2015 Regular Session

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging Congress to amend federal law to give the State of Indiana greater authority over tribal gaming activities within its borders

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Indiana CPA Society.

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing J.D. Richards for his many years of public service as a United States Marine, Indiana State Police Officer, Johnson County Sheriff, and exemplary employee of the Indiana Senate

Sponsor: Brent Waltz

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the West Lafayette High School boys cross country team on its state title.

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

A HOUSE RESOLUTION memorializing Margree Ann Oakley.

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation.

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Richard "Dick" L. Smith, former United States Armed Forces member, distinguished businessman, and honored friend of the Indiana State Senate.

Sponsor: David Long

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the FFA and its Indiana state officers.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the University of Southern Indiana's national championship baseball team.

Sponsor: Wendy McNamara

Rescinds Indiana's ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Sponsor: James Smith

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Andrea Hess, who was named the 2014-2015 Rural Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Barbara Fowler.

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Establishes the Indiana Bicentennial Permanent Fund (fund) in the state treasury. Provides that the fund consists of: (1) 50% or such other greater percentage established by law of any general fund budget surplus realized during a state fiscal year; (2) appropriations made to the fund; and (3) other sources designated by law. Provides that income from investment of money in the fund shall be deposited in the state general fund. Provides that the principal of the fund may be used only for those investments specifically designated by law as eligible for investment from the fund.

Sponsor: Ryan Dvorak

This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Sponsor: David Long

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Alexandra Skinner for being recognized as one of the top youth volunteers in Indiana during the 20th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Dennis Shults, Bill Emerson, Ernie Dillon, Patrick O'Donnell, and Don Shults.

Sponsor: Linda Lawson

A SENATE RESOLUTION hoonring Southport Elementary School fifth grade teacher Kelly Wilber for her receipt of a 2014-2015 Milken Educator Award

Sponsor: Brent Waltz

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the Indianapolis Chapter of Jack and Jill of American, Inc.

Sponsor: Cherrish Pryor

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Karen Stevens for her eight years of service as the first woman to hold the office of Wayne County Auditor and congratulating her on her retirement after twenty-one years of service to Wayne County.

Sponsor: Jeff Raatz

Provides that an individual may not serve more than 12 years as a senator. Provides that an individual may not serve more than 12 years as a representative. Provides that the time an individual has served as a senator or a representative before January 1, 2019, may not be considered in determining whether the term limitation applies to an individual.

Sponsor: Matthew Ubelhor

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the Fourth Annual Bill Johnson Film Festival.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION requesting the Indiana Department of Transportation to identify portions of certain highways between the Indiana - Ohio border near Lawrenceburg in Dearborn County and the Indiana - Illinois border near Mt. Vernon in Posey County as the Ohio River Scenic Byway.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename a portion of State Road 56 from Haysville to Paoli the "William Alfred 'Bill' Cook Highway" in memory of William Alfred "Bill" Cook and to honor his many contributions to the state of Indiana and the world.

Sponsor: Matthew Ubelhor

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Dana Strabavy as an exemplary middle school counselor

Sponsor: John Broden

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Army Specialist Christopher Shane Wright by renaming the section of State Road 62 between the State Road 3 and State Road 265 interchange as "Christopher Shane Wright Memorial Highway".

Sponsor: Steven Stemler

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Anna Rohrer, Mishawaka High School senior, for her momentous victory in the 2014 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships, and for being named the 2014-2015 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year

Sponsor: Joseph Zakas

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of which time zone our state capital and, therefore, the majority of our citizens should observe.

Sponsor: Jeffrey Thompson

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Tracey and Reginald Jones for creating McMiracle on 38th Street, a non-profit organization formed in 1995 to provide bicycles and helmets to underprivileged Central Indiana youth on an annual basis

Sponsor: Michael Delph

A HOUSE RESOLUTION requesting the Indiana Department of Transportation to identify portions of certain highways between the Indiana - Ohio border near Lawrenceburg in Dearborn County and the Indiana - Illinois border near Mt. Vernon in Posey County as the Ohio River Scenic Byway.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Sponsor: David Long

A HOUSE RESOLUTION memorializing Randall C. "Randy" Miller.

Sponsor: Scott Pelath

Removes gender specific references from the Indiana Constitution. Makes certain other technical changes.

Sponsor: Ryan Dvorak

Provides that the general assembly may establish a commission to draw congressional and legislative districts. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Sponsor: Greg Walker

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing Bosse Field on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

Sponsor: Wendy McNamara

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Pamela K. Jones, Anderson City Councilwoman.

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the New Palestine High School football team on its Class 4A state championship victory.

Sponsor: Michael Crider

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the government of Turkey to cease its discrimination against the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Christian Church, to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastical succession, and the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Robert Hyatt for his years of dedicated service to his country and his state.

Sponsor: John Price

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating the Tri-West High School football team on its Class 3A state championship victory.

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Memorial Resolution for Margee Ann Oakley

Sponsor: Jean Breaux

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign these topics to an appropriate study committee.

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing Ann Krygier on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Sponsor: Doug Gutwein

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign to the appropriate committee the topic of prosecuting attorney pension plans.

Sponsor: David Long

A HOUSE RESOLUTION commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the 40th Anniversary and accomplishments of the Indiana Winery and Vineyard Association and its membership of Indiana growers and vintners.

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Honoring Daniel Tweed Ferrier.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

A SENATE RESOLUTION expressing the Indiana State Senate's sincere appreciation to the Indiana State Chiropractic Association for coordinating and operating the "Chiropractor of the Day" program and to the dedicated chiropractors who participated

Sponsor: David Long

A SENATE RESOLUTION expressing the Indiana State Senate's sincere appreciation to the Indiana State Medical Association and the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians for coordinating and operating the "Doctor of the Day" program and to the dedicated doctors who participated

Sponsor: David Long

This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Sponsor: David Long

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign the listed topics to an appropriate study committee.

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

Eliminates the constitutional property tax caps.

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

Renames the judicial nominating commission as the commission on judicial nominations and qualifications. Provides that one commission member is selected by attorneys licensed in Indiana, one commission member is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one commission member is appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. Requires that at least one commission member appointed by the governor must be an attorney. Prohibits a person who is a lobbyist from serving on the commission. Provides for the governor to fill a vacancy on the supreme court or the court of appeals from nominees recommended by

Sponsor: Michael Young

A SENATE RESOLUTION expressing gratitude to Verizon Communications for its role in promoting and supporting the legislative internship program and scholarships

Sponsor: David Long

A Senate Resolution expressing opposition to the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS).

Sponsor: David Long

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing Young Black Males Legislative Day on March 31, 2015.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign these topics to an appropriate study committee.

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring the 2015 Senate Majority interns and thanking them for their service to the Indiana General Assembly

Sponsor: James Merritt

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging all Hoosier to become aware of the danger of a brain aneurysm.

Sponsor: John Price

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring the Sisters of St. Benedict from Ferdinand for their long history of serving the needs of the people of Southern Indiana

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Olivia Keith for being named one of the top youth volunteers in Indiana during the 20th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sponsor: James Merritt

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Julie Workman and urging the governor to proclaim September as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing the life and accomplishments of William G. "Bill" Mays.

Sponsor: Cherrish Pryor

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball team.

Sponsor: Kevin Mahan

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Thomas E. Fruechtenicht and honoring him for his many years of public service to the State of Indiana

Sponsor: Brent Steele

A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring Civil War Reenactors.

Sponsor: Matthew Lehman

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename the section of State Road 25 in Carroll County from State Road 39 to E. 900 N. as the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Highway.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Hugh Brown.

Sponsor: Earl Harris

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to name the bridge currently under construction on Interstate 65 over the Ohio River as the "Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge".

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Highland Hills Middle School for being named a 2015 "School to Watch" by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

A HOUSE RESOLUTION acknowledging March as "Music in Our Schools Month".

Sponsor: Melanie Wright

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Joe Baker, a resident of Valparaiso, for being the first inductee into the Porter County Career and Technical Center Volunteer Hall of Fame

Sponsor: Ed Charbonneau

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the work done by the Oxford Society.

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of equipping school buses with lap and should safety belts.

Sponsor: John Bartlett

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of sales and use tax rates and collection on biofuels.

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the Valparaiso girls gymnastics team.

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Eric Vincent.

Sponsor: David Frizzell

A HOUSE RESOLUTION commemorating the USS Indiana (SSN 789).

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the achievements of the award winners at the 7th annual Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Congratulating former Indiana State Senator Billie Breaux for her decades of public service.

Sponsor: James Merritt

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating the Plainfield High School Show Choirs.

Sponsor: Robert Behning

Provides that the total amount of expense appropriations enacted by the general assembly for a biennial budget may not exceed the estimated revenue of the state in the biennial budget period. Defines "revenue" as all income received by the state general fund and all other state funds, excluding the proceeds of bonds or other loans. Defines "expense" as the ordinary operating costs of state government, including any debt service payments made during the biennial budget period. Provides that a state budget enacted by the general assembly must appropriate money for the state's prefunded pension funds in the amount necessary to

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. James Edwards, President Emeritus of Anderson University, for his substantial contributions to higher education, Anderson University, and the State of Indiana

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Whitney Jennings.

Sponsor: William Friend

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the Indiana members of the First Special Service Force, recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign to a study committee the topic of the feasability of establishing paid family leave and paid sick leave in Indiana

Sponsor: Jean Breaux

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of the sales and use tax deduction for certain bad debt.

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

A SENATE RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Ronald "Coach" Heflin, Sr., the patriarch of high school basketball from Gary, IN and a fierce competitor on the basketball court and a gentle, affable soul in life

Sponsor: Earline Rogers

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring distinguished WWII veterans Frank Bertalon, Warren Engelhardt, and Charles Hallagan, all three lifelong Hoosiers, who are participating in an Indy Honor Flight to our nation's captial

Sponsor: Michael Delph

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the establishment of a joint investigative coalition to study the policy and practices of Indiana electric utilities.

Sponsor: David Wolkins

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the Indiana Historical Bureau on the occasion of 100 years of marking Hoosier history.

Sponsor: Thomas Saunders

A SENATE RESOLUTION recognizing the week of March 15, 2015 as "National Safe Place Week"

Sponsor: James Merritt

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the importance and sustainability of Indiana's hardwood industry.

Sponsor: Greg Beumer

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign the appropriate study committee to study and make recommendations concerning issues related to facilitating an Indiana based local farm and food product economy.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating the Studebaker National Museum for honoring President Abraham Lincoln on the 150th anniversary of his tragic death.

Sponsor: Ryan Dvorak

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION celebrating the 100th birthday of Elsie P. Clay Wood.

Sponsor: Cherrish Pryor

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign the topic of compensation of elected officials and state public safety officers to the appropriate committee.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing Ryan Griffin.

Sponsor: Donna Schaibley

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Gayle Strassell, the first female mayor of Tell City, Indiana, and honoring her for a lifetime of public service and commitment to her community

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Courtney Dunn for being named one of the top youth volunteers in Indiana during the 20th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sponsor: Michael Crider

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign to an appropriate study committee the topic of the causes of violence and violent crime in Indiana.

Sponsor: John Bartlett

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Ernest "Ernie" Yelton for his many years of exemplary service as the Executive Director of the Indiana Gaming Commission

Sponsor: Ronnie Alting

A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring those who have served as legislative interns for the Indiana House of Representatives during the First Regular Session of the 119th Indiana General Assembly.

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the Decatur County Family YMCA.

Sponsor: Randall Frye

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating the Brown County Junior High School "We the People" team for winning the 2013-2014 National Championship and the 2014-2015 State Championship, while wishing the team good luck at the 2014-2015 National Competition.

Sponsor: Eric Koch

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the 50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Southern Indiana

Sponsor: James Tomes

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the Indiana Main Street program for thirty years of service to Indiana cities and towns

Sponsor: Randall Head

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating the Columbus North High School girls basketball team.

Sponsor: Milo Smith

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging United States Environmental Protection Agency to retain existing ozone standard.

Sponsor: David Wolkins

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of the recommendations found in the Ball State Tax Increment Financing Report.

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of dispensing information regarding vaccinations against the human papillomavirus.

Sponsor: Sue Errington

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION acknowledging the tragic assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the fact that he "truly belongs to the ages".

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION celebrating the 125th anniversary of the first graduating class of Chesterton High School and joining the celebration of the Quasquicentennial Class of 2015.

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Wabash National Corporation in celebration of its 30th anniversary

Sponsor: Ronnie Alting

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate committee the topic of heavy equipment rental tax reform

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating the Scottsburg High School Wrestling Warriors for winning the first Mid-Southern Conference Tournament in school history

Sponsor: James Smith

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of the use of enterprise zone monies for public transportation.

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing and honoring Representative Earl L. Harris.

Sponsor: Scott Pelath

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Thomas Jefferson Middle School for winning the state championship in the Indiana Science Olympiad

Sponsor: Ed Charbonneau

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the federal government to use sound science when determining the water level requirements of Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the Indianapolis Homeschool Wildcats.

Sponsor: Charles Burton

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating TRI-CAP on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign the topic of an Employment First Program, which promotes and expands quality, community employment outcomes for all people with disabilities to an appropriate study committee

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Donald Napoli, Director of the St. Joseph County Public Library for more than 37 years

Sponsor: John Broden

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and its "Change the Play" program, an initiative generating a movement of strong, health-minded children.

Sponsor: Brian Bosma

A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of studying ways to improve Indiana's HPV vaccination rate for girls and boys of all races and ethnicities.

Sponsor: Sue Errington

A HOUSE RESOLUTION congratulating Kenneth R. Torr on his induction into the Livestock Marketeers Hall of Fame.

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Heth-Washington Elementary School.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging rejection in the State of Indiana of all unnecessary regulations imposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and asserting that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will provide environmental protections for the citizens of Indiana

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

A SENATE RESOLUTION recognizing the need for the use of "sound science" in evaluating crop protection chemistries and nutrients

Sponsor: Jean Leising

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Corporal Jordan Lee Spears.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring Farmersville Elementary School on their nomination for the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School Award Program.

Sponsor: Wendy McNamara

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the National Association of Women Business Owners on the occasion of its 40th anniversary.

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging that the diagnostic label of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder be changed to Post-Traumatic Stress Injury.

Sponsor: Christina Hale

A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Pendleton, IN resident and US Marine Corps veteran, Cpl. Andrew Donald Shoup

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Elder Heart.

Sponsor: Eric Koch

A SENATE RESOLUTION recognizing the importance of all schools and libraries being equipped with high-capacity, high-speed broadband connectivity

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

A HOUSE RESOLUTION memorializing Joey Morris.

