Sen. Chris Garten

Provides that not later than October 1, 2022, the department of administration (department), on behalf of the office of technology (office), shall issue a request for information for purposes of exploring how blockchain technology could be used by a state agency to: (1) achieve greater cost efficiency and cost effectiveness; and (2) improve consumer convenience, experience, data security, and data privacy. Requires the office to compile a report concerning the request for information and submit the report to the legislative council in an electronic format not later than March 31, 2023. Defines "blockchain technology" and "distributed ledger technology". Requires an agency to submit an emergency rule to the attorney general for review and approval before the emergency rule may take effect. Provides that emergency rules may not be effective for a period that exceeds 180 days. Provides that certain emergency rules expire not more than two years after the rule takes effect. Requires an agency adopting an administrative rule to submit an economic impact statement and an explanation of any penalty, fine, or other similar negative impact included in the proposed rule to the publisher of the Indiana Administrative Code (publisher). Requires the publisher to provide a copy of the materials concerning a proposed rule or pending readoption to the members of the appropriate standing committee, the governor, and the office of management and budget. Provides that administrative rules expire on July 1 of the fourth year after the year in which the rule takes effect (instead of January 1 of the seventh year after the year in which the rule takes effect). Requires an agency intending to readopt an administrative rule to provide to the publisher, not later than January 1 of the third year after the year in which the rule most recently took effect: (1) notice of; and (2) information concerning; the pending readoption. Requires that all broadband infrastructure projects that are funded in whole or in part by a grant or loan from the regional economic acceleration and development initiative (READI) fund must satisfy the criteria and requirements as described in the rural broadband program. Makes corresponding changes.

Establishes the central Indiana waste diversion pilot project (pilot project). Requires the department of environmental management to: (1) develop pilot project application forms; (2) make the forms available on or before July 1, 2022; (3) accept applications through October 1, 2022; and (4) provide recommendations to the Indiana recycling market development board (board) on or before December 1, 2022. Requires the board to award not more than $4,000,000 in total to applicants chosen to participate in the pilot project. Limits the pilot project to Marion County. Amends the definition of "solid waste"to exclude materials that are used in creating a product and that meet other conditions. Provides that: (1) a transfer station or treatment, storage, or disposal facility that holds a permit to handle hazardous waste may also handle solid waste; (2) solid waste that is managed at a transfer station or a treatment, storage, or disposal facility shall not be allowed to come into direct contact with hazardous waste, and any solid waste that does come into direct contact with hazardous waste shall then be managed as hazardous waste; and (3) the environmental rules board (rules board) shall amend 329 IAC 11 to conform to these provisions. Requires the rules board to expeditiously adopt by rule all waste regulation exemptions or exclusions as that are adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set forth in the federal rule on the identification and listing of hazardous waste. Provides that until certain federal rule amendments that were adopted by the EPA on May 30, 2018, are adopted by the rules board, those amendments apply to the identification and listing of hazardous waste in Indiana just as if the amendments were already incorporated by reference into the rules of the rule board on the identification and listing of hazardous waste. Provides that: (1) the disposal of non-hazardous coal mining waste and coal combustion residuals at a surface coal mining facility; and (2) the use of coal combustion residuals as raw material for manufacturing another product or for eight other particular uses; are not subject to regulation under the solid waste rules. Makes corresponding changes.

Repeals the following: (1) Indiana advisory commission on intergovernmental relations. (2) Public highway private enterprise review board. (3) Lake Michigan marina and shoreline development commission. (4) Orange County development advisory board. Moves a definition from a statute being repealed. Requires the interim study committee on government to biennially make recommendations to the legislative council regarding: (1) repeal of inactive groups; and (2) continuation of membership in interstate compacts. Requires the salary matrices prescribed for certain officers of the state police department, alcohol and tobacco commission, department of natural resources, and the Indiana gaming commission to be reviewed and approved by the budget agency biennially in even-numbered years. Requires the justice reinvestment advisory council to report to the legislative council before November 1, 2022, regarding how to reduce the membership of an advisory board, with recommendations regarding membership of a community corrections advisory board, including how to reduce the membership of an advisory board. Changes the name of the Indiana commission to combat drug use to the Indiana commission to combat substance use disorder. Requires the services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities task force to make certain recommendations to the legislative council. Adds one member representing the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities to the 211 advisory committee.

Adds a new chapter to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) that governs transactions involving controllable electronic records and that does the following: (1) Defines "controllable electronic records". (2) Establishes the following: (A) The extent to which a purchaser acquires rights and interests in controllable electronic records. (B) The circumstances under which a qualifying purchaser acquires rights in a controllable electronic record free of any adverse claim. (C) The conditions that must be satisfied for a person to be considered to have control over controllable electronic records. Amends certain sections in the UCC chapter concerning secured transactions to reference controllable electronic records and to provide for the perfection of a security interest in controllable electronic records by: (1) control; or (2) the filing of a financing statement. Amends the Indiana statute concerning unclaimed personal property to: (1) add a definition of "controllable electronic record" in that statute; and (2) authorize (rather than require, as specified in current law) the attorney general to adopt rules regarding virtual currency, controllable electronic records, and digital assets, to the extent such rules are consistent with, and not otherwise covered by: (A) the bill's provisions; or (B) any other Indiana law concerning virtual currency, controllable electronic records, or digital assets.

