Provides that it is the public policy of the state to provide equal, nonsegregated, and nondiscriminatory education opportunities and facilities for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or marital status (in addition to race, creed, national origin, color, or sex under current law). Makes a similar change to a charter school provision concerning the suspension, expulsion, or requested transfer of a student and to an Indiana academy for science, mathematics, and humanities provision. Provides that a charter school may not discriminate against staff on the basis of disability, race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, or ancestry. Requires the department of education to provide staff to carry out the duties of the Indiana charter school board (charter board). Makes various changes to the charter school law, including the following: (1) Prohibiting an authorizer from: (A) authorizing a charter to an organizer if a charter school of the organizer has been closed within the past five years; or (B) accepting a proposal from an organizer that operates a charter school that does not meet certain school accountability grade thresholds. (2) Requiring certain authorizers that are not currently required to be approved for chartering authority to be approved for chartering authority before granting a new charter or renewing a charter. (3) Providing that an administrative fee for certain authorizers is dependent upon the category or designation that the charter school receives regarding its school accountability grade. (4) Prohibiting, under certain circumstances, a charter school from enrolling new students who are not currently enrolled in the charter school. (5) Requiring authorizers to be responsible for certain amounts owed by a charter school and to cosign for a loan from the common school fund before an organizer may obtain the loan. (6) Requiring each organizer and authorizer of a charter school to submit to the state board of education a surety bond or other form of financial guarantee and establishes consequences for an organizer or authorizer that fails to submit the bond or guarantee. Requires: (1) an authorizer to submit to the department of education a notice of a public hearing regarding the establishment of a proposed charter school; and (2) the department to post the notice on the department's Internet web site. Repeals a provision that provides that funding for the charter board consists of administrative fees.
Sponsored bills
Requires the department of workforce development to establish a paid family and medical leave program to provide payments for employees who take family and medical leave. Establishes the family and medical leave fund to be funded with appropriations from the general assembly and payroll contributions. Specifies requirements for administration of the paid family and medical leave program. Provides for the department of workforce development to approve an employer's use of a private plan to meet the paid family and medical leave program obligations.
Defines "sharp paraphernalia device" and establishes a defense to possession of a sharp paraphernalia device and to possession of a residual amount of controlled substance located in a hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle, if: (1) before conducting a search, a law enforcement officer asks about the existence of a sharp paraphernalia device; and (2) the person informs the law enforcement officer of the existence and location of the sharp paraphernalia device before the officer conducts the search.
Provides that a net metering tariff of an electric utility other than a municipally owned utility or a rural electric membership corporation (electricity supplier) must remain available to the electricity supplier's customers until: (1) the aggregate amount of net metering facility nameplate capacity under the tariff equals at least 5% (rather than 1.5% under current law) of the electricity supplier's most recent summer peak load; or (2) July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2022, under current law); whichever occurs earlier. Provides that an electricity supplier may not offer a net metering tariff to the electricity supplier's customers after June 30, 2027 (rather than June 30, 2022, under current law). Provides for net metering tariffs to be phased out by July 1, 2052, and provides that an electricity supplier may not change the terms and conditions of the electricity supplier's net metering tariff during the phase out period. Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to amend the IURC's rules to allow participation in a net metering tariff by a net metering facility with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or less. (Under current law, IURC rules allow participation in a net metering tariff by a net metering facility with a nameplate capacity of one megawatt or less.) Allows a customer to apply the output measured at up to five of the customer's electric meters for purposes of determining the difference between: (1) the amount of electricity supplied to the customer by an electricity supplier; and (2) the amount of electricity that is supplied back to the electricity supplier by the customer; for purposes of determining the kilowatt difference for which the customer is billed or credited. Requires the IURC to: (1) engage an independent consultant to conduct a study regarding the value of distributed energy resources to Indiana; (2) conduct a formal investigation and one or more stakeholder meetings regarding the results of the study; and (3) based on the IURC's findings and conclusions, adopt rules not later than December 31, 2023: (A) establishing one or more distributed energy resource tariffs; and (B) requiring an electricity supplier to, not later than January 31, 2024, offer a distributed energy resource tariff to the electricity supplier's existing and new customers. Provides that, notwithstanding the statutory phase out of net metering tariffs, if an electricity supplier offers a net metering tariff to the electricity supplier's customers, the electricity supplier must continue to offer the net metering tariff until the electricity supplier adopts a distributed energy resource tariff. Stays the implementation of a rate for procurement of excess distributed generation for which an electricity supplier has applied for or received approval by the IURC under current law.
Provides that a fee simple interest in: (1) a dwelling connected to a residential onsite sewage system; (2) a nondwelling structure connected to a commercial onsite sewage system; or (3) a tract of land containing a water well in addition to a residential or commercial onsite sewage system; cannot be transferred unless the onsite sewage system is inspected by a qualified inspector and water from the water well is tested by a qualified tester, the test results are provided to the local health department, the county recorder, and the person to whom the fee simple interest is being transferred, and any cause of failure of the onsite sewage system is eliminated. Provides exceptions. Requires the state department of health to adopt rules establishing requirements and standards for inspections and testing, qualifications for inspectors and testers, and requirements and standards for the training and certification of inspectors and testers. Authorizes a county surveyor to classify a regulated drain as a drain in need of reconstruction or a drain in need of periodic maintenance based upon the interests of public health, the reduction of undesirable environmental effects, or flood reduction benefits. Provides that the maintenance fund established for a regulated drain or combination of regulated drains may be used to: (1) better serve the interests of public health; (2) reduce undesirable environmental effects; (3) provide flood reduction benefits; (4) improve drainage control; or (5) provide drainage water storage infrastructure or technology associated with water that flows in or into a particular regulated drain or combination of regulated drains. Authorizes a county surveyor, when determining the best method of reconstructing a regulated drain or the best method of drainage for the area to which a petition to establish a new regulated drain relates, to consider cost effective drainage designs that limit undesirable environmental effects, improve public health, or provide flood reduction benefits.
Increases the amount of the state earned income tax credit. Requires: (1) the department of state revenue to compile a notice with information concerning the federal and state earned income tax credits; and (2) the office of the secretary of family and social services to provide annually the written notice concerning the federal and state earned income tax credits to certain individuals who receive assistance.
Prohibits, with certain exceptions, an employer from using an applicant's wage history in the hiring process. Prohibits, in certain situations, an employer from relying on the wage history of an applicant for employment. Provides for a private right of action. Allows the department of labor to investigate violations and enforce compliance.
Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program (program). Requires an employer that desires to participate in the program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage of the employee's normal weekly work hours that the employee works under the approved work sharing plan.
Provides a refundable child and dependent care tax credit to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year is not more than 250% of the federal poverty level. Provides that the credit is equal to the lesser of: (1) an amount ranging from $200 to $1,000, depending on the extent to which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds the federal poverty level; or (2) 20% of the taxpayer's employment related expenses.