain news media and internet and cloud service providers from the criminal offense under certain circumstances. Provides that "peep", for purposes of the voyeurism statute, includes the use of a concealed camera with the intent of capturing an intimate image. Makes conforming amendments.

Defines "chemical intoxicant" and increases the penalty for trafficking with an inmate if the trafficked article is a chemical intoxicant.

Requires the secretary of family and social services to provide that the standards for services provided by recovery community organizations for behavioral health recovery, when used as a recovery community organization, be certified through a certain entity and meet other standards established by the division of mental health and addiction. Specifies information that must be reported by a community mental health center as part of the community mental health center's annual report.

Amends the robotics competition program (program) definition of "allowable expenses" to allow a robotics competition team to use grant funds on expenses associated with a robotics competition. (Current law allows expenditures for expenses associated with attendance at a robotics competition.) Amends the program definition of "eligible school" to include a nonpublic school accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board of education. Amends the program definition of "eligible team" to include a community based robotics competition team. Requires the department of education (department) to consider the number of participants when developing a guideline to award grants. Requires the department to award grants for each school year not later than August 1 of the applicable school year. Specifies that the program and any participation by a team mentor and team coach in the program is not subject to collective bargaining.

Amends definitions of emergency shelter care, motor vehicle, violent crime, and victim of a child sex crime. Changes out-of-pocket loss to out-of-pocket expenses. Provides that certain records obtained by the victim services division (division) of the criminal justice institute are to remain confidential. Provides that, where justice requires, the division may award compensation before an information or indictment is filed. Adds procedures for claim denial by the division. Provides that an award may not be made unless the claimant has incurred an out-of-pocket expense or loss of income that exceeds $100. Adds that the division may order the payment of compensation for reasonable, documented expenses that were incurred within 180 days of the violent crime. Provides that the director may extend the 180 days to two years for mental health counseling. Requires written verification of all losses and expenses requested before making an award. Adds procedures for application denial and appeals. Repeals the law relating to payment of compensable losses, hearings concerning the merits of an application, decisions by a hearing officer, the reduction of awards, and appealing the findings of a hearing officer.

Makes possession of xylazine a Class A misdemeanor, and increases the penalty to a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior xylazine related conviction. Makes dealing in xylazine a Level 5 felony, and increases the penalty to a Level 4 felony if the person has a prior xylazine related conviction. Exempts certain persons using, distributing, or manufacturing xylazine for veterinary purposes.

Specifies that, for purposes of the statute concerning the replacement of customer owned lead service lines by water utilities, a municipally owned utility includes a utility company owned, operated, or held in trust by a consolidated city. Provides that the following apply with respect to the owner of a building, structure, or dwelling, other than a multi-family residential property that contains more than four dwelling units, that is served by a customer owned lead service line within or connected to a water utility's system: (1) That upon request by the water utility, the owner shall replace, or cause to be replaced, the customer owned portion of the lead service line by: (A) enrolling in the water utility's lead service line replacement program; or (B) replacing the customer owned portion of the lead service line through the owner's own agents or contractors and at the owner's own expense. (2) That if the owner: (A) does not enroll in the water utility's lead service line replacement program; (B) does not replace the customer owned portion of the lead service line; or (C) fails to communicate with the water utility regarding the replacement; the water utility or the water utility's agent may enter the property to replace the customer owned portion of the lead service line. (3) That the: (A) water utility; and (B) occupant of the property, if the property is occupied by a person other than the owner; are not liable to the owner with respect to any replacement made under these provisions. (4) That if a water utility attempts to avail itself of the remedies set forth in these provisions and is prevented from doing so by the owner of the property, the water utility may, in accordance with state law, disconnect water service to the owner's property. Provides that the following apply with respect to the owner of a multi-family residential property that contains more than four dwelling units: (1) That the owner may elect to participate in the water utility's lead service line replacement program. (2) That the owner must communicate to the water utility the owner's election to participate not later than 45 days after receiving the water utility's request. (3) That if the owner does not communicate the owner's election to participate within this 45 day period, the owner, or any future owner of the property, is responsible for replacing the customer owned portion of the lead service line through the owner's own agents or contractors and at the owner's own expense. Provides that in the case of a: (1) building; (2) structure; or (3) dwelling; that a water utility has determined to be abandoned or unserviceable, the water utility may disconnect water service to the property and require the owner, or any future owner, of the property to install a new service line. Provides that these provisions may be incorporated, without the need for further approval by the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC), into a water utility's lead service line replacement plan that has been previously approved by the IURC.

Adds a definition of "mixed beverage". Allows the holder of a wine wholesaler's permit to take certain actions concerning mixed beverages and flavored malt beverages.