Sponsor: Brian Bosma

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the Wes-Del High School volleyball team on its victory in the 2014 IHSAA Class A volleyball championship

Sponsor: Doug Eckerty

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing Jackson Township Elementary School for being named a National Blue Ribbon School.

Sponsor: James Baird

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the District 11 All-Stars on becoming the 2014 Senior Softball Little League World Champions.

Sponsor: David Niezgodski

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename the U.S. 24 bridge over U.S. 31 on the northwest side of Peru the "Miami County Fallen Soldiers Memorial Bridge".

Sponsor: Randall Head

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Reverend Charles Williams.

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring North Elementary School on their nomination for the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School Award Program.

Sponsor: Wendy McNamara

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring the South Spencer High School Lady Rebels softball team.

Sponsor: Ronald Bacon

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename that part of Indiana State Road 56 and U.S. Highway 150 that converge as a single roadway between Paoli and French Lick as the Orange County Veterans Memorial Highway and the bridge spanning Lick Creek at U.S. 150 and East State Road 56 be designated the Orange County Vietnam Veterans Bridge.

Sponsor: Steven Davisson

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the West Side Leadership Academy Boys Track and Field team.

Sponsor: Charlie Brown

A HOUSE RESOLUTION commending the nation of Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and the State of Indiana.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, University of Notre Dame's President Emeritus, for his unmatched commitment to the university and his substantial contributions to higher education, the Catholic Church, national and international affairs

Sponsor: Elizabeth Brown

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating David C. Mitchell for his sixty years of service with the Rotary Club

Sponsor: Jon Ford

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating the Penn High School Spell Bowl team on winning its fourteenth state championship title in the Indiana Academic Spell Bowl

Sponsor: Joseph Zakas

A HOUSE RESOLUTION recognizing the Delaware County PRIDE Team.

Sponsor: Sue Errington

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Bryan Hughes for his 500th win as head coach of Barr-Reeve High School's varsity boys basketball team

Sponsor: Eric Bassler

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Indy Honor Flight and its many volunteers for faithfully serving Indiana's veterans

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the appropriate committee the topic of raising the age of consent from 16 to 18 years of age.

Sponsor: Brent Steele

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Floyd Central High School and its many students who participated in the annual dance marathon which raised over $94,000 to benefit the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

Sponsor: Matt Pierce

Sentence modification. Makes a person who commits an offense before July 1, 2014, eligible for sentence modification on the same terms as a person sentenced on or after that date. Provides that a violent criminal, as defined, may file one petition for sentence modification without the consent of the prosecuting attorney if the petition is filed within 365 days of sentencing. Allows a person who is not a violent criminal to file two petitions for sentence modification without the consent of the prosecuting attorney. Allows certain offenders who committed an offense after June 30, 2014, and before May 15, 2015,

Sponsor: Michael Young

Education deregulation. Makes comprehensive revisions to the Indiana Code relating to all aspects of the administration of schools and school corporations and the education of students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Repeals various obsolete provisions and provisions that limit local control of schools. Establishes a school reporting oversight committee to review all reporting requirements by the state for schools. Makes conforming and technical amendments.

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Property tax issues. Provides that, following a petition for review contesting the assessed value of tangible property, a taxpayer and a township or county official may enter into an agreement in which both parties: (1) agree to waive a determination by the county property tax assessment board of appeals (PTABOA) and submit a dispute directly to the Indiana board of tax review; or (2) agree to stipulate to the assessed value of the tangible property as determined by an independent appraisal. Provides certain provisions that must be included in an agreement, including provisions for selecting an independent appraiser. Specifies that

Sponsor: Howard Kenley

Food and beverage taxes. Authorizes the fiscal body of the town of Rockville to adopt a town food and beverage tax. Provides that the tax rate may not exceed 1%. Specifies the purposes for which the Rockville food and beverage tax may be used. Authorizes the fiscal body of Orange County to adopt a food and beverage tax of not more than 1%. Specifies the permissible uses of the tax revenue. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee the topic of whether a uniform food and beverage tax should be enacted into law to allow local governments

Sponsor: Alan Morrison

Horse racing matters. Requires the Indiana horse racing commission (IHRC) to promote the horse racing industry in Indiana, including its simulcast product. Provides that promotional costs may be paid from the breed development funds. Increases the amount of money in the breed development funds that may be used for IHRC expenses from 2% to 4%. Provides that not more than 50% of that amount may be used to pay costs incurred to promote the Indiana horse racing industry. Requires the IHRC to annually report and account for its promotional actions and expenditures. Specifies that the number of days that the

Sponsor: Howard Kenley

Publication and Internet posting of information. Requires local governments and school corporations to provide information for posting on the Indiana transparency Internet web site as follows: (1) Expenditures categorized by personal services, other operating expenses or total operating expenses, and debt service, including lease payments, related to debt. (2) A listing of fund balances, specifically identifying balances in funds that are being used for accumulation of money for future capital needs. Requires the department of local government finance (DLGF) after July 31, 2016, to publish an annual financial and operational summary of each political subdivision on the Indiana transparency Internet

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Charity gaming. Provides that the prize for a progressive bingo game may not exceed $2,000. Provides that the total prizes for one pull tab, punchboard, or tip board game may not exceed $10,000. (Current law provides that the total prizes may not exceed $5,000.) Provides that the prize limit for a game using a seal card is $1,000 and a progressive or carryover pull tab game is $5,000. Requires that a qualified organization may pay for licensed supplies only with a check drawn on or by an electronic funds transfer from the qualified organization's gaming account. Provides that a licensed

Sponsor: Jean Leising

State emblems. Designates the Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt as the official state aircraft of Indiana.

Sponsor: Vaneta Becker

Annexation. Provides the following for annexations for which an annexation ordinance is adopted after June 30, 2015: (1) Remonstrance petitions are filed with the county auditor (instead of a court). (2) An annexation ordinance does not proceed if at least 65% of owners of nontax exempt land or the owners of 80% of the assessed value of nontax exempt land in the annexation territory sign a remonstrance. (3) Provides that an annexation may proceed to a hearing if a petition for remonstrance is signed by at least 51% of the owners of land (excluding tax-exempt land) or the owners of

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Various election law matters. Provides that the procedure for removing election inspectors and judges also applies to poll clerks, assistant poll clerks, and election sheriffs. Exempts certain statutorily protected residence addresses from the requirement to publish the address of each primary election candidate. Makes technical changes relating to: (1) filing statements of economic interests; (2) updating voter registration information; (3) transmitting absentee ballots; (4) appointment of absentee voter boards; (5) filling candidate vacancies; (6) transmission of voter registration applications; (7) public questions; and (8) certification of special election results. Updates dates and other references in the election law. Removes other

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

Adult high schools. Provides that the department of education shall distribute funding for adult high schools to the adult high school's organizer. Provides that an adult high school may be authorized by the executive of a consolidated city. Provides that an authorizer may not authorize an adult high school without obtaining an appropriation by the general assembly.

Sponsor: Dale DeVon

Innovation network schools. Provides for innovation network school programs in school corporations. Establishes the career pathways pilot program. Establishes the innovation network school pilot grant. Repeals the article relating to the establishment of innovation network schools by the Indianapolis Public Schools.

Sponsor: Robert Behning

Human trafficking, promoting prostitution, and adult entertainment performers. Provides that, for purposes of the law concerning actions for indecent nuisances, an indecent nuisance includes a public place in or upon which human trafficking is conducted, permitted, continued, or exists, and the personal property and contents used in conducting and maintaining the place for such a purpose. Establishes the human trafficking prevention and victim assistance fund to fund human trafficking victim services and human trafficking prevention programs. Provides that: (1) 80% of money collected in the seizure of property used in connection with human trafficking will be transferred to the human

Sponsor: Randall Head

Dual language immersion; biliteracy. Establishes the dual language immersion pilot program to provide grants to school corporations and charter schools that establish dual language immersion programs in certain foreign languages. Creates the state certificate of biliteracy. Requires that the appropriate designation appear on the student's transcript. Requires the state board of education to adopt rules and to direct the department of education to administer the state biliteracy program. Provides that a school corporation, a charter school, or a nonpublic high school is not required to participate in the biliteracy program.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Serious sex offenders. Defines "serious sex offender". Makes entry on school property by a serious sex offender a Level 6 felony. Provides that a serious sex offender is entitled to vote by mail. Requires the department of correction to inform a serious sex offender at the time of discharge from the department: (1) that a serious sex offender who knowingly or intentionally enters school property commits unlawful entry by a serious sex offender, a Level 6 felony; and (2) of voting options for the serious sex offender.

Sponsor: Frank Mrvan

Various education issues. Adds "school psychologist" to the definition of "teacher" for the purposes of teacher preparation and licensing. Requires an election for a student to have legal settlement in the school corporation whose attendance area contains the residence of the student's mother or father to be made on a yearly basis and apply throughout the school year unless the student's parent no longer resides within the attendance area of the school corporation. Provides that the visual acuity required of a school bus driver is not required of a school bus monitor. Provides that an accredited school may not offer,

Sponsor: Jeffrey Thompson

Cigarettes and tobacco sales. Prohibits the sale at retail of an electronic cigarette without a valid tobacco sales certificate issued by the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) and includes electronic cigarettes in the certification regulation statutes. Provides that the commission may not enforce an action regarding tobacco sales certificates and electronic cigarettes until after August 31, 2015. Permits smoking in certain cigar stores and bars. Removes the requirement that members of a club or fraternal club must vote to allow smoking on the premises. Provides that the club or fraternal club may allow guests in the designated smoking room or

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Higher education financial assistance. Removes Indiana residency requirements for scholarships under the National Guard tuition supplement program and the National Guard scholarship extension program. Requires applicants for the National Guard tuition supplement program and the National Guard scholarship extension program to have used any available state or federal assistance, if applicable. Establishes cumulative grade point average requirements for the renewal of scholarships under the National Guard tuition supplement program. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a first year higher education award if the applicant is ineligible for a National Guard tuition supplement grant or a scholarship under the National

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

Various criminal law matters. Adds unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon to the definition of "crimes of violence". Establishes new caps for consecutive sentences that result from a single episode of criminal conduct. Defines "emergency medical services provider". Provides that a person is a habitual offender if the state proves the person has been convicted of three prior unrelated felonies of any level. Allows the state to seek to have a person who allegedly committed a felony or misdemeanor, other than certain offenses, sentenced to an additional fixed term of imprisonment of between five and 20

Sponsor: Michael Young

Various tax matters. Eliminates the World War I veteran property tax deduction for property taxes imposed for an assessment date after 2015. Provides that the equipment eligible for the double direct sales tax exemption includes material handling equipment purchased for the purpose of transporting materials into production activities from an onsite location. Provides that: (1) the cutting of steel bars into billets; and (2) the felling of trees for further use in production or for sale in the ordinary course of business; is to be treated as processing of tangible personal property for purposes of the double direct sales tax

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

State and local taxation. Provides that if a taxpayer has personal property subject to assessment in more than one township in a county or has personal property that is subject to assessment and that is located in two or more taxing districts within the same township, the taxpayer shall file a single tax return with the county assessor. Provides that a personal property return notice must be filed with the county assessor, and not the township assessor, of the county in which the owner resides when the personal property is located in a different county. Provides a property tax exemption

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Regional cities. Establishes the Indiana regional city fund (fund) to provide grants and loans to regional development authorities. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation administers the fund. Broadens the definition of "project" under the regional development authority statute to include any project that enhances a region with the goal of attracting people or business. Specifies that the board of the Indiana economic development corporation (board) may not approve an application for a grant unless: (1) the budget committee has reviewed the application; (2) the board finds that approving the application will have an overall positive return on investment for

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

Common construction wage and public works. Repeals the common construction wage statute. Repeals related statutes superseded by the repeal of the common construction wage statute. Increases the "small project" cap for a public works project from $150,000 to $300,000. Unless required by federal or state law, prohibits a public agency from establishing, mandating, or otherwise requiring a wage scale or wage schedule for a public works project. Provides that the following apply to all public works projects, except public-private, design-build, and construction manager as constructor agreements: (1) Provides that a public works contract may not be structured other than in

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

Property tax appeals. Provides that when a deadline imposed upon a political subdivision, the department of local government finance, or the Indiana board in the property tax statutes is not a business day, the last day for the political subdivision, the department of local government finance, or the Indiana board to take the action required is the first business day after the stated deadline. Allows the fiscal officer of a taxing unit to establish a property tax assessment appeals fund to hold property tax receipts that are attributable to an increase in the taxing unit's tax rate caused by a

Sponsor: Ben Smaltz

Various tax sale matters. Makes numerous changes to the tax sale statute, including the following: (1) Provides that a purchaser of real property by an installment land contract may request notice of the tax sale list. (2) Adds an alternative provision for a county executive to transfer a tax sale property to a nonprofit entity. For purposes of these provisions, defines the "county executive" of Marion County to mean the board of commissioners (consisting of the county auditor, county treasurer, and county assessor). (3) Provides that a county treasurer may use money held on a person's behalf in the tax

Sponsor: Randall Head

Various pension matters. Provides that an employer that is eligible but not required to participate in the public employees' retirement fund (PERF) must pay the employer's share of the unfunded liability attributable to the employer's current and former employees if the employer withdraws from PERF or otherwise phases out its participation in PERF. Establishes a procedure by which a political subdivision may participate in the defined contribution only plan (the plan) and choose whether the political subdivision's employees participate in PERF, the plan, or may elect whether to participate in PERF or the plan. Provides that an ordinance or resolution

Sponsor: Martin Carbaugh

County and township assessor qualifications. Removes requirements that a candidate for county or township assessor must attain a certain level assessor-appraiser certification as a condition for becoming a candidate for the office. Provides that an individual who has never held the assessor's office must have a level two assessor-appraiser certification before the individual assumes the office of assessor (county or township). Provides that an individual who has held the assessor's office must have a level three assessor-appraiser certification before the individual assumes a new term of office (county or township). Requires a county fiscal body to establish a salary schedule

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Health matters. Makes the department of correction (DOC) an inmate's authorized representative for applying for Medicaid for inmates who are potentially eligible for Medicaid and who incur medical care expenses that are not otherwise reimbursable. Requires the DOC and the office of the secretary of family and social services to enter into an agreement in which the DOC pays the state share of the Medicaid costs incurred for the inmate. Makes the sheriff the individual's authorized representative for applying for Medicaid for individuals subject to lawful detention who are potentially eligible for Medicaid. Requires a county executive to enter into

Sponsor: Edward Clere

Various criminal law matters. Requires the criminal justice institute to track the number of juveniles in adult court. Requires custodial interrogations of juveniles to be recorded. Raises the ages for waiver of jurisdiction of certain juveniles to adult court. Allows a person with an intellectual disability, developmental disability, or autism spectrum disorder to participate in a forensic diversion program. Authorizes a prosecuting attorney to require a person participating in a prosecutorial diversion program to receive mental health treatment to reduce recidivism, and allows diversion and deferral fees to be used to fund mental health treatment programs to reduce recidivism. Allows

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

Financial institutions and trade regulation. Makes various changes to the laws concerning: (1) first lien mortgage lenders; (2) persons licensed under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code; (3) rental purchase agreements; (4) debt management companies; (5) financial institutions; (6) pawnbrokers; (7) money transmitters; and (8) check cashers. Repeals a provision providing an alternative regular reserve formula for certain credit unions. Makes conforming amendments.

