Sen. Jack E. Sandlin

Provides that an employee beneficiary of the state police pre-1987 benefit system or the state police 1987 benefit system who is entitled to a disability pension shall continue to receive the disability pension if the individual is unable to serve as an eligible employee because of a disability incurred on or after January 1, 2006, and subsequently obtains other employment or is elected or appointed to any public office.

Requires the department of natural resources (department) to admit veterans possessing: (1) a driver's license, permit, or identification card containing an indication of their veteran status; or (2) a distinctive license plate designed and issued to a veteran; to state parks, recreational areas, or day facilities under the control of the department without the veteran being charged an admission fee.

Provides that a retired law enforcement officer may possess a firearm on school property under certain conditions.

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 law requiring a permit and compensatory mitigation for "wetland activity" (the discharge of dredged or fill material) in a state regulated wetland: (1) by changing the definition of "Class II wetland"; (2) by providing that wetland activity may be conducted without a permit: (A) in a Class I wetland; (B) in a Class II wetland with an area of not more than three-eighths acre; (C) in an ephemeral stream; and (D) in a Class II wetland that is located within the boundaries of a municipality and has an area of not more than three-fourths acre; (3) by providing that a permit is not needed for the development of cropland that has been used for agricultural purposes: (A) in the five years immediately preceding the development; or (B) in the 10 years immediately preceding the development if the United States Army Corps of Engineers has issued a jurisdictional determination confirming that the cropland does not contain wetlands subject to federal jurisdiction; (4) by providing that wetland activity in a Class II wetland with an area of more than three-eighths acre requires an individual permit; (5) by providing that: (A) maintenance of a field tile in a Class II wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met; and (B) maintenance of a field tile in a Class III wetland can be conducted with a general permit if certain conditions are met and the applicant obtains a site-specific approval; (6) by establishing conditions for obtaining a site-specific approval; (7) by eliminating the compensatory mitigation requirements for wetland activity in a Class I wetland; and (8) by requiring the department of environmental management (department) to make a decision to issue or deny an individual permit for wetland activity not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving the completed application. Amends the law concerning a certification under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act for dredge and fill activity in a federally regulated wetland to require the department to make a final determination not later than 90 days (instead of 120 days) after receiving a completed application if the applicant requests a pre-coordination meeting. Establishes the Indiana wetlands task force, a 14 member body that: (1) is required to study and make recommendations concerning a number of wetlands issues; and (2) not later than November 1, 2022, issue a report to the general assembly and the governor setting forth its recommendations. Requires the department of natural resources to provide staff support to the task force.

Allows the Indiana securities commissioner to request additional information for determining whether a franchise offer or sale is exempt from registration requirements. Provides that a continuing care retirement community's annual disclosure statement must be filed not later than 12 months following the end of its fiscal year. Provides that an individual may not engage in loan processing activities unless certain requirements have been met. Provides that a registered mortgage loan originator is not required to obtain a license under the law governing loan brokers. Provides that the securities division may discipline an individual who fails to comply with disclosure requirements. Amends the law on the licensing of collection agencies by adding a definition of "branch office" and providing that it is unlawful to operate a branch office without meeting certain requirements or to fail to comply with certain disclosure requirements.

Provides for placement of a newborn safety device at any facility that is staffed by an emergency medical services provider on a 24 hour per day, seven day per week basis, provided the newborn safety device: (1) is located in an area that is conspicuous and visible to staff; and (2) includes a dual alarm system that is connected to the facility and is tested at least one time per month to ensure the alarm system is in working order. Provides for placement of a newborn safety device at any fire department, including a volunteer fire department that: (1) meets the minimum response time established by the county, not to exceed four minutes; (2) is located within one mile of a hospital, police station, or emergency medical services station that meets certain requirements; (3) is equipped with an alert system that, when the newborn safety device is opened, automatically connects to the 911 system and transmits a request for immediate dispatch of an emergency medical services provider to the location of the newborn safety device and is tested at least one time per month to ensure the alert system is in working order; and (4) is equipped with an independent video surveillance system that allows at least two members of a fire department to monitor inside the newborn safety device at all times. Provides that a person who in good faith voluntarily leaves a child in a newborn safety device located at such a facility or fire station is not obligated to disclose the parent's name or the person's name. Makes conforming amendments.

Establishes the Indiana crime guns task force (task force) to address violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties by delivering, in cooperation with state and federal officials, a uniform strategy to trace firearms used to commit crimes. Establishes an executive board to direct and oversee the task force. Requires the Indiana criminal justice institute to establish and administer the task force fund. Makes conforming amendments.

Adds provisions that do the following: (1) Provide that the legislative body and the board of zoning appeals (BZA) of Lawrence, Speedway, Southport, and Beech Grove in Marion County (excluded city) have exclusive territorial jurisdiction within the excluded city's boundaries. (2) Require (rather than allow) the excluded city legislative body to conduct a hearing, acting as the plan commission, on a proposed zone map amendment affecting property within the excluded city. Provides that the excluded city legislative body (instead of the consolidated city and county legislative body) makes the decision regarding the zone map amendment. (3) Allow a member of the excluded city legislative body to appeal a decision of the BZA to the excluded city legislative body. (4) Provide that the excluded city legislative body's decision on the appeal is subject to judicial review. Requires all townships to be represented across all the divisions of the board of zoning appeals. Provides that not more than two members appointed to each division of the board of zoning appeals may be residents of the same township. Requires the appointing authority to consult with the township executive regarding the appointments. Requires appeals and applications for variances, special exceptions, special uses, contingent uses, and conditional uses to be allocated to a division of the board of zoning appeals that has at least one member who is a resident of a township in which the property is located that is the subject of the appeal or application.

Requires the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) to create a broadband corridor program (dig once program) to manage the location, installation, and maintenance of communications infrastructure that is used for the provision of broadband services and is located within the rights-of-way of limited access highways. Requires INDOT to adopt policies, procedures, and standards under the dig once program for required installation of fiber conduit by a public or private entity that performs an excavation within a limited access highway right-of-way.