Sen. Jack E. Sandlin

Specifies that the statute concerning the payment for utility services (other than sewer services) provided by a municipally owned utility to rental property does not allow a municipal legislative body to impose a requirement that the owner of the property must: (1) ensure the creditworthiness of the person occupying the property; or (2) accept responsibility for charges incurred by the person occupying the property; by cosigning an agreement or by any other method.

Increases, from $150,000 to $225,000, the special death benefit for certain public safety officers, certain motor carrier inspectors, certain special police employees, members of the 1925 police pension fund, the 1937 firefighters' pension fund, the 1953 police pension fund, and the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund who die in the line of duty after June 30, 2020. Provides that the board shall determine contributions and contribution rates for individual employers or for a group of employers necessary to adequately maintain the special death benefit fund. Provides that, for certain police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers, the cost of the coverage is in addition to the contribution determined by the board.

Amends the law mandating coverage for colorectal cancer testing under accident and sickness insurance policies, health maintenance organization contracts, and state employee health plans to change the minimum age at which coverage must be provided from 50 years of age to 45 years of age. Includes exception for high deductible health plans.

Requires each person or entity having authority over a school building to test the drinking water in the school building before January 1, 2023, to determine whether the drinking water equals or exceeds the action level for lead of 15 parts per billion. Provides that the testing requirement is satisfied if the drinking water of a school building: (1) was tested during the lead sampling program for school buildings conducted by the Indiana finance authority (IFA) in 2017 and 2018; (2) is tested in the lead sampling program conducted by the IFA in 2019 and 2020; or has otherwise been tested for compliance with the federal drinking water standards at least once since 2016. Requires that drinking water in school buildings located in Lake County be tested at least once in each period of two calendar years beginning in 2023. Provides that if a test of the drinking water of a school building indicates the presence of lead in the water equal to or greater than 15 parts per billion, the person or entity having authority over the school building is required to take action to reduce the lead levels in the drinking water to less than 15 parts per billion. Provides that the person or entity having authority over a school building that is subject to drinking water testing is required to seek state and federal money that is available for lead sampling or testing.

Provides that a full-time, paid, nonprobationary firefighter has certain minimum protections in addition to any protections provided by contract or other law with regard to the following: (1) The conduct of an interview of the firefighter by the fire department (department) regarding a complaint or internal investigation. (2) The giving of notice by the department to the firefighter of a personnel reassignment, personnel action, or disciplinary action. (3) The disclosure of the firefighter's personal financial information for purposes of a personnel assignment or action. (4) The firefighter's engagement in or refusal to engage in political activity. (Currently these statutes apply only to police officers and police departments.) Repeals a provision that makes the provisions applicable only to police officers.

Authorizes a nonprofit agricultural organization to provide health benefit coverage that is: (1) sponsored by the nonprofit agricultural organization or its affiliate; (2) offered only to members of the nonprofit agricultural organization and their families; (3) deemed by the nonprofit agricultural organization to be important in assisting its members to live long and productive lives; and (4) offered in every county in Indiana. Provides that nonprofit agricultural organization coverage is not insurance and is not subject to the regulatory authority of the department of insurance, and that a nonprofit agricultural organization providing health coverage is not engaged in the business of insurance and is not required to obtain a certificate of authority. Provides that an individual may not apply for health coverage provided by a nonprofit agricultural organization until the individual has been a member of the nonprofit agricultural organization for at least 30 days. Mandates that the health coverage cover ambulatory patient services, hospitalization, emergency services, and laboratory services, and provides that the coverage may not be subject to an annual limit of less than $2,000,000 per year. Requires a nonprofit agricultural organization offering health coverage: (1) to annually file with the department of insurance a written, signed opinion of a qualified actuary that the plan reserves of the nonprofit agricultural organization and its affiliate are adequate and conform to the appropriate actuarial standards of practice; and (2) to reinsure all or a portion of its risks. Provides that an individual entering into a health coverage contract with a nonprofit agricultural organization must acknowledge in a signed writing that the coverage: (1) is not considered insurance; and (2) is not subject to the administrative rules of the department of insurance.

Provides that a political subdivision may lease real property of the political subdivision that is located between the curb of a street and the front of commercial property, including a parkway strip, tree row, verge, or sidewalk, to the owner or property manager of the commercial property: (1) upon terms agreed to between the political subdivision and the property owner or property manager; and (2) without competitive bidding. Specifies requirements for the lease. Provides that upon execution of the lease, the property of the political subdivision shall be under the maintenance, control, and supervision of the property owner or the property manager, subject to the public's right to use the sidewalk as a walkway. Requires the lessee to: (1) assume the liability of the political subdivision for personal injuries and property damage to third parties occurring on the property; and (2) maintain insurance coverage in amount determined sufficient by the political subdivision. Requires the lease to be approved by at least a two-thirds vote of the members of the fiscal body of the political subdivision and recorded in the office of the county recorder.

Amends the access to public records act to provide that personal information regarding a correctional officer, probation officer, community corrections officer, law enforcement officer, judge, crime victim, or their family members may be withheld from disclosure when requested by a person confined in a prison, county jail, detention facility, or in a community corrections program as a result of the person's arrest or conviction for a crime, or that person's agent or relative. (Currently the law permits withholding personal information of officers, judges, victims, or their family members, if the information is requested by a person incarcerated in a penal institution after conviction for a crime.) Provides that the term "agent" does not include an attorney in good standing admitted to the practice of law in Indiana.

Provides rights to sexual assault victims, including the right to: (1) speak with a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, and a victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available, before a forensic medical exam or during the course of an investigation; (2) the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence; and (3) notice. Requires a provider, before commencing a forensic medical examination, or as soon as possible, to notify a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, or victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available.

Adds new scheduled drugs (including emergency scheduled drugs) to the statutory drug schedules. Defines "isomer". Defines "narcotic" to include opium esters, ethers, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers. Makes other changes and conforming amendments. Makes a technical correction.