Sponsor: Charles Burton

Unemployment insurance. Provides that any part of an unemployment insurance surcharge not used to pay interest on the advances made to the state from the federal unemployment trust fund must be credited against the total amount of benefits charged to the state's unemployment insurance trust fund before determining each employer's share of those benefits. Removes language that requires the extra surcharge amount be credited to each employer's experience account in proportion to the amount of the surcharge the employer paid. Requires the department of workforce development (department) to establish an unemployment benefit overpayment not later than four years from the

Sponsor: Daniel Leonard

Various child support matters. Makes various changes to family and juvenile law concerning the following: (1) Parties entitled to file a paternity action. (2) Petitions for child support. (3) Petitions for adoption. (4) Adoption decrees. (5) Duties of the child support bureau. (6) Costs of services for children and payments of child support. Repeals the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act currently in effect and replaces it with an updated version of the act. Makes technical corrections.

Sponsor: Randall Head

Public officials, liens, and restricted addresses. Provides that, for purposes of the law concerning common law liens, a public official includes former officeholders. Creates a definition for "public employee". Provides if a person notifies the county recorder that the person is a public official or public employee, a common law lien that is recorded on the person's property is automatically void after 30 days if the lienholder has not commenced suit on the lien. (Under current law, a person must file an affidavit of service of notice with the county recorder in order to release the lien.) Prohibits a person

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

Professional licensing matters. Requires an individual who holds a professional license or certificate and who is convicted of a misdemeanor or felony to provide written notice of the conviction to the appropriate professional licensing board not later than 90 days after entry of the order or judgment of conviction. Provides that if a professional license or certificate is initially issued to the holder less than 90 days before the date on which such licenses or certificates generally expire, the license or certificate does not expire on the general expiration date but instead expires at the conclusion of the next licensing

Sponsor: Dennis Zent

Human services and health matters. Amends the definition of "autism". Makes multiple changes to the administration of the office of the secretary of family and social services. Moves the authority to operate a disability determination bureau from the division of disability and rehabilitative services (division) to the office of the secretary. Expires the health facility preadmission screening assessment process statute June 30, 2016. Requires the division of aging to: (1) meet with stakeholders to collaborate on changes in the health facility preadmission screening assessment process; and (2) submit a written report to the general assembly before November 1, 2015, concerning

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Civil immunity for volunteer health care providers. Specifies criteria for civil immunity from liability for certain volunteer health care providers. Requires the Indiana professional licensing agency to establish and maintain a health care volunteer registry. Provides that an approval of a location where the provision of health care services in which a provider may be immune from civil liability is valid for up to two years. Requires a person who meets the criteria for immunity from civil liability to provide a certain records and results of laboratory and imaging based screenings and tests to the patient. Requires that a person

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Patent protection. Prohibits a person from asserting a claim of patent infringement in bad faith. Provides that a court may, upon motion, require a person to post a bond if the target establishes a reasonable likelihood that the person has made an assertion of patent infringement in bad faith. Establishes remedies and damages. Exempts certain: (1) approved postsecondary educational institutions; (2) technology transfer organizations owned by or affiliated with approved postsecondary educational institutions; and (3) licensees holding patents from postsecondary educational institutions or technology transfer organizations owned by or affiliated with postsecondary educational institutions; from the provisions regarding bad faith

Sponsor: Eric Koch

Magistrates and courts. Allows the judges of the Clark circuit court to jointly appoint a third full-time magistrate. Allows the judge of the Greene circuit court and the judge of the Greene superior court to jointly appoint one full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Madison circuit court to jointly appoint a second full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Marion superior court to appoint four additional full-time magistrates after December 31, 2015. Allows the judge of the Porter circuit court to appoint one full-time magistrate. Allows the judge of the Vanderburgh circuit court to appoint a second full-time magistrate.

Sponsor: Steven Stemler

Political activity on homeowners association property. Provides that the statute that prohibits a homeowners association from adopting or enforcing a rule or covenant that prohibits candidates and officeholders from entering the property to conduct political activity does not apply to homeowners association property if: (1) access to the property from the outside is controlled; and (2) the common areas, including roads and sidewalks, are privately owned and maintained.

Sponsor: Harold Slager

Various motor vehicle matters. Authorizes the use of mini-trucks on Indiana roads other than interstate highways. Requires a mini-truck that is operated on an Indiana road to be titled and registered. Defines "person", for purposes of titling a vehicle, to include sole proprietorships. Requires a dealer of mini-trucks to register as a dealer. Imposes an annual excise tax of $30 on a mini-truck. Removes the requirement that an application for the fleet registration program for common registration dates for fleet vehicles contain a certificate of title and registration for all fleet vehicles in the exact name of the fleet operator.

Sponsor: David Wolkins

Transportation networks. Requires a transportation network company to have a permit issued by the Indiana department of state revenue to provide a digital network for connection to prearranged rides in Indiana. Specifies requirements related to: (1) criminal and driving history; (2) drug and alcohol use; (3) vehicle equipment; (4) insurance; (5) fares; (6) privacy; (7) nondiscrimination and accessibility; (8) record maintenance; (9) TNC and TNC driver conduct; and (10) regulation.

Sponsor: Matthew Lehman

Controlled projects. Provides that for purposes of determining whether a capital project by a political subdivision located in Hamilton County, other than a school corporation, is a controlled project for purposes of the petition and remonstrance process or the referendum process, the cost of the project does not include any expenditures that will be paid from money that has accumulated or has been deposited by the political subdivision in a fund. Specifies that the political subdivision must, before the preliminary determination is made for the capital project, segregate the money as provided in a capital improvement plan, a capital development

Sponsor: Howard Kenley

Preservation of public records. Changes the name of the state commission on public records to the Indiana archives and records administration (administration). Changes the name of the central micrographics laboratory to the state imaging and microfilm laboratory. Adds and changes certain terms to reflect changes in technology, materials, and processes. Specifies that the administration administers the law regarding preservation of public records for political subdivisions. Requires a county commission of public records to notify the administration within 30 days after selecting a chairman or secretary of the county commission. Provides that the administration may maintain damaged court record books. Requires

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Regulation of e-liquids. Defines "e-liquid" as a substance that is intended to be vaporized and inhaled using a vapor pen. Requires a manufacturer of e-liquid to obtain a permit from the alcohol and tobacco commission before bottling e-liquid or selling e-liquid to retailers or distributors. Provides that the initial application for a manufacturing permit must include: (1) plans for the applicant's manufacturing facility; (2) a service agreement between the applicant and a security firm requiring the security firm to certify that the manufacturer meets certain security requirements; and (3) an application fee of $1,000. Provides that a manufacturer's permit is

Sponsor: Kevin Mahan

Northwest Indiana regional development authority. Provides for direct distributions of riverboat admissions taxes and supplemental distributions to the northwest Indiana regional development authority (RDA) to satisfy the obligations of Lake County, East Chicago, Gary, and Hammond to annually transfer money to the RDA. Eliminates the requirement (in current law) that the certified public accountant who conducts the annual audit of the Gary airport authority also: (1) perform a study and evaluation of the airport authority's internal accounting controls; and (2) express an opinion regrading the audit controls. Provides that the RDA may fund projects only to the extent that the

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

Probate claims study committee. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the topic of whether a creditor's right to bring a claim against an estate should be extended beyond the current nine month period.

Sponsor: Travis Holdman

Standard deduction for homesteads. Provides that after December 31, 2015, if more than one individual or entity qualifies property as a homestead for an assessment date, only one standard deduction from the assessed value of the homestead may be applied for the assessment date.

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Controlled substance data base. Permits physicians who hold a temporary medical license to have access to confidential information in the Indiana scheduled prescription electronic collection and tracking (INSPECT) program.

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Medical residency education. Establishes the medical residency education fund for the purpose of expanding medical education in Indiana by funding new residency program slots at licensed hospitals. Specifies uses of money from the medical residency education fund and the graduate medical education fund. Establishes the graduate medical education board (board) in order to: (1) provide funding for residents not funded by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; (2) provide technical assistance for entities that wish to establish a residency program; (3) fund infrastructure costs for an expansion of graduate medical education; and (4) provide startup funding for entities

Sponsor: Timothy Brown

Identification cards without an image. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to issue a photo exempt identification card (card) that does not bear the image of the holder. Requires that an application for a card, among other requirements, must contain a digital image of the applicant. Provides that an individual may not have a card and a driver's license or identification card at a time. Provides that a retailer that in good faith accepts a card as proof of identification for a retail transaction is immune from civil liability that may occur as a result of the acceptance. Sets a

Sponsor: Robert Morris

Natural resources matters. Allows the department of administration to sell abandoned railroad corridor property to an adjacent landowner under certain conditions. Adds supplies purchased for resale at properties owned or managed by the department of natural resources (department) to the purchases exempt from the public purchasing requirements. Allows the state forester to use a geographic information system for classified land inspections if a landowner chooses to not accompany the state forester on the inspection. Provides that certain information concerning an endangered species may be kept confidential. Allows the director of the department to issue an order vacating a public highway

Sponsor: Sean Eberhart

Trials and magistrates. Conforms Indiana statutes concerning the right to a jury trial in a criminal case with the provisions in the Indiana Rules of Criminal Procedure concerning waiver of the right to a jury trial. Provides that, unless the defendant consents, a magistrate may not preside over a sentencing hearing if the magistrate did not preside over the criminal trial.

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

Substantive problems in the Indiana Code. Resolves various nontechnical conflicts and problems not suitable for resolution in the annual technical corrections bill, including: (1) statutes that have been both amended and repealed; (2) ambiguous language and references; (3) faulty definitions; and (4) references to defunct entities. Replaces certain instances of "lieutenant governor" with "director of the Indiana office of energy development". Provides a definition of "small business ombudsman". Replaces instances of "ombudsman" with "small business ombudsman". (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision commission.)

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Update of federal election law references. Updates references to federal election law in the Indiana Code. Makes technical corrections.

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

Environmental variances and other matters. Makes the following changes concerning variances from environmental rules: (1) If a variance would be in effect for more than one year: (A) the application for the variance must include a demonstration of how the applicant would come into compliance with the rule within the period for which the variance would be in effect; and (B) the variance, if granted, must include a compliance schedule requiring that compliance be achieved while the variance is in effect; and (C) the variance may be revoked for failure to comply with the compliance schedule. (2) Eliminates the renewal

Sponsor: David Wolkins

Police and firefighter retirement matters. Makes changes to the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund to include police officers in several sections of the statute that may logically apply to police officers as well as firefighters. Specifies that a state police officer who retires after 25 years of service is entitled to: (1) retain the officer's service weapon; (2) receive a "Retired" badge in recognition of the officer's service; and (3) receive an identification card that indicates that the officer is retired. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension

Sponsor: Karlee Macer

Library board appointments. Provides that if a library district located in one township and part of a municipality expands to include two additional townships that are located only within the municipality, the library board members shall continue to be appointed as they were before the expansion (by the municipality and by the township only partially located within the municipality).

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Precinct election officers. Provides that a county election board, by a resolution adopted by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, may provide that one individual may serve as inspector for more than one precinct located at the same polling place.

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

Developmental disability terminology. Changes the term "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability". Makes technical corrections.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Video conferencing by confined persons. Allows certain court proceedings involving a person confined to the department of correction to be conducted by video conferencing with the consent of the confined person. Allows a person confined in a county jail to receive a mental health evaluation for the purpose of mental health assessment and treatment by means of video conferencing. Specifies that a mental health evaluation for the purpose of: (1) determining competency to stand trial; or (2) establishing a defense to a crime; may not be conducted by video conferencing. Prohibits recording of a mental health evaluation.

Sponsor: Steven Davisson

Securities. Provides that living residents of bankrupt continuing care retirement communities who executed a continuing care agreement before July 1, 2009, are eligible to receive distributions from the guaranty association fund. (Current law provides that any living resident of a bankrupt continuing care retirement community is eligible to receive distributions from the guaranty association fund.) Removes a provision that provides that IC 4-21.5 (laws governing administrative orders and proceedings) does not apply to certain provisions regulating loan brokers. Removes certain provisions concerning transactions involving securities that are exempt from registration. Provides that IC 4-21.5 (laws governing administrative orders and proceedings)

Sponsor: Robert Heaton

Agricultural matters. Authorizes the department of agriculture (department) to establish a farm commodities and market news service as a pilot program for the 2015-2017 biennium. Authorizes the department to expand the program beginning July 1, 2017. Provides that a program established by the department must be funded from the livestock industry promotion and development fund. Allows the feeding of garbage to swine if the garbage is treated to kill disease organisms in accordance with rules adopted by the Indiana board of animal health (board) and the processing occurs at a facility operated by a person holding a valid license issued

Sponsor: Matthew Ubelhor

Agricultural matters. Provides that the seed commissioner may keep certain information concerning industrial hemp confidential. Provides that a licensed warehouse and grain buyer is subject to a fine for a delinquent license fee beginning with the first day that the license fee is delinquent. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee a study of issues related to the production and use of hemp oil that is produced from industrial hemp.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

Uninsured motorist damages. Specifies that an insurer may not pay noneconomic damages on a motor vehicle insurance claim for a loss incurred by an uninsured motorist who, during the immediately preceding five years, has been required to provide proof of future financial responsibility. Provides that an uninsured motorist who sustained bodily injury or property damage as the result of a motor vehicle accident and who, during the immediately preceding five years, has been required to provide proof of future financial responsibility may not recover noneconomic damages. Makes certain exceptions.

Sponsor: Kevin Mahan

Redistricting plans. Establishes the special interim study committee on redistricting to evaluate the benefits of and the issues that would need to be addressed if a change in the method for establishing districts for the election of members of the general assembly and members of Congress from Indiana were made, including establishment of a redistricting commission.

