Sen. Eric Bassler

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing James C. Clark.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator John C. Ruckelshaus upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Julie Evans on receiving the 2020 Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year Award.

Adds a superior court in Hamilton County. Allows the judges of the Decatur circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Decatur County courts. Allows the judges of the Hancock circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Hancock County courts. Allows the judges of the Huntington circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Huntington County courts. Allows the judges of the Knox circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate to serve the Knox County courts. Allows the judge of the Lake superior court division No. 4 to appoint a magistrate to serve the Lake superior court division No. 4. Makes clarifying changes to the powers and duties of the Marion superior court executive committee. Provides that an appointed judicial officer shall be vested by the judges of the family division of the Marion superior court with suitable powers for the handling of all probate matters of the court. Removes or reallocates the powers and duties of a probate hearing judge, probate commissioner, juvenile referee, bail commissioner, and master commissioner from the Marion superior court. Provides that the Marion County judicial selection committee nomination procedure shall be followed when filling a vacancy that occurs in a court. Provides that the: (1) clerk of a circuit court; (2) clerk of a city or town court; or (3) judge of a city or town court that does not have a clerk; may retain as an administrative fee an amount of up to $3 from the excess amount collected by the clerk for general court costs. Makes conforming changes.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.

Establishes the Indiana education scholarship account program (program). Provides that, after June 30, 2022, a parent of an eligible student or an emancipated eligible student may establish an account in the program. Defines an eligible student as: (1) a student with a disability who requires special education; (2) a student with a parent who is on active duty service in the armed forces of the United States or national guard; or (3) a student placed in foster care or otherwise under care and supervision of the department of child services. Provides that an eligible student who has an account and attends a qualified school is eligible to receive an annual grant amount that may be used to pay for tuition at an accredited nonpublic school or education related expenses. Provides that the treasurer of state shall administer the program. Provides a deduction from Indiana adjusted gross income for a grant amount that is distributed to a taxpayer's Indiana education savings account and used for a qualified expense, to the extent the distribution is included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income. Changes the eligibility requirements to receive choice scholarships. Makes changes to the amount of tuition an eligible choice scholarship student is entitled to receive to attend a choice scholarship school. Establishes the Indiana education scholarship account program advisory council to provide guidance on the implementation of the program as well as to provide recommendation for program improvements to the treasurer of state and to the general assembly. Repeals provisions that provide eligibility to certain students if the student's household income increases. Provides that the department of education shall provide services that offer objective advise upon request to parents of an eligible student or an emancipated eligible student relating to services that can help meet the eligible student's or emancipated eligible student's particular needs. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides a 25% state tax credit for contributions made to a public school foundation for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2024. Provides that the amount allowable as a credit in a taxable year may not exceed: (1) $1,000 in the case of an individual filing a single return or a corporation; or (2) $2,000 in the case of a married couple filing a joint return. Provides that the maximum amount of credits that may be awarded in a state fiscal year to $5,000,000.

Removes the topic of the department of education's responsibility for licensing teachers from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Removes the topic of high ability students (including high ability curriculum) from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Adds certain education topics to the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2023 legislative interim. Removes an expired proposed study topic.

Reduces the required percentage amount of the motor vehicle highway account distributions that counties, cities, and towns must use for the construction, reconstruction, and preservation of highways from 50% in current law to 40% in calendar years beginning January 1, 2022, and ending December 31, 2023. Provides that, for a period in which the reduction applies, the term "preservation" includes both snow removal and expenditures for deicing road salt or similar deicing agents. Requires counties, cities, and towns that apply the reduced required percentage amounts authorized under the bill to submit to the local technical assistance program at Purdue University in conjunction with the Indiana department of transportation (LTAP) a detailed itemization of the uses of the funds in the calendar year that were for: (1) purposes other than construction, reconstruction, and preservation; and (2) preservation that included only snow removal and expenditures for deicing road salt or similar deicing agents. Requires the LTAP to present a statewide aggregate report of the results received from counties, cities, and towns to the state budget committee for each year.

Provides civil tort immunity for damages arising from COVID-19 on the premises owned or operated by a person, on any premises on which the person or an employee or agent of the person provided property or services to the individual, or during an activity managed, organized, or sponsored by the person, except for an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct (including fraud and intentionally tortious acts). Defines "COVID-19 protective product" and provides civil tort immunity for harm that results from the design, manufacture, labeling, sale, distribution, or donation of a COVID-19 protective product, except for an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct (including fraud and intentionally tortious acts). Prohibits class action suits.