Sen. Eric Koch

Establishes a procedure for the general assembly to call itself into session at times not specifically scheduled in statute. Provides that: (1) the initial state of disaster emergency may not continue longer than 30 days following the initial date of the declaration; and (2) a state of disaster emergency may not be renewed or extended by the governor without the approval of the general assembly. Provides that if the governor calls a special session, the special session shall be limited only to consideration of the purpose for which the initial state of disaster emergency was declared.

Prohibits the adoption of certain executive orders, emergency rules, and administrative orders that suspend, toll, modify, amend, or prohibit enforcement of a statute enacted by the general assembly unless the general assembly specifically authorizes the suspension, tolling, modification, amendment, or prohibited enforcement of that statute. States a similar rule for the judicial branch. Provides that a state officer or a state agency may not do either of the following without the explicit approval of the general assembly: (1) Use the money of a private entity to create or expand a program of the state officer or state agency. (2) Use the money of a private entity to fund or supplement the funding of any employee position within state government. Provides that a statement of a state agency that is not adopted under the rulemaking statute (IC 4-22-2), does not have the effect of law and is not legally binding on any person. Provides that it is a defense to an enforcement action or any other action of an agency against a person that the person relied on a nonrule statement about any matter that is the subject of the enforcement or other action. Provides if the resolution of an action, suit, or proceeding against a unit or school corporation in a court requires the unit or school corporation to take certain actions that involve the public interest, the court hearing the matter must provide the attorney general an opportunity to intervene. Provides that the attorney general may present evidence that relates to the state's interest in the outcome of the action, and arguments on the state's interest in the outcome of the action.

Provides that an increase of wages with a participating employee or group of participating employees negotiated by agreement, regardless of timing, qualifies as an increase of wages for purposes of eligibility for a grant from the skills enhancement fund for a participating employee that is an existing worker.

Provides that a magistrate has the same powers as a judge, except the power of judicial mandate. Repeals certain sections that enumerate the powers for magistrates. Repeals the judicial technology oversight committee. Increases the filing limit for the small claims docket to not more than $8,000 (rather than $6,000, under current law). Provides that the Marion County court will divide the work of the court into various divisions, including but not limited to the following: (1) Civil. (2) Criminal. (3) Family. Provides that the Marion County court shall hold session in the: (1) community justice campus in Indianapolis; and (2) other places in Marion County as the court determines. Provides that a relocating individual who is party to a custody order or parenting time order is not required to file a notice of intent to move with the clerk of the court if: (1) the relocation has been addressed by a prior court order; or (2) the relocation will: (A) result in a decrease in the distance between the relocating individual's residence and the nonrelocating individual's residence; or (B) result in an increase of not more than 20 miles in the distance between the relocating individual's residence and the nonrelocating individual's residence. Makes conforming amendments.

Amends guidelines related to educational credit time for a person incarcerated in the department of correction. Provides that, before May 1, 2023, the department of correction shall submit a report to the legislative council concerning the implementation of the individualized case management plan. Permits a prosecuting attorney to file for revocation of a community corrections placement. Provides that credit time earned by a person on pretrial home detention does not include accrued time.

Specifies the purpose and certain duties of the justice reinvestment advisory council, including the duty to study jail overcrowding, and adds additional members, including members of the Indiana evidence based decision making initiative (which is a partnership between state and local criminal justice stakeholders). Makes a technical correction.

Repeals all provisions concerning the county jail overcrowding task force. Adds additional members to the justice reinvestment advisory council ("advisory council"), including members of the Indiana evidence based decision making initiative (which is a partnership between state and local criminal justice stakeholders). Specifies the purpose and certain duties of the advisory council, including: (1) to conduct a state level review and evaluation of jail overcrowding to identify a range of possible solutions; and (2) to develop incarceration alternatives and recidivism reduction programs at the county and community level by promoting the development of the incorporation of evidence based decision making into decisions concerning jail overcrowding. Provides that the advisory council may make a recommendation to the county sheriffs concerning strategies to address jail overcrowding and implementing evidence based practices for reducing recidivism for individuals in county jails. Requires the criminal justice institute to coordinate with state and local criminal justice agencies for the collection and transfer of data from sheriffs concerning jail: (1) populations; and (2) statistics; for the purpose of providing jail data to the management performance hub.

Makes changes to the membership of the governor's workforce cabinet. Requires the governor's workforce cabinet to work with stakeholders from early learning through the workforce to establish alignment and coordination between the early learning advisory committee, state board of education (state board), commission for higher education, and department of workforce development.

Amends the statute concerning the location of underground utility facilities (state 811 law) to provide that for any new or replacement underground facility that an operator installs or causes to be installed after June 30, 2020, the operator shall ensure that: (1) the materials from which the facility is constructed are capable of being detected from above ground level using standard equipment and technologies used by the utility locating industry; or (2) if the materials from which the facility is constructed are not capable of being detected from above ground level using standard locating techniques, the facility is encased by conductive material or is equipped with an electrically conducting wire or other means of locating the facility while it is underground.

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.