Sponsor: Brian Bosma

Sales tax exemption for certain labels. Provides a sales tax exemption for labels that: (1) will be affixed to other tangible personal property being sold by a retail merchant; and (2) are required by law to be affixed to the other tangible personal property.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Designation of caregiver for patients. Requires a hospital to provide each admitted patient or the patient's health care representative with an opportunity to designate a lay caregiver within a specified time. Specifies documentation of whether the patient designates a lay caregiver. Requires the hospital to do certain acts including the following: (1) Request written consent to release medical information to the designated lay caregiver. (2) Record certain information concerning the designated lay caregiver in the patient's medical chart. (3) Attempt to consult with the designated lay caregiver before release of the patient. (4) Prepare an at home care plan. (5)

Sponsor: Dennis Zent

Condominium associations and homeowners associations. Requires the seller of a property that is subject to a homeowners association to make certain disclosures to the purchaser. Requires that a condominium declaration contain provisions allowing the co-owners to amend the declaration. Provides that the percentage of the votes required to amend a condominium's bylaws may not exceed 75%. Requires that the minutes of a condominium board's meetings be made available to a co-owner of the condominium for inspection upon request. Makes a provision under which a condominium's common areas can be conveyed or encumbered only with the votes of at least 95%

Sponsor: Charles Burton

Communications services and energy production. Eliminates the state requirement that a communications service provider allow a physical connection by other providers to its system. Establishes a uniform statewide procedure for applications for and issuance of permits for the construction and modification of structures and facilities for the provision of wireless communications service. Specifies that local planning and zoning laws apply to the issuance of permits for communications structures and facilities under the new provisions. Requires applications for permits to show evidence of compliance with criteria set forth in applicable zoning ordinances with respect to special exceptions, special uses, contingent uses,

Sponsor: Eric Koch

Dental hygiene practice. Amends the definition of "prescriptive supervision" for purposes of the practice of dental hygiene. Provides that a dental hygienist may not use a laser that cuts, ablates, or cauterizes hard or soft tissue to provide treatment to a patient. Requires that if a dental hygienist practices under the prescriptive supervision of a licensed dentist, the dentist's written order must be recorded, signed, and dated in the patient's records.

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Vacancy in office of clerk-treasurer. Provides that if a town legislative body is unable to fill a vacancy in the office of town clerk-treasurer, a town legislative body member may serve ex officio as the town clerk-treasurer for the remainder of the clerk-treasurer's term. Provides that the town legislative body member may not receive additional compensation for serving as the ex officio town clerk-treasurer. Provides that the duties assumed by the town legislative body member are duties of the office of town legislative body member and do not constitute a second lucrative office. Allows the town legislative body to enter

Sponsor: Ed Charbonneau

Property tax matters. Specifies that if a taxpayer files an amended personal property tax return for a year: (1) before July 16 of that year, the taxpayer shall pay the taxes payable in the immediately succeeding year based on the assessed value reported on the amended return; or (2) after July 15 of that year, the taxpayer shall pay the taxes payable in the immediately succeeding year based on the assessed value reported on the original personal property tax return. Requires a public utility company to file its property tax return with the department of local government finance (DLGF) on

Sponsor: Daniel Leonard

Supervision of probationary drivers. Amends existing supervised driving requirements to receive a learner's permit or an operator's license. Provides that an individual with a disability who satisfies certain requirements is eligible to receive an operator's license. Repeals a superseded provision concerning probationary operator's licenses. Provides that an operator's license issued to an individual who is less than 21 years of age is a probationary license. (Under current law, the age limit for a probationary license is 18 years of age.) Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to adopt rules to establish minimum hours of instruction for approved driver education courses.

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

Public notice in newspapers. Adds a provision requiring a certain average circulation to the definition of "newspaper" for purposes of the statute concerning notice publication. Removes a duplicative provision from the publication statute that prescribes a publication procedure if another specific publication procedure does not apply to an event. Removes from the publication statute two provisions that have expired.

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Servicemembers civil relief act. Creates the servicemembers civil relief act. Provides that protections under Indiana's civil relief act supplement protections for servicemembers under the federal servicemembers civil relief act.

Sponsor: Dennis Zent

Lake County city and town court jurisdiction. Increases the maximum civil jurisdiction from an amount in controversy of $3,000 to an amount in controversy of $6,000 for the: (1) East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Hobart, and Crown Point city courts; and (2) Merrillville town court. Specifies that a "clerk serving the county" includes the clerk of a city or town court for purposes of supplementing jury fees from the local jury pay fund.

Sponsor: William Fine

Beer, wine, liquor prizes/charity auction sales. Allows a nonprofit corporation that is a qualified organization under the charity gaming law (qualified organization) to give sealed bottles or cases of alcoholic beverages as prizes in a charity gaming event without obtaining an alcoholic beverage permit. Allows a qualified organization to auction purchased or donated alcoholic beverages in sealed bottles or cases, without obtaining an alcoholic beverage permit. Prohibits alcoholic beverages that are auctioned or given as prizes from being consumed on the premises. Repeals and replaces the current statute regarding payments to the commission. Requires the commission to accept payments by

Sponsor: Julie Olthoff

Actions against a surveyor. Provides that an action to recover damages for a deficiency in a land survey must be brought against the surveyor not later than 10 years after the date of the survey.

Sponsor: David Ober

Abortion matters. Amends the definition of "abortion clinic" as follows: (1) Refers to a health care provider instead of a freestanding entity. (2) Exempts from the definition of "abortion clinic" a health care provider that provides an abortion inducing drug for the purposes of inducing an abortion to fewer than five patients a year. (Current law exempts certain physician's offices.) Requires that a person seeking a waiver by the health commissioner from rules authorized by the hospital council must affirmatively demonstrate that the waiver will not adversely affect or increase any risk to the health, safety, or welfare of an

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Benefit corporations. Allows a business entity to incorporate as a benefit corporation under Indiana law.

Sponsor: Casey Cox

Aircraft. Removes the automatic reclassification of an aircraft in an aircraft dealer's inventory from the status of "aircraft inventory" to the status of "property of a nondealer" after 180 days. Provides that an airplane that has total time in service exceeding 50 hours in a year is no longer considered an aircraft in inventory and requires the sales and use sales tax to be paid. Provides that a dealer who has had an aircraft reclassified out of the dealer's aircraft inventory because of the 180 day provision may: (1) elect to return an aircraft to the dealer's aircraft inventory if

Sponsor: Mike Speedy

Medications. Defines "medication therapy management" for the purposes of the regulation of pharmacies and pharmacists. Adds the provision of medication therapy management to the definition of "the practice of pharmacy". Includes advanced practice nurses and physician assistants in the definition of "direct supervision" for the purposes of consulting with a pharmacist on certain drug regimen protocols. Establishes the INSPECT oversight committee. Provides the committee's approval for the board to execute a contract with a vendor to administer the INSPECT program. Requires approval from the chairperson of the board of pharmacy to hire a director of the INSPECT program. Provides that

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Defense to liability concerning liquefied petroleum gas providers. Provides that the provider of liquefied petroleum gas that was used in: (1) liquefied petroleum gas equipment; or (2) a liquefied petroleum gas appliance; involved in causing bodily injury or property damage has an affirmative defense in any action brought against the provider if a person assumed the risk of causing the bodily injury or property damage because of certain actions taken by the person in unreasonably altering, modifying, repairing, or using the equipment or appliance. Changes the standard for altering petroleum gas equipment or appliances from "unreasonably alters" to "materially alters".

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Drink sales at microbrewery, farm winery, and artisan distillery. Allows any combination of a microbrewery, farm winery, and an artisan distillery that occupy the same building to sell by the glass the microbrewery's beer, the farm winery's wine, and the artisan distillery's liquor from the same service bar, without a structure separating the service of wine, the service of beer, and the service of liquor. Provides that the restrictions and provisions of an artisan distillery's, microbrewery's, or farm winery's permit governing the sale or service of alcoholic beverages apply to the sale and service of the alcoholic beverage.

Sponsor: David Ober

High school diplomas. Provides that, beginning with the annual case review when a student who is a child with a disability is in grade 8, the student's individualized education program must include the type of diploma the student will seek and the courses necessary to obtain the diploma. Provides that, beginning with grade 9, the student's teacher of record must communicate with the student's parent at least one time each grading period to review the student's progress toward the diploma. Provides that, not later than September 1, 2015, the Core 40 subcommittee of the Indiana career council shall present to

Sponsor: Edward Clere

Ordinances related to building and housing laws. Specifies that an ordinance or other regulation adopted by a political subdivision that qualifies as a fire safety law or a building law: (1) must be submitted to the fire prevention and building safety commission (commission) for review within 30 days of adoption by the political subdivision; and (2) is not effective until the ordinance or regulation: (A) is approved by the commission; or (B) is approved automatically if the commission does not approve or deny the ordinance or regulation within four commission meetings. Requires the commission to specify the basis for the

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

Redevelopment commissions and authorities. Requires a redevelopment commission or redevelopment authority to hold an organizational meeting on a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday and that is their first meeting day of the year. Provides that the fiscal officer of a redevelopment commission may disburse funds only after the disbursement is approved by the redevelopment commission. Allows a redevelopment commission to specify types of disbursements that the fiscal officer may make in advance of the commission's approval at its next regular meeting. Requires the treasurer of a redevelopment commission to report annually to the

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Abandoned mobile homes. Makes changes to the procedure in current law for the sale or salvage of an abandoned mobile home located on private property, other than mobile homes located in a mobile home community. Provides, except in the case of an abandoned mobile home offered for sale at auction, that the bureau of motor vehicles may not transfer the title to a mobile home or change the names on the title to a mobile home unless the owner holds a valid permit issued by the county treasurer. Provides that a permit to move, or transfer title to, a mobile

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Definition of "sexual conduct". Adds exhibition of the female breast to the definition of "sexual conduct" for purposes of the law concerning child exploitation and child pornography.

Sponsor: Randall Head

Autocycles and motorcycles. Defines autocycle for purposes of the motor vehicle code; provides that an autocycle is a motorcycle. Removes the requirement that the handlebars of a motorcycle or a motor driven cycle rise not higher than the shoulders of the driver when the driver is seated. Provides that the operator of or a passenger on an autocycle who is less than 18 years of age is not required to wear a helmet or protective face equipment. Regulates the operation of autocycles.

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Military designation on driver's licenses and ID cards. Provides that an individual may request an indication of the individual's veteran status or active military or naval service status on the individual's driver's license or state identification card. (Current law provides only for an indication of veteran status.)

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

Inmate correspondence. Allows a confined person to elect to use another method of correspondence offered by the department of correction instead of using stationery, envelopes, and postage provided by the department.

Sponsor: James Tomes

Credit time. Defines "accrued credit", "credit time", "educational credit", and "good time credit", and applies these definitions uniformly in the criminal code and the corrections code.

Sponsor: Michael Young

Statute of limitations for rape. Provides that a rape charge otherwise barred by the statute of limitations may be brought within five years of the time that: (1) the state first discovers DNA evidence sufficient to charge the offender; (2) the state first becomes aware of the existence of a recording that provides evidence sufficient to charge the offender; or (3) a person confesses to the offense.

Sponsor: Michael Crider

Shotguns. Repeals the prohibition against manufacturing, importing, selling, or possessing a sawed-off shotgun. Provides for a 10 year sentence enhancement if a person possesses a sawed-off shotgun in violation of federal law while committing certain offenses. Makes conforming amendments.

Sponsor: James Tomes

School property. Provides that a consolidated school corporation shall offer to transfer property to the township from which the consolidated school corporation received the property for any purpose if the property is no longer needed by the school corporation. (Current law requires the transferred property to be used for park and recreation purposes.) Allows the township to sell or lease the property to an Indiana nonprofit corporation that is exempt from federal taxation. Requires a consolidated school corporation to offer to transfer property to the city or town from which the consolidated school corporation received the property for any purpose

Sponsor: James Smith

Sale of nonsurplus municipal water utility property. Amends the procedures for the sale or disposition of nonsurplus municipally owned water, wastewater, or combined water and wastewater utility property as follows: (1) Provides that the municipal legislative body shall hold the required hearing on the sale or disposition not later than 90 days (instead of 45 days under current law) after the return of the appraisal concerning the property. (2) Provides that the legislative body may adopt an ordinance providing for the sale or disposition not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the date of the required

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

Rental registration and inspection programs. Exempts programs that apply only to rooming houses and hotels from provisions regulating local government rental registration or inspection programs.

Sponsor: Edmond Soliday

Information concerning certain disabilities. Requires the state department of health to collect certain information to be disseminated by health care facilities and health care providers to parents who receive prenatal test results for Down syndrome or any other condition diagnosed prenatally.

Sponsor: Ronald Bacon

EMS provider death benefit. Provides a public safety officer special death benefit to an emergency medical services provider who, after June 30, 2015, dies as a direct result of personal injury or illness resulting from the provider's performance of duties under a contract entered into by the provider's employer to provide emergency medical services for a political subdivision if the provider's employer purchases coverage if the employer purchases coverage for all eligible emergency medical services providers of the employer. Provides that the cost of the coverage is $100 per year and that an employer may purchase the coverage by making

Sponsor: Karlee Macer

Taxation of Internet access. Provides that neither the state nor a political subdivision may impose, assess, collect, or attempt to collect a tax on Internet access or the use of Internet access.

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

Aggregate purchasing of prescription drugs. Exempts the purchase of prescription drugs dispensed from an onsite clinic from inclusion in the program for aggregate purchasing of prescription drugs by the state personnel department and state educational institutions.

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Coroner and conflict of interest. Requires a coroner to obtain the services of the coroner of another county if the coroner believes that he or she has a conflict of interest. Provides that the coroner of the other county shall be reimbursed for all costs incurred in the case by the county in which the conflict of interest exists.

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Management of funeral trust accounts. Provides that the bank, trust company, savings association, or credit union that receives the payments made by the settlor of a funeral trust may enter into a contract under which the settlor's account will be managed by a third party. Requires that the third party be an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Indiana securities commissioner. Requires an investment adviser managing a funeral trust settlor's account to comply with the Indiana Uniform Prudent Investor Act.

Sponsor: Travis Holdman

Insulin provided by township trustees. Allows a township trustee to require an individual who presents a claim for insulin to file a standard application for township assistance. (Current law allows the township trustee to require an individual to file a standard application after the second time the individual presents a claim for insulin.)

Sponsor: Randall Head

Reporting of government malfeasance. Provides for confidentiality and relief for an individual who reports certain suspected violations of law by local public officers.

