Provides that catastrophically disabled veterans may hunt on the same free hunting days as those designated for youth hunters by the director of the department of natural resources. Defines "catastrophically disabled veteran".
Sen. Chris Garten
Sponsored bills
Establishes the government reform task force (task force). Provides for members of the task force. Requires the task force to submit a report. Prohibits the consideration of the number or amount of fines or civil penalties imposed on regulated entities by an employee in an agency's evaluation or compensation of the employee. Makes various procedural changes concerning the adoption of administrative rules, including the following: (1) Requires budget agency and office of management and budget review of a regulatory analysis of all proposed rules. (2) Requires a state budget committee review of rules adding or increasing fees, fines, or civil penalties. (3) Requires publication of the text of a proposed rule in the first public comment period and allows a proposed rule to be adopted after one public comment period if no substantive public testimony is received and the rule is not more stringent than applicable federal standards. (4) Replaces various laws granting emergency rulemaking authority with a description of the circumstances when emergency rulemaking (renamed "provisional" rules and "interim" rules) may be used, increases governor and attorney general oversight of provisional or interim rules, and adds a public comment period for interim rules. (5) Reduces from seven to five years the time in which rules need to be readopted to remain effective. (6) Requires agencies to webcast public hearings and allow remote testimony. Prohibits state standards for disposal of coal combustion residuals to be more stringent than federal standards. Allows for certain rules on certain pesticides that are more stringent than federal law. Permits a person to recover attorney's fees if an agency issues an order that is based on an invalid rule or issued without legal authority. Permits an applicant or licensee to recover damages if a professional or occupational licensing agency fails to adopt a rule required to obtain a license. Repeals superseded statutes and makes cross-reference, name, and other conforming changes.
Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund; (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) career scholarship account donation fund; (5) connecting students with careers fund; (6) teacher higher education and industry collaboration grant program and fund; (7) career coaching grant fund; and (8) intermediary capacity building fund. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the commission for higher education (commission), shall designate and approve a course sequence, career course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study for grants under the CSA program. Provides for revocation of the approval if the sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study fails to achieve an adequate outcome, as determined by the department, in consultation with the commission. Establishes eligibility requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that the commission may approve participating entities that meet certain requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that grant amounts that career scholarship students receive are not included in adjusted gross income for tax purposes. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, certain school corporations shall include instruction for all students regarding career awareness. Provides that the state board of education (state board), in consultation with the commission, shall create certain standards for a career awareness course. Requires the department to collect and aggregate certain data. Requires the department to publish on the department's website a list of skill competencies identified by certain approved participating entities. Requires the state board, in consultation with the department, to establish new high school diploma requirements. Removes a provision that provides that a student who satisfies an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation through a certain alternative course shall not count toward a school's honor designation award. Requires the commission to create a list of approved intermediaries, employers, and labor organizations. Requires certain high school and college students to meet with an approved postsecondary educational institution, an intermediary, an employer, or a labor organization. Requires certain committed offenders to meet with an intermediary, employer, or labor organization. Provides that during each school year, a public high school must hold at least one career fair during regular school hours. Amends requirements for certification of qualified education programs by INvestED Indiana. Repeals certain provisions in law regarding a comprehensive navigation and coaching system and career coaching grant fund and requires the commission to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive career navigation and coaching system for Indiana; and (2) award grants from the career coaching grant fund to certain eligible entities to establish or implement comprehensive career navigation and coaching systems. Provides that the department shall approve career coaching providers for the purpose of eligibility for a career coaching grant. Provides that the commission shall receive, distribute, and account for all funds received for career and technical education under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act. Requires the department to establish and maintain an online platform that allows teachers to access and share information regarding connecting daily classroom lessons with innovations in workplace practices and postsecondary education research. Repeals provisions relating to the industry collaboration certification program. Repeals and replaces a definition of "participating entity" with "ESA participating entity".
