Sen. Jon Ford

Provides that teacher working hours are subject to collective bargaining. Provides that an employer is required to discuss: (1) working conditions; and (2) student learning; with the exclusive representative of certificated employees. Removes teacher evaluations from the list of items that are required to be considered to determine teacher salary increases or increments. Makes changes to the definition of the term "deficit financing" for purposes of determining the amount of money that is available for teacher contracts.

Provides that a county may be reimbursed for indigent services provided for misdemeanors in a superior or circuit court. (Current law excludes misdemeanor cases from reimbursement.)

Provides that an "overweight divisible load" includes a tractor-semitrailer and load that has a gross vehicle weight of more than 80,000 pounds but a gross vehicle weight of not more than 120,000 pounds if it is hauling certain commodities, has a certain maximum equivalent single-axle load, and is granted a permit for transporting overweight divisible loads.

Authorizes the state police department to establish an automated traffic control system pilot program to enforce highway worksite speed limits. Provides that a worksite speed limit violation recorded by an automated traffic control system may not be enforced unless the violation exceeds 11 miles per hour above the established worksite speed limit. Replaces the terms "work zone" and "worksite zone" with "worksite" throughout the relevant statutes.

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.

Provides that, except in certain circumstances, a person may not hold or use a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle. Removes prohibitions on typing, transmitting, or reading a text message or an electronic mail message while operating a moving motor vehicle. Provides that the bureau may not assess points under the point system for a violation occurring before July 1, 2021.

Provides that a public utility that owns and operates a reliable capacity electric generation resource shall operate and maintain the unit using good utility practices and in a manner reasonably intended to support the availability of the unit for dispatch and for providing reliable service to customers of the public utility. Prohibits a public utility from terminating a power agreement with a legacy generation resource in which the public utility has an ownership interest unless the public utility provides the utility regulatory commission (IURC) with at least three years advance notice of the termination. Provides that the IURC shall determine the reasonable costs incurred by the public utility under the power agreement and allow the public utility to recover those costs in a fuel adjustment charge proceeding. Provides that a public utility may not retire, sell, or transfer a reliable capacity resource with a capacity of at least 80 megawatts before May 1, 2021, unless: (1) the public utility first provides written notice to the IURC of the public utility's intent to do so; and (2) the IURC conducts a public hearing to receive information concerning the reasonableness of the planned retirement, sale, or transfer. Requires the IURC to conduct the required hearing and issue its analysis and conclusions concerning the reasonableness of the planned retirement, sale, or transfer not later than 120 days after the date of the IURC's receipt of the public utility's written notice to the IURC. Provides that if the planned retirement, sale, or transfer: (1) was included in the public utility's preferred portfolio in the public utility's most recent integrated resource plan, the public utility may proceed with the planned retirement, sale, or transfer after the commission issues the commission's analysis and conclusions; or (2) was not included in the public utility's preferred portfolio in the public utility's most recent integrated resource plan, the public utility may not proceed with the planned retirement, sale, or transfer until at least six months have elapsed from the date of the commission's receipt of the public utility's written notice of the planned retirement, sale, or transfer. Provides that if a public utility cites a federal mandate as the basis, in whole or in part, for the planned retirement, sale, or transfer of the reliable capacity resource, the IURC may consider as part of its analysis and conclusions whether the cited federal mandate: (1) is in force; (2) has not expired or been revoked; and (3) is not merely anticipated to be enacted; at the time of the public utility's notice. Provides that these provisions expire May 1, 2021. Provides that in awarding high value workforce ready credit-bearing grants, the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the department of workforce development, shall give priority to an applicant who is a coal transition worker. Defines a "coal transition worker" as an individual who is laid off or terminated from the individual's employment: (1) at a commercial coal mine in Indiana; (2) at a coal fired electric generating unit in Indiana; or (3) in an Indiana based manufacturing or transportation supply chain serving: (A) a commercial coal mine; or (B) a coal fired electric generating unit; in Indiana.

Prohibits an employer from requiring a candidate for employment or an employee to have a device implanted or otherwise incorporated into the candidate's or employee's body as a condition of employment, as a condition of employment in a particular position, or as a condition of receiving additional compensation or benefits.

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.