Specifies that it is the policy of the state to recognize the parenting rights of a parent regardless of whether the parent has a disability. Provides that the right of a person with a disability to parent the person's child may not be denied or restricted solely because the person has a disability. Provides that: (1) a court, in: (A) considering the appointment of a person as a guardian; (B) hearing an action to modify custody or an action to determine or modify parenting time; or (C) determining whether to grant a petition for adoption; and (2) the department of child services, in determining whether to grant a person a license to operate a foster family home; may not discriminate against, and shall take into consideration the provision of reasonable accommodations to, a person with a disability.
Sponsored bills
Allows the division of family resources (division) to send certain notices to: (1) an applicant for licensure as a child care center, licensure as a child care home, or registration as a child care ministry; and (2) a licensed child care center, a licensed child care home, and a registered child care ministry; by electronic mail instead of by certified mail. Requires: (1) an applicant for licensure as a child care center, licensure as a child care home, or registration as a child care ministry to provide a current and valid electronic mail address to the division in the application; and (2) a licensed child care center, a licensed child care home, and a registered child care ministry to maintain the provided electronic mail address for the duration of the licensure or registration.
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.
Removes the list of commodities and the specific weight limitations for certain commodities from the definition of "overweight divisible load". Provides that the Indiana department of transportation (department) may issue an overweight permit for transporting overweight vehicles and loads carrying resources on certain highways in the state highway system. Provides that a deviation from an approved route constitutes a violation subject to a civil penalty. Provides that not more than 8,500 single trip permits may be issued annually for applicants with a total equivalent single axle load calculation of more than 2.40 equivalent single axle load credit. Provides that the trip permit limit and trip weight limit do not include overweight divisible load permits obtained by shippers and carriers that obtained permits before January 1, 2021. Provides that the department may temporarily increase the number of overweight divisible load permits issued by order of the commissioner in response to an emergency or changes in market conditions. Provides that the department may limit the number of overweight divisible load permits issued to an individual applicant. Requires the department to adopt rules due to lack of transportation options for certain resources, supply chain interruptions, or supply dock backlogs. Provides that the department shall issue a report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding the fee structure of overweight divisible load permits, and regarding the impact of overweight divisible loads on roads and highways by July 1, 2023. Provides that the department shall issue an annual report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding market fluctuation in the number of overweight divisible load permits issued during the previous year. Provides that the Indiana state police department shall issue an annual report to the legislative council and the interim study committee on roads and transportation regarding the number of accidents involving applicants permitted for overweight divisible loads. Provides that a local authority may grant permits for transporting overweight divisible loads on local streets under the control of the local authority. Makes conforming changes.
Allows a food hall that: (1) is located in a certified technology park; and (2) is not located in a historic district or historic building; to be eligible for a food hall master permit. Provides that a project that: (1) borders a lake that is at least 750 acres; and (2) is within a municipality; is eligible for a municipal riverfront development project retailer's permit. Allows a person who holds: (1) a restaurant permit in an economic development area; and (2) an interest in a brewery, farm winery, or artisan distillery (production facility) located on or adjacent to the restaurant; to sell alcoholic beverages manufactured at the production facility for carryout in the restaurant's general merchandising area and from a self-serving display. Provides that a minor may: (1) be in the restaurant's general merchandising area; and (2) participate in a nondrinking tour of the production facility, if the minor is accompanied by an adult family member.
Defines "mental health diagnosis" and sets forth requirements that must be met in order for certain licensed professionals to provide a mental health diagnosis. Requires certain mental health professionals who are making a mental health diagnosis and who determine that the patient may have a physical condition that requires medical attention or has not been examined by a physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant in the preceding 12 months to: (1) advise the patient to schedule, and offer to assist the patient with scheduling, a physical examination for the patient; (2) provide the patient with a list of practitioners and certain information concerning the practitioners; and (3) coordinate patient care with the practitioner as appropriate. Requires documentation of the actions of the licensed professional in the patient's medical record.
Codifies the compact between the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the state providing for the conduct of tribal class III gaming.