Requires the state employee health plan, policies of accident and sickness insurance, and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for wearable cardioverter defibrillators. Specifies requirements for credentialing a provider for the Medicaid program, an accident and sickness insurance policy, and a health maintenance organization contract. Establishes a provisional credential until a decision is made on a provider's credentialing application and allows for retroactive reimbursement. Provides that a hospital's quality assessment and improvement program must include a process for determining and reporting the occurrence of serious reportable events. Provides that the medical staff of a hospital may make recommendations on the granting of clinical privileges and the appointment or reappointment of an applicant to the governing board for a period not to exceed 36 months. Requires a hospital with an emergency department to have at least one physician on site and on duty who is responsible for the emergency department. Requires the legislative services agency to conduct an analysis of licensing fees and provide a report to the budget committee. Allows the commissioner of the department of insurance (commissioner) to issue an order to discontinue a violation of a law (current law specifies orders or rules). Requires the commissioner to consider specified information before approving or disapproving a premium rate increase. Requires a domestic stock insurer to file specified information with the department of insurance. Prohibits the state employee health plan from requiring prior authorization for certain specified services. Changes prior authorization time requirements for urgent care situations. Adds an employee benefit plan that is subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and a state employee health plan to the definition of "health payer" for the purposes of the all payer claims data base (data base). Allows the department of insurance to adopt rules on certain matters concerning the data base. Requires a health plan to post certain information on the health plan's website. Prohibits an insurer and a health maintenance organization from altering a CPT code for a claim or paying for a CPT code of lesser monetary value unless: (1) the CPT code submitted is not in accordance with certain guidelines and rules, or the terms and conditions of a participating provider's agreement or contract with the insurer or health maintenance organization; or (2) the medical record of the claim has been reviewed by an employee or contractor of the insurer or health maintenance organization. Requires an insurer and a health maintenance organization to provide a contracted provider with a current reimbursement rate schedule at specified times. Urges the study by an interim committee of: (1) prior authorization exemptions for certain health care providers; and (2) whether Indiana should adopt an interstate mobility of occupational licensing. Requires a collaborating physician or physician designee to review certain patient encounters performed by a physician assistant within 14 business days. Requires a health plan to offer a health care provider the option to request a peer to peer review by a clinical peer concerning an adverse determination on a prior authorization request.
Authorizes funds from the: (1) Indiana secured school fund; and (2) school corporation and charter school safety advance program; to be used for the purpose of providing specialized firearms instruction to certain teachers, school staff, and school employees, and for providing counseling services to students, teachers, school staff, and school employees in the event of a school shooting. Creates a specialized firearms safety, education, and training curriculum (curriculum) for teachers, school staff, and school employees. Specifies curriculum requirements. Requires a charter school, accredited nonpublic school, or school corporation to ensure that a teacher, school staff member, or school employee who receives training funded by a grant from the Indiana secured school fund complies with certain requirements. Provides that the identity of any person who: (1) enrolls in; (2) participates in; or (3) completes; the curriculum is confidential. Requires the department of education, in collaboration with the state police department, to identify a set of best practices and develop a set of educational materials concerning the safe possession and storage of a firearm in a home with a child. Provides that the department of education shall provide the best practices and educational materials to certain schools for annual distribution to parents of students. Provides that a public school or a state accredited nonpublic school may not conduct a training or drill for an employee of the school that includes, as any part of the training or drill, the expelling of any type of projectile at the employee unless: (1) the school informs the employee of the use of projectiles in the training or drill; and (2) the employee provides written consent. Provides that certain schools may not conduct or approve a training or drill for a student of the school that includes, as any part of the training or drill, the expelling of any type of projectile at a student. Provides that the prohibition on the possession of a firearm in or on school property or on a school bus does not apply to certain qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers. Makes conforming and technical amendments.
Provides that a forestry operation that conducts its operations in compliance with the Indiana Logging and Forestry Best Management Practices Field Guide published by the Indiana department of natural resources is exempt from any requirement to obtain a permit from the department of natural resources or the department of environmental management concerning forestry activities confined to a waterway that has a watershed not greater than 10 square miles. Defines forestry operation. Defines waterway.
Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws. Adds members to the executive board of the Indiana department of health (state department). Removes a provision allowing the state department to establish branch offices. Provides that the state department may provide services to local health departments. Requires each local board of health to establish a local public health services fund to receive state funding. Provides a method of allocation of state funding to local boards of health, subject to state appropriations. Specifies the percentage of how additional funding may be expended on core public health services. Allows the local health department to enter into contracts or approve grants for core public health services. Allows the state department to issue guidance to local health departments. Requires the state department to make annual local health department reports available to the public. Changes the qualification requirements for a local health officer and requires certain training. Requires the state department to identify state level metrics and county level metrics and requires certain local health departments to report to the state department activities and metrics on the delivery of core public health services. Requires the state department to annually report on the metrics to the budget committee and publish information concerning the metrics on the Internet. Requires that a local health department post a position or contract for the provision or administration of core public health services for at least 30 days. Requires a local health department to provide certain education before administering a vaccine. Requires a multiple county health department to maintain at least one physical office in each represented county. Provides that a new city health department cannot be created after December 31, 2022, but allows current city health departments to continue to operate. Creates the Indiana trauma care commission. Allows a school corporation that cannot obtain an ophthalmologist or optometrist to perform the modified clinical technique vision test to conduct certain specified vision screenings. Requires the school to send to the parent of a student any recommendation for further testing by the vision screener. Allows for standing orders to be used for emergency stock medication in schools. Allows the state health commissioner or designee to issue a statewide standing order, prescription, or protocol for emergency stock medication for schools. Removes the distance requirement for an access practice dentist to provide communication with a dental hygienist. Repeals provisions concerning the Indiana local health department trust account.
Repeals the requirement that local floodplain administrators use the "best floodplain mapping data" as provided by the department of natural resources (department) and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing an application for a permit to authorize construction in or near a floodplain. Provides that, after June 30, 2023, a county or municipality may not issue a permit for construction activity in or near a floodplain unless the permit applicant is allowed to elect whether the local floodplain administrator will use: (1) the department's "best floodplain mapping data"; or (2) an engineering study provided by the permit applicant; in reviewing the permit application. Prohibits a local floodplain administrator from issuing a permit authorizing a structure or construction activity in or near a floodplain if the issuance of the permit will violate National Flood Insurance Program requirements. Provides that, after June 30, 2025, an individual may not serve as the floodplain administrator of a county or municipality unless the individual has successfully completed: (1) the Certified Floodplain Manager program of the Association of State Floodplain Managers; or (2) another course or training program for local floodplain managers that is approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the department. Provides that a person that has: (1) an ownership interest; (2) a leasehold interest; or (3) a security interest; in a parcel of real property may at any time request a review by the department of the department's "best floodplain mapping data" that applies to the parcel of real property. Requires the department to conduct the review at no cost to the person requesting the review and to use a detailed hydrologic modeling method in conducting the review. Provides that: (1) if the person requesting the review has applied to a local floodplain administrator for a permit authorizing the construction of a structure or other construction activity on the parcel of real property; and (2) the department does not complete the review within 120 days after the review was requested; the person may elect whether the local floodplain administrator, in reviewing the person's permit application, will use the department's "best floodplain mapping data" or an engineering study provided by the person. Provides that, in the disclosure form that is adopted by the Indiana real estate commission and that must be submitted to a prospective buyer of real estate before the prospective buyer's offer is accepted, the owner of real estate must disclose the fact that all or a portion of the owner's real estate is located within a community's floodplain boundaries, as indicated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map, if the owner has personal knowledge of that fact.
Provides that a person may not: (1) construct a new utility scale battery energy storage system (BESS); or (2) expand the capacity of an existing BESS by more than 10% of the system's original capacity; without the prior approval of the department of homeland security (department). Sets forth information that must be included in an application to the department for approval of the construction or expansion of a BESS. Provides that: (1) a BESS for which installation is subject to department approval; and (2) an installation added to an existing BESS in an expansion for which department approval is required; must comply with the National Fire Protection Association's standard concerning stationary energy storage systems (NFPA 855). Provides that the total capacity of the batteries contained within a single enclosure in: (1) a BESS for which installation is subject to department approval; and (2) an installation added to an existing BESS in an expansion for which department approval is required; may not exceed 10 megawatt hours unless authorized under rules adopted by the fire prevention and building safety commission (commission). Provides that if a BESS installed after June 30, 2023, is located less than 1/2 mile from the nearest 100 year flood plain, all of the system's equipment must be located at least two feet above the 100 year frequency flood elevation. Requires the operator of a BESS to: (1) provide a copy of the operator's emergency response plan for the BESS; and (2) offer training to enable effective response to a fire or contaminant discharge at the BESS; to the fire department responsible for providing fire protection services in the area in which the BESS is located. Authorizes the commission to adopt rules to specify standards for the installation and operation of a BESS. Provides that the commission's rules: (1) must be consistent with NFPA 855; and (2) must include standards for: (A) chemical spill prevention and control; and (B) appropriate setbacks from surface water resources. Requires the department to issue to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunication, not later than November 1, 2023, a report regarding the progress of the commission in adopting rules addressing the installation and operation of a BESS.