Sponsor: Ed Charbonneau

Rules for prescribing controlled substances. Requires the medical licensing board to adopt standards and protocols for the prescribing of controlled substances, including the use of abuse deterrent formulations. Requires, before March 1, 2016, the following boards to adopt rules concerning the prescribing of opioid controlled substances for pain management treatment: (1) the medical licensing board, concerning physician assistants; (2) the board of podiatric medicine, concerning podiatrists; (3) the state board of dentistry, concerning dentists; and (4) the Indiana state board of nursing, concerning advanced practice nurses. Requires each board to report before December 31, 2015, to the legislative council with

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Legend drug investigations. Provides that certain laws concerning obtaining a legend drug or the validity of a prescription or drug order do not apply to actions of a person, practitioner, or pharmaceutical manufacturer performed in an investigation of a pharmaceutical manufacturer's legend drug that is suspected of being counterfeited, adulterated, or misbranded. Requires a pharmaceutical manufacturer that collects drug samples during an investigation to maintain records of the drug samples and to make the records available to certain law enforcement agencies. Prohibits a person from owning or operating a store, facility, or other place of business in Indiana where: (1)

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Unclaimed property act and savings bonds. Provides that, for purposes of the law concerning unclaimed property, United States savings bonds are presumed abandoned three years after the date the bonds stop earning interest. Provides that all property rights and legal title to United States savings bonds and proceeds from the bonds vest solely in the state. Requires the attorney general to: (1) collect any United States savings bonds escheated to the state, including any proceeds from the bonds; and (2) transfer all money received to the treasurer of state for deposit in the abandoned property fund. Allows a person who

Sponsor: Greg Walker

Controlled substances. Authorizes optometrists who meet certain requirements to prescribe Tramadol. Adds Tramadol as a schedule IV controlled substance. Includes hydrocodone combination products as schedule II controlled substances. Removes dihydrocodeinone from the schedule III controlled substance list.

Sponsor: Steven Davisson

Service of process. Specifies that "registered or certified mail" includes any means of delivery that provides a return receipt. Provides that the cost of service to not more than two parties may be paid from court fees. Requires a person who requests a circuit court clerk to send an additional mailing by registered or certified mail to provide: (1) an addressed envelope with postage prepaid; (2) the United States Postal Service or other forms for registered or certified mail; and (3) the United States Postal Service fee or other fee for service by registered or certified mail.

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Civil proceeding advance payment transactions. Defines a "civil proceeding advance payment transaction", or "CPAP transaction", as a nonrecourse transaction in which a person (CPAP provider) provides to a consumer claimant in a civil proceeding a funded amount, the repayment of which is: (1) required only if the consumer claimant prevails in the civil proceeding; and (2) sourced from the proceeds of the civil proceeding. Requires a CPAP provider to register with the department of financial institutions (department). Sets forth requirements, including disclosure requirements, for a contract (CPAP contract) entered into by a CPAP provider and a consumer claimant. Sets forth

Sponsor: Randall Head

Various tax matters. Provides that the equipment eligible for the double direct sales tax exemption includes material handling equipment purchased for the purpose of transporting materials into production activities from an onsite location. Specifies that the double direct sales tax exemption applies to agricultural machinery, tools, and equipment that is acquired for timber harvesting. Eliminates various adjustments to income for purposes of determining Indiana adjusted gross income. Eliminates various income tax exemptions, deductions, and credits. Specifies that certain tax credits for the preservation or rehabilitation of historic property certified before 2016 may be claimed or carried forward in future taxable

Sponsor: Todd Huston

State board of accounts issues. Provides that the state board of accounts has access to any periodic statement of condition filed by a depository with the treasurer of state. Provides that a vendor upon request shall allow the state board of accounts to access all software and records of computer services that a vendor has supplied to a political subdivision. Defines a vendor as a person who supplies electronic goods, software, or technological services (including computer services) to a political subdivision.

Sponsor: Michael Young

Admissibility of appraisal reports. Provides that the Indiana board of tax review shall admit into evidence an appraisal report prepared by an appraiser, unless the appraisal report is ruled inadmissible on grounds other than hearsay.

Sponsor: Scott Schneider

Limit on mine subsidence insurance coverage. Raises the maximum amount of mine subsidence insurance coverage that may be reinsured (and thus the maximum amount of mine subsidence coverage that is available) from $200,000 per structure to $500,000 per structure.

Sponsor: Ronald Bacon

Speed limits in school zones. Provides that a city, town, or county may establish a speed limit of not less than 20 miles per hour on a street or highway upon which a school is located if the street or highway is under the jurisdiction of the city, town, or county. (Current law provides that the speed limit may not be less than 30 miles per hour outside an urban district.) Removes outdated language.

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Overdose intervention drugs. Requires certain emergency personnel to report to the state department of health the number of times an overdose intervention medication is administered. Allows specified health care professionals with prescriptive authority to dispense, write a prescription, or prepare a standing order for an overdose intervention drug without examining the individual to whom it may be administered if specified conditions are met. Allows for an individual who is a person at risk, a family member, friend, or other individual or entity in a position to assist another individual who, there is reason to believe, is at risk of experiencing

Sponsor: James Merritt

Historic hotel preservation and maintenance fund. Provides that $1,000,000 is appropriated from the West Baden Springs historic hotel preservation and maintenance fund (fund) for the period from May 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and in each state fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2016, and ending before July 1, 2020, for purposes of reimbursing claims made for expenditures to maintain a qualified historic hotel, the grounds surrounding the hotel, supporting buildings and structures related to the hotel, and other facilities used by the guests of the hotel. (Under current law, only the interest accruing to the fund is annually

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Northwest Indiana regional planning commission. Requires the most recent federal decennial census to be used (instead of the 2000 decennial census), in determining the weighted vote of a member of the northwestern Indiana regional planning commission.

Sponsor: William Fine

Synthetic plastic microbeads. Defines "synthetic plastic microbead" as a solid plastic particle that is: (1) less than five millimeters in its largest dimension; (2) not biodegradable; and (3) intentionally added to a personal care product that is used to exfoliate or cleanse and is subsequently rinsed off the human body or a part of the human body. Provides that: (1) after December 31, 2017, a person may not manufacture for sale a personal care product, except for an over the counter drug, that contains synthetic plastic microbeads; (2) after December 31, 2018, a person may not accept for sale a

Sponsor: Patrick Bauer

Mineral estates of unknown or missing owners. Establishes a procedure that allows a person that: (1) is engaged in the production or development of a mineral; and (2) owns or leases a property interest in an area within the boundaries of a proposed production unit established by spacing regulations of the division of oil and gas, which the person seeks to develop, or the mineral estate adjacent to, adjoining, or contiguous to the mineral interest of an unknown or missing owner of the mineral interest; to bring an action in court that allows the person to enter into a lease

Sponsor: Holli Sullivan

Update of federal law citations. Makes technical corrections to federal law citations throughout the Indiana Code. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision commission.)

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Study of sales tax exemptions for bullion or currency. Refers the following questions to the legislative council for assignment to an appropriate interim study committee: (1) Whether sales of precious metals bullion or currency should be exempt from sales tax. (2) Whether the lease of storage for precious metals bullion or currency should be exempt from sales tax.

Sponsor: Greg Beumer

Financing of improvements for Carroll Stadium. Provides that Indiana University may issue and sell bonds to acquire, erect, construct, reconstruct, improve, rehabilitate, remodel, repair, complete, extend, or enlarge capital improvements at the Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium (stadium). Specifies that the principal costs of the bonds issued (excluding amounts necessary to provide money for debt service reserves, credit enhancement, or other costs incidental to the issuance of the bonds) may not exceed $20,000,000. Provides that the bonds may not be issued unless: (1) the bond issuance has been reviewed by the budget committee; (2) the director of the

Sponsor: Todd Huston

Confidential victim services requests. Permits, for purposes of the public records law, a law enforcement agency to share certain information with a crime victim advocate without the agency losing the discretion to keep this information confidential from other persons requesting records.

Sponsor: James Arnold

Additional antlered deer licenses. Allows the department of natural resources to establish a lottery system to allow an individual to purchase a license to take more than one antlered deer within a one year period.

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

BMV and driver license compact. Provides that the bureau of motor vehicles may issue a person a driver's license if a party state to the driver license compact reports that the driver's license of the person is suspended and the bureau determines that the: (1) party state's report is erroneous; and (2) person's driver's license is not suspended by the party state or the suspension is terminated; under certain circumstances.

Sponsor: Randall Frye

Fleet vehicle registration. Establishes the fleet registration program (program) for Indiana residents who own or lease at least 1,000 passenger motor vehicles or trucks with a declared gross weight of not more than 11,000 pounds. Provides that the bureau of motor vehicles shall administer the program.

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

Motor vehicle matters. Defines: (1) "commercial motor vehicle", "gross combination weight rating", "gross combination weight", and "gross vehicle weight rating" for purposes of commercial motor vehicles to comply with federal standards; and (2) "gross vehicle weight" for purposes of commercial motor vehicles. Provides for an exception relating to overweight vehicles for certain vehicles transporting logs, wood chips, bark, and sawdust. Amends the definition of "farm tractor" to include farm tractors in the definition of "implement of agriculture". Excludes wagons, trailers, and other vehicles pulled by a farm tractor from the definition of "farm tractor". Makes technical corrections.

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

Missing children and trafficked children. Requires the superintendent of the state police department to: (1) provide a written informational pamphlet that includes information concerning the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Runaway Safeline; and (2) distribute the pamphlet to every law enforcement agency. Requires a law enforcement agency to provide the pamphlet to a person making a report of a missing child at the time the person makes the report. Provides a defense to the crime of prostitution if the person was a child who was a victim or alleged victim of human or sexual trafficking

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

Hunting preserves. Provides for the initial licensing and operation of hunting preserves: (1) on which Indiana farm raised and released cervidae are hunted; and (2) that operated during the 2014 calendar year. Establishes licensing requirements, inspection requirements, and fees. Exempts licensed hunting preserves from the licensing requirements for game breeders and shooting preserves. Provides that hunters on hunting preserves are required to have a special hunting license. Specifies that the fee for the special hunting license is equal to the fee for a nonresident annual hunting license. Provides that hunters are not subject to bag limits. Requires that a transportation

Sponsor: Sean Eberhart

Sheriff's merit board. Prohibit a relative of: (1) an active county police officer; or (2) the sheriff; from serving as a member of the sheriff's merit board.

Sponsor: Kevin Mahan

Various pension matters. Establishes a procedure by which a political subdivision may participate in the defined contribution only plan (the plan) and choose whether the political subdivision's employees participate in the public employees' retirement fund (PERF), the plan, or may elect whether to participate in PERF or the plan. Provides that an ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of a political subdivision that specifies the departmental, occupational, or other definable classification of employees: (1) who are required to become members of the plan; or (2) who may elect whether to become members of PERF or of the plan;

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Antidiscrimination safeguards. Indicates that the law related to adjudicating a claim or defense that a state or local law, ordinance, or other action substantially burdens the exercise of religion of a person: (1) does not authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members of the general public; (2) does not establish a defense to a civil action or criminal prosecution for refusal by a provider to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member or members

Sponsor: Michael Young

South Shore line extension. Creates a program to provide state matching grants to the northwest Indiana regional development authority (RDA) for projects extending the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railway (Railway). Requires the RDA to make certain commitments in order to receive a grant. Requires a return on investment analysis. Requires review of grant applications by the budget committee and approval by the budget agency. Establishes the South Shore line transit oriented development fund (fund). Provides that the RDA administers the fund. Provides that a political subdivision that contributes county economic development income tax revenue received by the political

Sponsor: Harold Slager

Motor vehicle title fraud. Defines "motor vehicle", for purposes of the financial responsibility laws, to include a motor vehicle titled by an individual using a federal identification number issued to a business entity. Provides that a court may suspend the registration certificate and plates of a motor vehicle that is titled to a nonqualified individual who commits title application fraud. Defines "nonqualified individual" as a person who is not eligible to receive a Social Security number or federal identification number. Provides that a nonqualified individual who establishes a business entity for the purpose of obtaining a certificate of title for

Sponsor: Michael Young

Massage therapists. Provides that massage therapists are governed by the health professions standards of practice. (Under current law, massage therapists are governed by the professional licensing standards of practice.)

Sponsor: Sue Errington

Use of investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make the drug, biological product, or device available to a patient who meets certain requirements. Adds to the requirements concerning experimental or nonconventional medical treatment and the authority to allow a patient to receive an experimental or nonconventional medical treatment if a physician determines that the patient: (1) has been diagnosed with a terminal disease or condition; and (2) does not have comparable or satisfactory treatment options. Specifies that a new cause of action is not created. Makes a

Sponsor: Wes Culver

Accelerated degree programs. Provides for a higher education award for students who participate in an accelerated degree program. Specifies that a student receiving the award may not receive a Frank O'Bannon award. Appropriates to the commission for higher education: (1) $1,000,000 in the 2015-2017 biennium for start-up grants to state educational institutions to establish accelerated degree programs; and (2) $1,500,000 in state fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 for awards to students participating in accelerated programs. .

Sponsor: Todd Huston

Safe driving practices near stationary solid waste haulers. Defines solid waste hauler as a vehicle in which solid waste or recyclable materials are transported to a transfer station or final disposal facility. Provides that it is a Class A infraction for a person to fail to make a lane change or slow the person's vehicle when approaching a stationary solid waste hauler that is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing amber lights. Provides that the failure to make a lane change or slow the vehicle results in an additional suspension of driving privileges when the failure results in damage

Sponsor: Greg Beumer

Levees. Provides that a county may pay the costs incurred by a committee in charge of a levee for maintenance or repairs on a levee and later be reimbursed through the assessment of the land benefited by the maintenance or repairs. (Current law requires that the county pay the costs of maintenance or repairs on a levee and later be reimbursed through the assessment of the land benefited by the maintenance or repairs.) Allows a committee in charge of a levee to raise the necessary money to pay the cost of maintenance or repairs on a levee.

Sponsor: Mike Braun

Tax increment financing in Marion County. Requires the Indianapolis metropolitan development commission to establish a new base assessed value beginning in 2016 for purposes of determining the incremental tax revenue for the Marion County airport economic development area. Specifies that the base assessed value must be set at the amount that will limit the incremental revenue to 150% of the debt service of the bonds denominated as series 2007 and 2007A as of January 1, 2015. (The base assessed value is used in determining revenue for other taxing units.)

Sponsor: Michael Young

Synthetic drugs. Requires the publisher of the Indiana administrative code to publish a list of substances declared by the board of pharmacy to be synthetic drugs in a specific location in the Indiana administrative code, and requires the board of pharmacy to include a link to that provision of the Indiana administrative code on its Internet web site.

Sponsor: James Merritt

Adult entertainment performers. Requires a holder of a retailer's permit that provides adult entertainment on the licensed premises to: (1) require adult entertainment performers to provide proof of age and proof of legal residency; (2) take a photograph of each adult entertainer who auditions to provide adult entertainment at the licensed premises and retain the photograph for at least three years; (3) require all employees to sign a document acknowledging their awareness of the problem of human trafficking; (4) display human trafficking awareness posters in at least two places in the licensed premises; and (5) cooperate with any law enforcement

Sponsor: James Buck

Women veterans' issues. Requires the director of veterans' affairs to designate a coordinator for the Hoosier women veterans program.