Allows an advanced practice registered nurse to sign certain health documents concerning driving privileges. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) to establish and maintain an audit working group. Provides that meetings of the audit working group are not subject to open door laws. Provides that the bureau, rather than the state board of accounts, is required to conduct an audit of each license branch. Amends certain dates regarding the statewide electronic lien and title system (system). Removes system provisions concerning qualified service provider payments, participation notification, and annual fees. Provides that the bureau and participating qualified service providers or lienholders may charge certain system fees, but sunsets the provisions on July 1, 2025. mends dates concerning the voluntary or required use of the system. Requires the bureau to distribute at least one time each month the fees collected and deposited from certain special group recognition license plates. Repeals the law providing for the Earlham College trust license plate. Provides that interference with highway traffic is considered unreasonable if the interference occurs for more than 10 consecutive minutes except for: (1) machinery or equipment used in highway construction or maintenance by the Indiana department of transportation, counties, or municipalities; and (2) firefighting apparatus owned or operated by a political subdivision or a volunteer fire department. Provides that a public agency or towing service that obtains the name and address of the owner of or lienholder on a vehicle shall, not later than three business days after obtaining the name and address, notify the owner of the vehicle and any lienholder on the vehicle, as indicated by the certificate of title or as discovered by a search of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System or an equivalent and commonly available data base. Requires the bureau to process an electronic application for a certificate of authority not more than five business days after the submission of the application if the application meets certain requirements. Provides that an individual is not required to be a citizen of the United States as shown in the records of the bureau to apply for a replacement driver's license or learner's permit by electronic service. Provides that a suspension for failure to satisfy a judgment imposed before December 31, 2021 terminates on December 31, 2024. Removes the requirement that the bureau collect an administrative penalty if a dealer fails to apply for a certificate of title for a motor vehicle that is purchased or acquired in a state that does not have a certificate of title law. Provides that a manufacturer or distributor may not sell or offer to sell, directly or indirectly, a new motor vehicle to the general public in Indiana except through a new motor vehicle dealer holding a franchise for the line make covering the new motor vehicle. Provides that the sales of new motor vehicles by a manufacturer or franchisor to the federal government, a charitable organization, an employee of the manufacturer or distributor, or a manufacturer or distributor under certain conditions. Provides that an individual subject to both an administrative license suspension and a court ordered license suspension must file a petition for specialized driving privileges in the court that ordered the suspension. Repeals a statute requiring the use of a turn signal 200 feet before making a turn. Makes technical corrections.

Provides for protection for a buyer who purchases a converted motor vehicle for personal, noncommercial use, when the converted motor vehicle suffers from a nonconformity.

Defines "unlicensed caregiver" and allows an unlicensed caregiver of a child to intervene as a party in a: (1) child in need of services proceeding; or (2) proceeding to terminate the parent-child relationship; concerning the child.

Establishes the statewide sports and tourism bid fund (fund) to provide funding for the purpose of organizing and holding sports and tourism events in Indiana. Provides that the Indiana destination development corporation (IDDC) shall administer the fund. Requires the IDDC to distribute to the Indiana Sports Corporation a grant amount equal to the amount appropriated by the general assembly to the fund. Provides that the Indiana Sports Corporation shall manage the funds in accordance with the general laws of the state relating to the handling of public funds. Requires that the Indiana Sports Corporation ensure that not less than 30% of the money received by the Indiana Sports Corporation each biennium is used for events that are conducted outside of Marion County. Authorizes the Indiana Sports Corporation to award grants to other eligible entities for the purpose of organizing and holding an event in Indiana. Requires the Indiana Sports Corporation to annually report to the budget committee on the use of the money received from the fund.

Prohibits a dental plan (an insurance policy, a health maintenance organization contract, or a preferred provider plan) from directly or indirectly requiring a dental provider to provide a dental service to a covered individual at a fee amount that is: (1) set by the dental plan; or (2) subject to the approval of the dental plan; unless the dental service is a covered service under the dental plan. Prohibits a third party administrator or another person from arranging for a dental provider to provide dental services for a dental plan that sets the amount of the fee for any dental services unless the dental services are covered services under the dental plan. Authorizes the insurance commissioner to issue a cease and desist order against a person that violates any of these prohibitions and, if the person violates the cease and desist order, to impose a civil penalty upon the person and suspend or revoke the person's certificate of authority.

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Carl Erskine for his contributions to Indiana and the nation.