Appropriates money for capital expenditures, the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes. Requires a researcher to execute a data sharing agreement that is approved by the management performance hub to receive access to confidential records. Provides that the auditor of state is also known as the state comptroller. Provides that, after June 30, 2023, the auditor of state shall use the title "state comptroller" in conducting state business, in all contracts, on business cards, on stationery, and with other means of communication as necessary. Establishes the attorney general contingency fee fund. Establishes the: (1) state opioid settlement fund; and (2) local opioid settlement fund; into which funds received from opioid litigation settlements must be deposited. Provides that the office of the inspector general shall provide informal advisory opinions and that the opinions are confidential. Allows the budget committee to submit the budget report and budget bill or bills to the governor on or before the second Monday of January, or the third Monday of January in the year in which a gubernatorial election is held (instead of before that date). Requires the state personnel department to require a contractor, when contracting for health care coverage for state employees, to use value based coverage. Repeals a provision that makes a state general fund appropriation to the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system if the money available in the special death benefits fund is insufficient to pay death benefit claims. Allows the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to certify an applicable tax credit that exceeds the maximum allowable amount after review by the budget committee. Provides that the regional economic acceleration and development initiative program expires June 30, 2026. Specifies that the county or municipality that did not approve the relocation of an outdoor advertising sign is responsible for compensation of the taking of the outdoor advertising sign. Provides that an owner may relocate an outdoor advertising sign that is subject to a pending eminent domain action. Allows an individual to claim an increased exemption amount for a dependent child in the first year in which the exemption amount may be claimed for the child. Reduces the individual income tax rate to 2.9% by 2027 and eliminates all trigger provisions in current law. Establishes the regional public safety training fund. Repeals provisions relating to the establishment of the: (1) Indiana homeland security foundation; (2) Indiana homeland security fund; and (3) fire training infrastructure fund. Allows certain members of the public employees' retirement fund or Indiana state teachers' retirement fund to file an election to begin receiving retirement benefits while holding a position. Changes the state police pre-1987 benefit and supplemental pension benefit calculation from being based on the sixth year of service to the fourth year of service. Repeals the public mass transportation fund. Repeals the financial responsibility compliance verification fund. Changes the number of years of service on which the salary matrix for state police employees is based to 15 years (instead of 20 years). Requires the department of correction to deposit the amount appropriated for the county misdemeanant fund by a county's multiplier. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning (office) to: (1) develop a schedule for the review of Medicaid reimbursement rates; and (2) provide a copy of the schedule to the budget committee; not later than November 1, 2023. Creates the residential water testing fund to test the water supply of an individual property owner of an eligible township. Requires the director of the state personnel department to submit a revision or adjustment to a pay plan developed for state employees to the state budget committee for review before the revision may take effect. Provides that the general assembly shall convene: (1) on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in June for the first regular technical session; and (2) on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in May for the second regular technical session. Provides that a technical session is not required to convene if the president pro tempore and the speaker jointly issue an order that convening is not necessary. Requires the general assembly to convene no later than the fourth Monday in January after organization day. Repeals provisions relating to emergency sessions and makes conforming amendments. Recouples the state earned income tax credit qualifications with the federal earned income tax credit qualifications under the Internal Revenue Code as in effect January 1, 2023. Requires a contractor that provides tangible personal property incorporated into real property in a project located in an innovation development district to maintain records of all state gross retail and use tax paid or collected during a state fiscal year. Adds state adjusted gross income taxes paid by an individual who is not an employee with respect to income received for services performed in an innovation development district for purposes of calculating income tax incremental amounts. Establishes the commission on improving the status of children fund to support the staffing and operations of the commission. Provides that a part of state user fees shall be deposited in the Indiana secured school fund. Repeals the distribution schedule for appropriations made for certain child development programs. Requires the department of local government finance to prepare an annual report and abstract concerning property tax data (instead of the auditor of state). Deletes reimbursement rate parameters for reimbursement of managed care organizations under the healthy Indiana plan. Extends the sunset of the collection of hospital assessment fees and health facility quality assessment fees from June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025. Increases the total number of adult learner students at the Excel Centers for Adult Learners and Christel House DORS centers for whom the school may receive state funding. Establishes the Indiana