Sponsor: Vaneta Becker

Human trafficking, promoting prostitution, and asset forfeiture. Allows a law enforcement agency to seize real or personal property, including a vehicle, that is used by a person to: (1) commit, attempt to commit, or conspire to commit; (2) facilitate the commission of; or (3) escape from the commission of; an offense concerning human trafficking or promoting prostitution.

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Status of marriage study. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the topic of the status of marriage in Indiana. Specifies issues that may be considered in studying the topic and requires the committee to seek testimony from experts on marriage and divorce.

Sponsor: Joseph Zakas

Study of ethnic history. Requires the study of ethnic and racial groups to be included as part of each school corporation's high school United States history course.

Sponsor: Greg Taylor

DNR sale of nursery stock and wildflower seeds. Authorizes the department of natural resources (department) to sell or distribute nursery stock (botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation) or wildflower seeds to: (1) an individual who resides in a state other than Indiana and who owns land in Indiana and submits an affidavit in which the individual affirms that the nursery stock or wildflower seeds will be planted in Indiana; (2) an individual who resides in a state other than Indiana and who does not sell or

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Stormwater drain maintenance. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the topic of the maintenance of stormwater drains in subdivisions not located within a municipality. Provides that if the topic is assigned to a committee, the committee shall issue a final report, including any recommendations for legislation, to the legislative council not later than November 1, 2015.

Sponsor: James Buck

School emergency response systems. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee the topic of school emergency response systems for study during the 2015 interim.

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Distributions of public safety income tax revenue. Provides for mandatory distributions of public safety local option income tax (LOIT) revenue to the eligible civil taxing units of an adopting county, which includes the adopting county, the cities and towns of the adopting county, and other civil taxing units of the adopting county that provide fire protection or emergency medical services. Eliminates an obsolete petition procedure that applies to fire departments, volunteer fire departments, and emergency medical services providers in unincorporated areas of an adopting county that seek a discretionary distribution of public safety LOIT revenue.

Sponsor: Rick Niemeyer

Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance. Permits the state to seek the death penalty or a sentence of life without parole for a murder committed in a building primarily used for educational purposes if the murder is committed: (1) on school property or in a building owned by a post-secondary educational institution; and (2) at a time when children are likely to be present (for a building on school property) or classes are in session (for a building owned by a post-secondary educational institution). Authorizes the state to seek the death penalty or a sentence of life without parole for a murder

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Autocycles. Defines "autocycle" for purposes of motor vehicle law, and provides that an autocycle is a motorcycle. Makes conforming changes.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Expungement. Provides that expungement provisions concerning an arrest that does not lead to a conviction also apply to criminal charges or juvenile delinquency allegations that do not lead to a conviction or juvenile delinquency adjudication. Provides that a person who files for the expungement of an arrest, criminal charge, or juvenile delinquency allegation that did not lead to a conviction or juvenile delinquency adjudication is not required to pay a filing fee. Specifies that a person who files a petition for expungement is not required to pay a filing fee. Removes a requirement that the petitioner submit bureau of motor

Sponsor: Michael Young

Abortion prohibition based on sex or disability. Prohibits a person from performing an abortion if the person knows that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion solely because of: (1) the sex of the fetus; or (2) a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome or any other disability. Provides for: (1) disciplinary sanctions; and (2) civil liability for wrongful death and medical malpractice; if a person knowingly or intentionally performs a sex selective abortion or an abortion conducted because of a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of Down syndrome or any other disability.

Sponsor: Travis Holdman

Religious exemption in state and local contracts. Provides that a contract entered into, modified, or renewed by the state or any of its political or civil subdivisions after June 30, 2015, with a religious corporation, an association, an educational institution, or a society must include language stating that, to the extent permitted under executive order 13279 or Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society is not prohibited from giving a preference in employment to individuals of a particular religion or requiring that all employees and applicants conform

Sponsor: Travis Holdman

School curriculum. Requires each school corporation and accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. Requires each school corporation and accredited nonpublic school to include reading in its curriculum.

Sponsor: Jean Leising

Sewage and waste management districts. Provides that the county executive of a county in which a regional sewage district was formed in response to an agreed order entered into after August 31, 2005, may elect to transform the regional sewage district into a county onsite waste management district. Establishes a procedure under which the regional sewage district may be transformed into a county onsite waste management district if the county executive decides to make that transformation. Provides that the primary purpose of the county onsite waste management district, if formed, will be resolving the environmental problems described in the agreed

Sponsor: Travis Holdman

Town marshals. Provides that, after December 31, 2015, a town law enforcement officer who: (1) is not a member of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund and does not participate in another pension or retirement plan offered by the town; (2) has successfully completed the minimum basic training requirements for town law enforcement officers; and (3) normally performs service for the town for at least 1,750 hours during a year; becomes a member of the public employees' retirement fund.

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Rural broadband. Urges the legislative council (council) to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the topic of the provision of affordable broadband services in unserved areas in Indiana. Provides that if the topic is assigned to the committee, the committee shall: (1) consider specific strategies to encourage the provision of affordable broadband services in unserved areas in Indiana; and (2) issue a final report, including any recommendations for legislation, to the council not later than November 1, 2015.

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Liability of a real estate licensee. Provides that a licensed real estate broker is not liable for certain real estate related reports, statements, or information except in certain circumstances. Adds a reference to the list of statutes that grant immunity from civil liability.

Sponsor: James Merritt

Advertising by health care practitioners. Specifies certain information to be included beginning January 1, 2016, in health care advertisements by a health care practitioner. Sets forth requirements that must be met in order for a physician to use the term "board certified".

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Statewide 911 system. Repeals a provision that: (1) required the budget committee to conduct a review of the statewide 911 system for years 2013 and 2014; and (2) provided for the July 1, 2015, expiration of the statewide 911 fee if the budget committee did not recommend continuation of the fee. Provides that the prohibition on connecting to a 911 network with an automatic alarm, automatic dialer, or other automated alerting device does not apply to a school corporation, charter school, or nonpublic school that receives permission from the statewide 911 board to use the automatic alarm, dialer, or other

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Various education matters. Allows grants from the safe schools fund to provide schoolwide programs to improve school climate and professional development and training in alternatives to suspension and expulsion and evidence based practices that contribute to a positive school environment. Provides that an election for a student to have legal settlement in the school corporation whose attendance area contains the residence of the student's mother or father shall be made on a yearly basis and applies throughout the school year unless the student's mother or father no longer resides within the attendance area of the school corporation. Provides that a

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Student athletes and head injuries. Provides that the law concerning concussions and head injuries applies to student athletes in grades 5 through 12 who participate in interscholastic or intramural sports. (Current law provides that the law concerning concussions and head injuries applies to high school student athletes.) Requires beginning July 1, 2016: (1) all coaches and assistant coaches of student athletes of specified sports; and (2) assistant football coaches of student athletes who are less than 20 years old; to complete certain certified coaching education courses. (Current law requires coaches and assistant coaches who coach football to individuals who are

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

Crimes involving deadly weapons. Provides that a person convicted of: (1) two or more felony offenses involving the unlawful use of a deadly weapon; (2) that were not committed as part of the same episode of criminal conduct; may not have the person's convictions expunged.

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

STEM education. Establishes an early learning STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) associate degree model program. Provides for the selection of 10 high schools from around Indiana to participate.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Address confidentiality. Establishes an address confidentiality program for law enforcement officials.

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Uniform Powers of Appointment Act. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on courts and the judiciary or another appropriate interim study committee the topic of the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act, as approved and recommended by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Energy savings audits. Allows the department of administration to assist state agencies in performing energy savings audits of state property. Allows a state agency to retain cost savings realized as a result of the audit in an amount not to exceed the cost of conducting the audit plus an additional amount not to exceed 10% of the cost of conducting the audit.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. Enacts the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Vests fiduciaries with the authority to access, control, or copy digital assets. Makes conforming amendments.

Sponsor: Brent Waltz

Work ethic certification and grants. Provides that a school corporation may establish a work ethic certification program under which a student who develops skills necessary for success in higher education or employment receives a work ethic certificate upon graduation. Provides that the state board of education, in consultation with the workforce innovation council, may adopt rules to: (1) establish model criteria for a work ethic certification program; and (2) develop a standard work ethic certificate.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Midwives. Removes the requirement that a direct entry midwife (midwife) have a collaborative agreement with a physician requiring that the midwife's client have a consulting physician. Requires a client to be examined by a physician who is qualified in obstetrics and gynecology at certain times during the pregnancy unless the client refuses and meets certain conditions. Extends the date: (1) by which a midwife is required to submit certain information to obtain an exemption from certain certification requirements; (2) relating to restrictions of use of the title "certified direct entry midwife"; and (3) after which practicing midwifery without a certificate

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

Transportation corridor development. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate interim study committee the topic of transportation corridor development.

Sponsor: Joseph Zakas

State board of accounts examinations. Permits the state board of accounts to determine the frequency with which the state board of accounts conducts financial examinations based on risk based criteria approved by the audit and financial reporting subcommittee of the legislative council. Specifies that certain examinations by the state board of accounts may (rather than must, under current law) be made without notice. Indicates that the results of an examination of the state board of accounts are confidential until approved and released for publication by the state examiner. Permits disclosure under certain circumstances. Provides that the state board of accounts

Sponsor: Randall Head

School bus monitors. Provides that the visual acuity required of a school bus driver is not required of a school bus monitor.

Sponsor: Earline Rogers

Possession of paraphernalia. Excludes possession of rolling papers and raw materials from the crime of possession of paraphernalia, and removes possession of paraphernalia as an infraction. Makes the knowing or intentional possession of paraphernalia a Class C misdemeanor, and increases the penalty to a Class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior unrelated judgment or conviction. Makes it a Level 6 felony to possess a hypodermic needle with intent to commit a controlled substance offense. (Under current law, the offense only applies if committed with intent to violate the legend drug act). Specifies that the sentencing enhancement that applies

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Property tax appeals. Requires the county assessor, with regard to each notice filed of a property tax assessment appeal of commercial or industrial property, to do the following: (1) Make a list of affected taxing units and information about the taxpayer and the property's assessed value. (2) Make the information available for the inspection of the fiscal officer of each of the affected taxing units.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Identifying information for adoptions. Repeals, effective July 1, 2016, provisions applicable to adoptions finalized before January 1, 1994, that prohibit the release of identifying adoption information unless a consent to release the information is on file. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2016, identifying adoption information may be released unless a nonrelease is on file, regardless of when the adoption was filed. (Under current law, this provision applies only to adoptions filed after December 31, 1993.)

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Waste blood specimen requirements. Adds retention and destruction requirements to the state department of health's epidemiological survey and research system for waste blood specimens. Specifies consent required under certain circumstances concerning waste blood specimens. Allows a parent to request that the waste blood specimen of a newborn be destroyed not later than six months after collection. Requires a fee to be assessed for certain people applying to use samples of the waste blood specimens. Specifies when identifiable information of waste blood specimens can be released, and sets forth requirements.

Sponsor: Randall Head

Invasive species council. Postpones the expiration of the law establishing the invasive species council from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2023. Changes references to the entity within which the invasive species council is established to reflect the change of that entity's name to the Purdue University College of Agriculture.

Sponsor: Susan Glick

Child molesting. Defines "dangerous sexually transmitted disease" and increases the penalty for child molesting from a Level 3 felony to: (1) a Level 2 felony if the offense results in the transmission of a dangerous sexually transmitted disease; and (2) a Level 1 felony if the offense results in the transmission of a dangerous sexually transmitted disease and the person knew or recklessly failed to know that the person was infected with the disease. Makes a technical correction.

Sponsor: John Broden

Debt collection. Amends the statute concerning deceptive consumer sales as follows: (1) Defines the term "debt buyer". (2) Specifies that a debt buyer is a debt collector for purposes of the statute. (3) Requires a debt collector to make certain disclosures to an Indiana debtor. (4) Provides that the failure to make the required disclosures constitutes a deceptive act under the statute. (5) Specifies that the attorney general's authority to recover a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 for knowing violations of the provisions concerning debt collection practices applies to each violation of the provisions per consumer, subject to a cap

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Fire protection district per diems. Increases the maximum amount (from $20 to $100) that a member of the board of fire trustees of a fire protection district may receive for each day that the member devotes to the work of the district.

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

Clark County study commission. Establishes the Clark County tax leadership commission (commission). Requires the commission to: (1) study the structure and operation of each existing tax increment financing district in Clark County; (2) study the impact of tax increment financing districts on county government, municipal government, schools, libraries, public safety, and fire protection districts in Clark County; (3) study the overall tax structure of Clark County in order to make recommendations to stabilize the future fiscal circumstances for all Clark County local governmental units; (4) study the public services and infrastructure needs for potential population growth in Clark County as

Sponsor: James Smith

Annexation and service agreements. Provides the following for annexations for which an annexation ordinance is adopted after June 30, 2015: (1) Provides that the annexation fiscal plan is similar to plans required for local government mergers and reorganizations. (2) Prohibits the fiscal plan from being amended after a remonstrance petition is filed, unless the amendment is consented to by remonstrators.(3) Requires a municipality to conduct an outreach program to inform citizens about a proposed annexation. (4) Allows remonstrators who prevail at a remonstrance hearing to recover expenses incurred in filing the remonstrance, including appeal costs and reasonable attorney's fees, in

Sponsor: Sharon Negele

Court fees. Automated record keeping fee. Provides that after June 30, 2015, the automated record keeping fee collected for all civil, criminal, infraction, and ordinance violation actions, except actions concerning pretrial diversion programs and deferral programs, is $9. Specifies that 100% of the $9 automated record keeping fee is distributed to the auditor of state for deposit in the state user fee fund. Provides that after June 30, 2015, the automated record keeping fee with respect to actions resulting in the accused person entering into a: (1) pretrial diversion program agreement; or (2) deferral program agreement; is $5. Specifies that

Sponsor: Gregory Steuerwald

Various education matters. Provides that the department of education (department) shall provide any data to the state board of education (state board) that the state board determines is necessary to perform the state board's duties under law. Makes changes to the provision requiring school corporations to establish plans for evaluations of certificated employees. Provides that a school corporation may adopt the department's model plan or any other model plan approved by the department and the state board. Requires the education roundtable to make recommendations to the state board regarding the passing scores required at the various grade levels tested under

Sponsor: Jeffrey Thompson

Marion County fire consolidation. Authorizes the consolidation of a township fire department or fire protection territory in Marion County into the fire department of the consolidated city if the following occur: (1) The mayor of the consolidated city adopts a resolution approving the consolidation. (2) The city-county council adopts an ordinance approving the consolidation. (3) The mayor of the consolidated city approves the ordinance of the city-county council. Provides that a consolidation is effective on the date set forth in the ordinance adopted by the city-county council. Provides for the transfer of cumulative building and equipment fund balances, debt service

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

State building commissioner. Requires the state building commissioner: (1) to have at least 10 years of experience in the building trades industry, at least five years of management experience, and a bachelor's degree in a construction related field; or (2) to have at least five years of industry experience, at least five years of management experience, and to be a registered or licensed architect or engineer or have a master's degree in a construction related field.