Requires the Indiana management performance hub to: (1) use its data resources and technology to cross-reference with data bases of certain state agencies to identify certain former students with disabilities (eligible individuals); (2) coordinate with the state department of health to determine whether identified eligible individuals are deceased; and (3) provide the information concerning eligible individuals to the department of workforce development (DWD). Requires the state department of health to, not later than November 1, 2021, coordinate with the Indiana management performance hub. Requires the DWD to: (1) communicate with identified eligible individuals; and (2) provide to the eligible individuals a copy of a resource list concerning training and education opportunities and employment services resources. Requires the state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities (council) to annually update and submit the resource list to the department of education and the DWD. Requires the department of education and DWD to post a copy of the most recently updated resource list on the department's and DWD's Internet web sites. Requires the DWD, in consultation with the department of education, to prepare and submit an annual report to the general assembly and the council. Requires the state board of education to, not later than December 1, 2021, adopt rules to create an alternate diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Provides that a political subdivision that conducts or administers an election may not receive or expend funds received from a person (other than from the state or from the federal government) for preparing, administering, or conducting elections, including registering voters. Requires the election division (instead of the Indiana election commission) to prescribe a uniform generic seal for use on certain ballots when the circuit court clerk is a candidate on the ballot. Requires certification by the county chairman of a candidate in a political party primary or town convention if the candidate cast a nonpartisan ballot at the most recent primary election in which the candidate voted. Requires that the notice of an election must include the dates, times, and locations of voting at the circuit court clerk's office and at satellite offices. Provides that notices of elections must be published not later than 21 days before election day. (Under current law, these notices must be published at least 10 days before the date of the election.) Prohibits the printing of an independent or political party device on a ballot under specified circumstances. Specifies ballot placement of names when there are both at-large and district candidates in an election district. Specifies the manner in which a voter with print disabilities may request certain applications. Requires the secretary of state to develop a system relating to on-line ballot applications that complies with the Web Content Guidelines for accessibility. Provides that a member of the Indiana National Guard deployed or on assignment inside Indiana is entitled to vote by mail. Specifies that absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters are entitled to vote by mail using a combined form. Requires counties to mail absentee ballots by nonforwardable mail. Specifies the list of household family members who may assist an absentee voter. Prohibits counting a ballot that is deposited in a drop box or container that is not under the physical control and supervision of the county election board. Allows a county election board by unanimous vote to authorize an absentee voter board to visit a voter to complete an absentee ballot application and provide the voter with an absentee ballot. Permits absentee travel boards to use optical scan ballot card marking devices. Requires locations where absentee in person voting occurs to meet accessibility standards that apply to polling locations on election day. Prohibits a ballot label including a straight party ticket option in specified circumstances. Establishes standards for a marking device used in a voting system that contains features of both a ballot card voting system and an electronic voting system and produces a ballot card with the voter's choices. Establishes standards for voter verifiable paper audit trails. Establishes procedures for obtaining a replacement absentee ballot. Requires a county to compare signatures upon receipt of an absentee ballot and specifies the procedure. Sets forth a procedure if a county election board does not unanimously determine that an absentee ballot signature is genuine. Extends the time in which an absentee ballot must be received on election day from noon to 6 p.m. Allows all counties to open absentee ballot envelopes by machine (current law only allows for Marion County to use a machine to open ballots). Establishes procedures and forms for the curing of mismatched signatures involving an absentee ballot and unsigned absentee ballots. Allows an individual who is not a voter to serve as an absentee board member. States that the position of an absentee ballot counter or a provisional ballot counter is not a lucrative office for purposes of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. Allows a member of the Indiana state recount commission to appoint a proxy. Provides for a Level 6 felony for inducing or procuring another person to vote or refrain from voting for or against a candidate or public question at: (1) a caucus; or (2) the appointment of a candidate by a political party chairman or central committee officer; by giving, offering, or promising a person money or other property. Changes the deadline for certification of a public question relating to certain school referenda from 60 days to 74 days before the election. Specifies that individuals who change residence to outside of a school corporation less than 30 days before the election may not vote on public questions relating to the school corporation. Repeals language concerning absentee ballots (moving some language to central voting statutes). Makes technical corrections.
Provides that the county election board may adopt a resolution authorizing the circuit court clerk to use the office of the circuit court clerk or establish a satellite office to permit voters to cast absentee ballots for at least four hours on the third Saturday preceding election day.