education scholarship account donation fund to accept donations for administration of the Indiana education scholarship account program. Repeals the special education fund. Establishes a state tax credit for a taxpayer that makes certain qualified child care expenditures in providing child care to the taxpayer's employees. Extends provisions for the gasoline tax and the special fuel tax rates. Amends a statute concerning powers and duties of a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district established under prior law. Extends the sunset for the invasive species council and fund from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2031. Prohibits school corporations and charter schools from charging a fee for curricular materials to students. Provides that the parent of a student or an emancipated minor who attends an accredited nonpublic school and who meets financial eligibility requirements may request reimbursement of fees charged for curricular materials. Establishes the curricular materials fund. Requires a county auditor to distribute a portion of revenue received from an operations fund levy imposed by a school corporation located in certain counties to certain charter schools (excludes school corporations that are designated as a distressed political subdivision). Requires charter schools that receive a distribution of tax levy revenue to establish an operations fund and education fund under the same provisions that apply to school corporations. Provides that in order to receive a distribution of tax levy revenue, a charter school must adopt a budget for the school year following a public meeting. Provides funding amounts for schools. Establishes the credential completion grant. Removes pathways for choice scholarship eligibility. Increases the annual income maximum for choice scholarship eligibility. Provides that a school corporation is eligible for an academic performance grant. Provides that state user fees remaining after required distributions shall be distributed to the state general fund (instead of the court technology fund). Makes certain amendments to the juvenile diversion grant program, the juvenile community alternatives grant program, and the juvenile behavioral health competitive grant pilot program (programs). Requires grants for the programs to be administered by the Indiana criminal justice institute in consultation with the juvenile justice oversight committee (oversight committee) and the grant process workgroup created by the oversight committee, taking into consideration the grant program report prepared and submitted to the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana by the oversight committee. Requires the state comptroller to deposit distributions of pro bono legal services fees received from the: (1) clerk of a circuit court; (2) clerk of a city or town court; or (3) Marion County small claims court; in the pro bono legal services fund. Requires the commission for higher education to create a separate higher educational operating funding outcomes based formula (funding formula) for Ivy Tech Community College. Requires, on or before July 1, 2023, budget committee review of all of the funding formulas created and approved by the commission for higher education. Provides that state appropriations may not be used to pay for the administration, operation, or programs of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Provides that the legislative body of a first class city may adopt an ordinance to establish a special assessment district known as an economic enhancement district. Provides certain requirements for the ordinance and imposition of a special assessment. Requires the legislative body of the first class city that establishes an economic enhancement district to establish an economic enhancement district board. Extends the judicial and legislative branch leave conversion pilot program through June 30, 2025. Establishes the northeast Indiana strategic development fund administered by the northeast Indiana strategic development commission. Provides that if the amount of excess combined reserves in 2024 or 2025 exceeds $3,000,000,000, the amount that exceeds $3,000,000,000 is transferred to the pre-1996 account. Establishes the regional economic acceleration and development initiative 2.0 fund (READI 2.0). Requires the IEDC to develop a policy for a READI 2.0 program. Provides that money in the READI 2.0 fund may be used to: (1) support the IEDC's READI 2.0 program; and (2) provide grants or loans to support proposals for economic development and regional economic acceleration and development. Establishes the attainable homeownership tax credit for a taxpayer who makes a contribution to an affordable housing organization. Establishes the Medicaid oversight committee. Requires the Medicaid oversight committee to review, consider, and make recommendations concerning all requests for new services and changes in existing services for the Medicaid program. Provides that unexpended and unencumbered amounts appropriated from the federal economic stimulus fund in the state fiscal year ending before July 1, 2023, do not revert to the state general fund. Provides that unexpended and unencumbered amounts appropriated to the legislative services agency in a state fiscal year ending before July 1, 2024, do not revert to the state general fund. Requires the state comptroller to transfer $85,000,000 from the tobacco master settlement agreement fund to the state construction fund on July 1, 2023. Appropriates money for various purposes for the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying specific issues pertaining to the feasibility of the department of child services contracting with private attorneys to perform legal services and provide representation in certain cases instead of employing staff attorneys within the department of child services for those purposes. Requires the Indiana public retirement system to study and report and present on certain topics to the interim study committee on pension management oversight before November 1, 2023. Establishes the funding Indiana's roads for a stronger, safer tomorrow task force. Makes conforming changes.