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

Various election law matters. Provides that money received from civil penalties collected by a county election board may be used for any purpose relating to implementation of Indiana election law in the county. Increases from 1,200 to 2,000 the maximum number of active voters who may reside in a precinct. Provides that in a county that uses electronic poll books for absentee voting in the office of the circuit court clerk or at a satellite office, a voter is not required to file an absentee ballot application but is required only to sign the absentee ballot affidavit and the electronic

Sponsor: Kathy Richardson

Civics test as graduation requirement. Provides that, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, an individual must obtain a satisfactory score on the United States Civics Test, administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to each applicant for United States citizenship, before: (1) graduating from a public high school or an accredited nonpublic high school that participates in the choice scholarship program; or (2) obtaining a high school equivalency certificate.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Urban farming. Requires the state department of agriculture to develop and promote programs in support of urban farming, food cooperatives, and farmers' markets. Establishes the local farm and food council (council) to study certain topics concerning the growth of an Indiana based local farm and food product economy and make recommendations to the department of agriculture (department). Allows the department to implement the council's recommendations. Establishes the Indiana farm and food fund. Establishes a farm commodities and market news service, including a pilot program, within the department, to be funded from the livestock industry promotion and development fund.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Enterprise zones. Provides that the fiscal body of a municipality may adopt a resolution renewing an enterprise zone for an additional five years after the date on which the enterprise zone is set to expire. Provides that new municipal enterprise zones may not be added after December 31, 2020. (Under current law, the board of the Indiana economic development corporation may not add any new municipal enterprise zones after December 31, 2015.) Amends the definition of "qualified investment" for purposes of an enterprise zone investment deduction after 2015 to include new information technology equipment, new research and development equipment, and

Sponsor: Thomas Dermody

Agency rulemaking and policymaking. Provides that an agency's statutory authority to regulate and implement programs does not include rulemaking or policymaking authority that is not based upon a federal requirement or that exceeds the authority granted to a federal or state agency under federal statutory authority. Provides an exception that rules, guidelines, standards, or other policies that are not based upon a federal requirement or specific statutory authority may be based upon: (1) the general authority of an agency, subject to limits in the grant of the authority and upon the subject matter; or (2) the power to adopt emergency

Sponsor: David Wolkins

Civil proceeding advance payment transactions. Defines a "civil proceeding advance payment transaction", or "CPAP transaction", as a nonrecourse transaction in which a person (CPAP provider) provides to a consumer claimant in a civil proceeding a funded amount, the repayment of which is: (1) required only if the consumer claimant prevails in the civil proceeding; and (2) sourced from the proceeds of the civil proceeding. Requires a CPAP provider to register with the department of financial institutions (department). Sets forth requirements, including disclosure requirements, for a contract (CPAP contract) entered into by a CPAP provider and a consumer claimant. Sets forth

Sponsor: Matthew Lehman

Dissolution of human remains. Requires a crematory that is registered after July 1, 2015 to be supervised by a funeral director. Requires that a person who operates a cremation chamber to receive training and be certified as a crematory operator. Provides for alkaline hydrolysis as a means for the dissolution of human remains. Requires the state board of funeral and cemetery service to adopt rules governing the operation of alkaline hydrolysis facilities.

Sponsor: Jeffrey Thompson

Support for educational needs. Urges the legislative council to study the topic of educational support orders during the 2015 interim.

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Sale of alcoholic beverages. Provides that a holder of an alcoholic beverage permit who is authorized by law to sell alcoholic beverages for carryout may sell alcoholic beverages for carryout on Sunday from 7 a.m., prevailing local time, until 3 a.m., prevailing local time, the following day. Requires alcoholic beverage sales in a drug store or grocery store to be rung up by a sales clerk and liquor in a drug store to be accessed by a sales clerk who: (1) has an employee permit; and (2) has alcohol server training. Provides that the provision that allows individuals who are

Sponsor: Thomas Dermody

Legacy trust. Provides that a protective provision in a legacy trust prevents a creditor of the settlor from satisfying a claim from the settlor's interest in the trust estate when the settlor is also a beneficiary of the trust. Authorizes the establishment of legacy trusts. Prescribes the procedures for establishing a legacy trust. Bars most claims against a legacy trust. Permits claims against a legacy trust for certain fraudulent transfers, to enforce certain child support orders, and to enforce certain orders for the division of property with respect to a dissolution of marriage or a legal separation. Provides immunity to

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Eagle Scout trust license plate. Establishes the Eagle Scout trust license plate and the Eagle Scout trust fund. Specifies that $25 from the proceeds of the sale of an Eagle Scout trust license plate shall be distributed to the National Eagle Scout Association, Boy Scouts of America.

Sponsor: Brent Waltz

Straight ticket voting. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee for study during the 2015 legislative interim the topic of straight ticket voting.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Food desert grant program. Establishes the food desert grant program (program) within the state department of health (ISDH) to assist new and existing retail businesses in offering fresh and unprocessed foods within a "food desert" (an underserved geographic area where affordable fresh and healthy foods are difficult to obtain, as determined by the ISDH). Provides that a grant awarded under the program may be used to construct a new retail grocery store or to renovate, expand, or upgrade an existing retail business that increases the availability and quality of fresh produce and other healthy foods. Requires the ISDH to consider

Sponsor: Randall Head

Medical malpractice actions. Permits a patient to bring an action against a health care provider without submitting the complaint to the medical review board if: (1) the amount of the claim is not more than $15,000; (2) the cause of action is based on the removal of the wrong body part; or (3) the cause of action is based on the existence of a foreign object in the patient's body.

Sponsor: Brent Steele

Return and complete grant. Requires the commission for higher education (commission), in consultation with postsecondary educational institutions, to adopt, not later than August 1, 2015, guidelines for postsecondary educational institutions concerning the administration of the return and complete project. Requires the commission, in collaboration with the postsecondary educational institutions, to compile certain information. Requires the commission, beginning in 2016, to annually report to the legislative council certain information. Establishes the return and complete grant fund to fund grants for eligible students who: (1) are Indiana residents; (2) earned some course credit from a postsecondary educational institution before January 1, 2014;

Sponsor: Thomas Dermody

Health education and sex education curricula. Requires the state department of health and the department of education, working cooperatively, to identify and report to the general assembly appropriate academic standards and curricula concerning health education and sex education.

Sponsor: Jean Breaux

Advanced technology vehicles. Imposes an annual fee on advanced technology vehicles. Deposits the fees in the motor vehicle highway account.

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

School board membership in Gary. Reduces the number of members of the governing body of the Gary Community School Corporation from seven to five, beginning January 1, 2017. Provides that if a vacancy occurs on the governing body before January 1, 2017, the vacancy shall not be filled unless the vacancy reduces the number of members to fewer than five. Provides that three members of the governing body are elected at large by the voters of the school corporation and two members are appointed by the city executive. Provides that the individuals elected to the governing body at the 2014

Sponsor: Charlie Brown

Rural entrepreneurship area incentives. Permits the office of community and rural affairs (office) to designate an applicant rural county as a rural entrepreneurship area development incentives area (READI area). Provides for the distribution of adjusted gross income taxes paid annually by employees working in an area for a new business or paid annually by additional employees in an existing business and by the new business itself to the rural county for the development of new business opportunities in the rural county, including transfers to local or regional venture capital funds. Limits the amount that may be distributed to a particular

Sponsor: Ben Smaltz

Office of health information technology. Creates the office of health information technology within the state department of health to: (1) study and report on certain uses of health information; (2) study and report on incentives for use of electronic health records; and (3) implement, and report on implementation of, certain recommendations for further study and legislation concerning health information technology.

Sponsor: Jean Breaux

Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne as a metropolitan campus. Defines "metropolitan campus". Requires the commission for higher education to designate Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne as a metropolitan campus. Requires that a governance agreement or an operational contract for a metropolitan campus must contain certain provisions, and provides that a metropolitan campus is eligible for high impact degree funding.

Sponsor: Robert Morris

College and career counseling grant. Establishes the college and career readiness certificate grant to assist school school counselors in obtaining a college and career readiness certificate from an approved postsecondary educational institution. Establishes the college and career readiness certificate grant fund. Requires a postsecondary educational institution that accepts applicants to conduct research into the impact of certification on student outcomes. Makes an appropriation.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Higher education. Permits the board of trustees of a state educational institution that has a research intensive campus to directly hold equity in a private entity under certain conditions. Permits a public benefit corporation to merge with a state educational institution, without court approval, if the public benefit corporation is controlled by the state educational institution. Permits the Indiana economic development corporation to designate a university innovation district for a research intensive campus in which the incremental income taxes from employees working in the district are distributed to the research intensive campus for dedicated purposes. Provides that a certified technology

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

Assessment of agricultural land. Provides that the soil productivity factors used for the March 1, 2011, assessment of agricultural land must be used for assessment dates occurring after March 1, 2014, unless and until new soil productivity factors are approved in a statute enacted by the general assembly. Specifies the manner in which the department of local government finance (DLGF) shall adopt rules to provide a method for determining the true tax value of agricultural land. Provides that the method in effect for the 2014 assessment date must be used until superseded by a method provided in rules adopted by

Sponsor: Jean Leising

Wyandotte Cave. Requires that Wyandotte Cave be open to the general public during the summer months of 2016.

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

Developmental disability pilot program. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services (division) to implement a pilot program for the training and implementation of a single point of entry system for individuals who are dually diagnosed with a developmental disability and a mental health condition. Sets forth requirements for the pilot program. Establishes an advisory board to analyze data collected throughout the implementation of the pilot program. Specifies the data to be collected concerning the pilot program. Requires the division to report, before November 1, 2017, to the general assembly concerning the pilot program.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Automated license plate readers. Prohibits a law enforcement agency from retaining license plate data captured by an automated license plate reader unless: (1) a comparison of the captured plate data with a data base shows that the data is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation, the location of a missing person or a fugitive from justice, or the commission of a crime; (2) the person in whose name the license plate was issued requests retention of the data; or (3) the data was obtained under a warrant.

Sponsor: James Smith

STEM pathway network. Establishes the STEM pathways program to: (1) establish education support networks; (2) provide curricular material and support to schools; (3) provide professional development to educators; (4) evaluate schools and teachers; and (5) organize leadership support and professional development; in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Establishes the STEM pathways fund to carry out the purposes of the STEM pathways programs. Makes an appropriation.

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

Resident tuition rate. Provides that an individual, except for certain nonimmigrants, who: (1) attends a high school in Indiana for at least three years; (2) registers as an entering student at or is currently enrolled in a state educational institution not earlier than the fall semester (or its equivalent, as determined by the state educational institution) of the 2015-2016 academic year; and (3) graduated from a high school located in Indiana or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Indiana; is eligible for the resident tuition rate. Requires such an individual to verify that the individual meets the

Sponsor: Earline Rogers

Madison circuit court magistrate. Allows the judges of the Madison circuit court to jointly appoint a second full-time magistrate, and allows the judge of the Porter circuit court to appoint one full-time magistrate.

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

Religious freedom restoration act. Provides that a state or local government action may not substantially burden a person's right to the exercise of religion unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden to the person's exercise of religion is: (1) essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and (2) the least restrictive means of furthering the compelling governmental interest. Provides that a person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, or is likely to be substantially burdened, by a state or local government action may assert the burden as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, regardless of

Sponsor: Scott Schneider

Psychiatric crisis intervention. Changes the date by which the office of the secretary of family and social services must provide a report concerning comprehensive psychiatric crisis intervention services. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish a psychiatric crisis intervention pilot program. Makes an appropriation.

Sponsor: Michael Crider

Visually impaired preschool services. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services to contract with an entity to provide vision assessments and early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities who are in need of vision services. Makes an annual appropriation.

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

Property tax replacement fee. Establishes an annual property tax replacement fee on any parcel receiving assessed value deductions or property tax credits that reduce the annual property tax liability on the parcel to less than $100. Provides that the minimum annual amount due in property taxes and the property tax replacement fee per parcel is $100. Changes from $25 to $100 the amount for requiring the payment of property taxes and the property tax replacement fee in one installment. Eliminates the $5 minimum property tax statement processing fee.

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

Expanded criminal history checks for drivers for hire. Requires a transportation network company, a taxicab company, or a taxicab service (company) to request and receive an expanded criminal history check and a certified copy of the driving record (check) of a driver or taxicab driver (driver) before a driver begins employment or association with the company. Makes it a Class A infraction for a company to allow a driver to operate a motor vehicle or taxicab if the driver has been convicted of: (1) certain felonies or misdemeanors; or (2) certain motor vehicle offenses. Makes it a Class A infraction

Sponsor: Christina Hale

Police reserve officers. Provides that town police reserve officers are eligible for a line of duty death benefit from the special death benefit fund. Provides that a county, city, or town shall furnish without charge to a police reserve officer (officer) who is injured or contracts an illness in the course of or as the result of performing duties as an officer all necessary physician, surgical, hospital, and nursing services and supplies and that this obligation supersedes any obligations that another medical insurance carrier has to pay the officer's medical expenses. Provides that a county, city, or town may provide

Sponsor: Peggy Mayfield

Charity gaming. Allows a full-time employee of a qualified organization, an operator of a charity gaming event, or a worker at a charity gaming event to receive remuneration for conducting or assisting in conducting the event. Provides that meals, recognition dinners, and social events for operators and workers are permitted if the value of these items does not constitute an unreasonable expenditure in the conduct of an allowable event.

Sponsor: Richard Hamm

Mental health services loan forgiveness program. Provides that the purpose of the mental health and addiction services loan forgiveness program is to increase the availability of mental health services (including addiction health services) in underserved shortage areas in Indiana and to increase the number of professional mental health care providers (including addiction health care professionals) in health professional shortage areas in Indiana by assisting professionals working in designated mental health care occupations to pay off loans incurred in the training needed to practice in Indiana. Appropriates $500,000 for both the 2015 and 2016 state fiscal years to the mental health

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

Voter registration. Provides that a person who is at least 16 years of age but not more than 18 years of age may register to vote but may not vote until the person will be at least 18 years of age at the next general, municipal, or special election. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to notify an individual who submits a change of address for a driver's license or identification card that the change of address serves as notice of a change of address for voter registration purposes. (Under current law the individual can specify that the address change

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

Grant program for hiring ex-offenders. Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority to establish a grant program to encourage the hiring of certain qualified individuals. Specifies that the amount of the grant is $3,000 for each qualified individual a person hires during the previous state fiscal year. Provides that the aggregate amount of grants allowed per state fiscal year may not exceed: (1) $1,000,000, for qualified individuals hired in the 2015-2016 state fiscal year; or (2) $2,500,000, for qualified individuals hired in a state fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2016. Requires a report on the grant program before

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

Nursing facility restrictions. Prohibits the state department of health from approving: (1) the licensure of comprehensive care health facilities; (2) new or converted comprehensive care beds; or (3) the certification of new or converted comprehensive care beds for participation in the state Medicaid program; through June 30, 2018. Makes exceptions for certain facilities that are: (1) under development; (2) small house health facilities; (3) replacement facilities; (4) continuing care retirement communities; and (5) facilities located in counties whose comprehensive care bed occupancy rate exceeds 90%. Limits small house facilities to 100 new licensed or Medicaid certified comprehensive care beds per

Sponsor: Timothy Brown

School corporation reports. Requires certain additional information to be reported on a school corporation's annual performance report (report). Requires a school corporation to make the report available on the school corporation's Internet web site. (Current law provides that a school corporation may make the report available on its Internet web site.) Requires the school corporation to conduct a public hearing within 60 days after publication of the report. (Current law provides that a school corporation may conduct a public hearing within 60 days of publication of the report.)

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Employment contracts for nonunion teachers. Provides that a teacher who is not a member of the exclusive representative (union) may enter into an employment contract with a school corporation that contains terms that differ from the terms set forth in the collective bargaining agreement. Provides that a teacher who enters into such an employment contract waives the teacher's statutory due process rights if the teacher's employment is terminated. Provides that it is not an unfair labor practice for a school corporation to enter into the employment contract.

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Refunds after correction of assessment errors. Provides that if a property owner has a reduction in an assessment or taxes due when a county auditor corrects an error found in the tax duplicate, the owner is entitled to a credit on the next tax installment and a refund of any remaining excess without having to file a claim for a refund.

Sponsor: Milo Smith

Payment of monthly pension benefits. Provides that members and beneficiaries of any public pension fund administered by the Indiana public retirement system may receive monthly benefits only by direct deposit or another method approved by the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system. Repeals a similar but more narrowly applicable section concerning methods of paying monthly benefits to members and beneficiaries of the public employees' retirement fund and the teachers' retirement fund.

Sponsor: Michael Young

Small school grant. Provides a small school grant in state fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 to school corporations, other than charter schools, that have a current average daily membership (ADM) that is greater than 450 and less than 1,100. Appropriates the amount necessary to fund the grants from the state general fund.

Sponsor: Timothy Harman

School nutrition. Provides that a governing body must ensure that each student has at least: (1) 15 minutes to consume breakfast; and (2) 20 minutes to consume lunch; not including time spent acquiring the meal. Sets forth nutrition guidelines for snacks sold in schools.

Sponsor: Mike Speedy

Annexation. Provides the following for annexation ordinances adopted on or after January 1, 2015: (1) Changes the annexation remonstrance process to be similar to the remonstrance process found in property tax statutes. (2) Removes certain judicial intervention in the annexation remonstrance process and the elements required to prevail at a remonstrance hearing. (3) Allows only the owners of nontax exempt property to sign a remonstrance. (4) Allows a municipality to exempt property from property tax liability for municipal purposes if the property is used for agricultural purposes (instead of classified as agricultural for zoning purposes). (5) Requires a landowner-initiated annexation

Sponsor: Sharon Negele

Sale of alcoholic beverages near 4-H club exhibits. Prohibits the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) from issuing a temporary beer permit to a person for the express purpose of selling beer at a place located less than 76 feet from: (1) the location of a 4-H club exhibit; or (2) if a 4-H club exhibit is located in a building, an exterior wall of the building; during the hours that 4-H members are present at the 4-H club exhibit. (Current law prohibits the commission from issuing a temporary beer permit to a person for the express purpose of selling beer

Sponsor: James Arnold

Teacher compensation. Provides that for the first two school years after a teacher initially receives a teaching license the teacher is not prohibited from receiving a raise or increment for the following year if the teacher receives a rating of ineffective or improvement necessary.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Vehicle Bill. None

Nullification of EPA regulations in Indiana. Nullifies all regulations imposed in Indiana by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Provides that the department of environmental management shall provide environmental protection for the citizens of Indiana.

Sponsor: Christopher Judy

Vehicle clearance when overtaking bicycle. Provides that it is a Class C infraction for the operator of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle to not: (1) allow at least three feet of clearance between the vehicle and the bicycle; and (2) return to the original lane until the vehicle is safely clear of the bicycle. Revises the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of the motor vehicle code.

Sponsor: Edward DeLaney

Domestic battery enhancement. Raises the enhancement for domestic battery from a Level 6 felony to a Level 5 felony.

Sponsor: Christina Hale

Abortion and minors. Prohibits a person from aiding or assisting an unemancipated minor in obtaining an abortion without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian. Authorizes the award of civil damages for a violation. Authorizes certain persons to seek an injunction from acts that would aid or assist the minor in obtaining an abortion without parental consent. Makes it a Level 5 felony (instead of a Class A misdemeanor under current law) for a physician to knowingly or intentionally perform an abortion on an unemancipated minor without the consent of the parent or guardian.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

Vehicle Bill. None

Ordinances concerning appearance of real property. Prohibits a political subdivision from: (1) adopting an ordinance after December 31, 2014; or (2) enforcing an ordinance adopted after December 31, 2014; that regulates the appearance of real property or the appearance of a building or fixture located on real property if the real property is owned by a private person and contains a building used as a residence by a private person unless the ordinance will mitigate an actual or a probable hazard to public health or safety. Makes exceptions for ordinances adopted after December 31, 2014, that regulate real property that

Sponsor: Timothy Harman

Court staff attorney pilot program. Creates the circuit and superior court staff attorney pilot program (pilot program) to provide assistance to courts with preparing orders for complex motions. Requires the judicial center to administer the pilot program and to report to the interim study committee on courts and the judiciary (committee) concerning the pilot program. Requires the committee to receive reports concerning the pilot program, and allows the committee to make recommendations and to propose legislation concerning the pilot program.

Sponsor: Thomas Washburne

Teacher tax credit. Provides that an individual employed as a teacher is entitled to a credit against the individual's adjusted gross income tax liability for amounts expended on classroom supplies up to a maximum of $200 per taxable year.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Electronic documents. Defines "electronic document" and provides that an electronic document may be searched, seized, or intercepted only if it is particularly described in a warrant.

Sponsor: Brent Waltz

Publication of notice. Requires, beginning July 1, 2016, a public entity to publish notice of certain events on the public entity's Internet web site. Provides that a public entity may publish notice of an event in any other publication in addition to publishing notice on the public entity's Internet web site. Provides that certain statutes relating to giving notice expire July 1, 2016. Reorganizes certain other statutes relating to the giving of notice by a public entity. Requires the legislative services agency to prepare legislation for introduction in the 2016 regular session of the general assembly to make appropriate changes

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

National board certification of teachers. Establishes the goal that by 2025, there will be at least one teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (national board) in every public school. Establishes the teachers' national board certification incentive fund for purposes of: (1) funding stipends of $200 per day for two days for teachers preparing for national board certification; (2) reimbursing 75% of the national board certification fee; (3) funding stipends for national board certified teachers who serve as mentors to other teachers; (4) reimbursing school corporations for the cost of paying teachers who have attained

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Natural resources issues. Prohibits a conservation officer from issuing a ticket, summons, or citation for a traffic offense, except for a felony committed in a conservation officer's presence, on property other than property owned or managed by the department of natural resources. Allows a person to possess an alcoholic beverage at a beach while the person is moving or transferring the alcoholic beverage to an area where a person is allowed to possess the alcoholic beverage. Transfers $6,000,000 from the department of natural resources law enforcement appropriation to the division of state parks and reservoirs for capital improvements at certain

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

Cost of living adjustments and thirteenth checks. Provides for cost of living adjustments in 2015 and 2016 for certain members of the: (1) public employees' retirement fund; (2) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (3) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (4) state police 1987 benefit system. Provides that employer contributions may not be used to pay for the cost of living adjustments unless, and only to the extent that, the appropriations in the state budget are insufficient to pay the cost of living adjustments. Provides for a thirteenth check in 2015 and 2016 for certain members of the: (1) Indiana

Sponsor: Robert Cherry

Vehicle Bill. None

Regulation of knives by political subdivisions. Prohibits political subdivisions, with certain exceptions, from: (1) regulating the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, purchase, transfer, licensing, registration, or use of a knife or the components used to make a knife; and (2) adopting an ordinance, a rule, or a policy concerning the manufacturing of knives that is more restrictive than an ordinance, a rule, or a policy concerning the manufacturing of any other commercial goods. Allows school corporations to adopt rules or regulations that prohibit a person from possessing a knife in a school building. Voids any provision of an ordinance, a rule,

Sponsor: Peggy Mayfield

Disclosure of covenants. Requires a person selling real estate subject to a homeowners association to disclose covenants, conditions, and restrictions adopted or enforced by the homeowners association.

Sponsor: Donna Schaibley

Vehicle Bill. None

Employment or training priority for military. Requires the department of workforce development (under certain circumstances) to give: (1) a member of the armed forces of the United States, reserves, or National Guard; or (2) the spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States, reserves, or National Guard; priority for placement in any federal or state employment or training program administered by the department. (Current law provides that this priority be given only to members of the National Guard or their spouses.)

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Deregulation of K-12 education. Makes amendments to or repeals certain provisions that: (1) require the department of education (department) to review school construction plans; (2) provide the state board of education (state board) authority to make rules and guidelines for school media centers and libraries; (3) provide the state board authority to make rules governing cheerleading; (4) require certain military family reporting; (5) require certain qualifications for school social workers; (6) require professional development as part of a school improvement plan; (7) pertain to restraint and seclusion policies; (8) pertain to annual performance reports; (9) pertain to metropolitan school districts;

Sponsor: Randy Truitt

Vanderburgh circuit court magistrate. Allows the judge of the Vanderburgh circuit court to appoint a second full-time magistrate. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on courts and the judiciary.)

Sponsor: Thomas Washburne

Oil and natural gas regulation. Amends the statute concerning home rule for units of local government to specify that such units do not have the power to regulate or prohibit oil and gas exploration, development, or production activities, including activities involving horizontal drilling or hydraulic fracturing.

Sponsor: Eric Koch

Sales and use tax exemption. Provides for a sales and use tax exemption that applies to construction materials used in the construction and final build out of a building that will be located on a former military base within Indiana. Establishes a process for a redevelopment commission or military base reuse authority to apply to the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) for approval of the building to be constructed and the granting of the exemption. Establishes standards for a building to qualify. Provides that the IEDC has discretion in determining whether to approve an exemption application and the items that

Sponsor: William Friend

Vehicle Bill. None

Religious liberties for students. Provides that a public school shall not discriminate against the school's students or parents of the school's students on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.

Sponsor: Timothy Wesco

Medicaid expansion and affordable care study committee. Establishes the affordable care study committee. Allows the department of state revenue to establish a procedure to set off the earned income credit and the tax refund of certain Medicaid recipients for out-of-pocket expenses owed by the recipient. Modifies Medicaid provider reimbursement rates to mirror Medicare reimbursement rates for services provided to certain Medicaid recipients. Adds Medicaid rehabilitation option services, chiropractic services, dental services, and optometric services to the Indiana check-up plan and requires certain services to be included if Medicaid is expanded. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning (office) to

Sponsor: Edward Clere

Tobacco and smoking. Imposes a tax on electronic cigarettes. Deposits the tax into the tobacco use prevention and cessation trust fund. Prohibits a tobacco sales certificate if the premises contains a pharmacy. Increases the fee for a tobacco sales certificate. Adds the use of an electronic cigarette to the definition of "smoking" for the purpose of the laws that prohibit smoking in certain places. Prohibits smoking on property owned by the state. Adds, removes, and amends exemptions to the places where smoking is allowed. Removes the prohibition against an employer requiring, as a condition of employment, that a prospective employee

Sponsor: Edward Clere

School counselors. Requires a school corporation to employ at least one school counselor at each elementary school, not including private or charter schools, maintained by the school corporation.

Sponsor: James Merritt

Vehicle Bill. None

Medical use of hemp extract and compassionate use registry. Requires the state seed commissioner to apply to the federal government to select an area in Indiana in which to grow hemp for the production of medical hemp oil. Allows the possession of hemp extract for the treatment of specified medical conditions if referred by a treating physician. Establishes the compassionate use registry for the registration of physicians, patients, and caregivers for the possession of hemp extract for medical treatment and sets forth requirements. Provides immunity to physicians who recommend hemp extract treatment for patients. Provides for exemption from criminal penalties

Sponsor: Steven Davisson

South Shore sales tax increment district. Provides for a Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railway sales tax increment financing corridor that exists through 2045. Provides that 75% of the sales and use taxes collected within the corridor above the amount collected in 2014 is to be allocated to the northwest Indiana regional development authority. Provides that up to 67% of the allocation may be used for project financing and the remainder must be used to provide dollar for dollar matching grants for any eligible municipality or political subdivision that commits to participate in the Westlake corridor improvement project using

Sponsor: Harold Slager

Vehicle Bill. None

Vehicle Bill. None

Vehicle Bill. None

Magistrates. Allows a magistrate to: (1) approve and accept criminal plea agreements; (2) approve agreed settlements concerning civil matters; and (3) approve decrees of dissolution, settlement agreements, and any other agreements of the parties in domestic relations actions or paternity actions. Allows the judges of the Marion superior court to appoint four additional full-time magistrates after December 31, 2015.

Sponsor: Mike Speedy

Microbreweries. Changes the amount of the barrels of beer that a microbrewery may manufacture in a calendar year for sale or distribution within Indiana from 30,000 to 60,000. Makes conforming changes to brewery provisions. Requires that, for a brewery to qualify as a microbrewery, the entire brewing process of the beer must occur in Indiana. Makes a technical correction.

Sponsor: Carlin Yoder

Vehicle Bill. None

Developmental disability care provider tax credit. Provides a tax credit against adjusted gross income tax liability for donations to a qualified developmental disability care provider. Defines a "qualified developmental disability care provider" as a nonprofit organization that provides services to persons with developmental disabilities and that is either: (1) accredited; or (2) under contract with the division of disability and rehabilitative services. The amount of the credit is the lesser of $1,000 or 50% of the aggregate amount of donations made during a taxable year.

Sponsor: James Buck

Vehicle Bill. None

Veterans' matters. Requires the state lottery commission to adopt rules to establish a scratch off game to benefit Indiana veterans. Deposits revenue from sales of tickets for the scratch off game into the veterans' affairs trust fund. Provides that an individual may request an indication of the individual's status as a surviving spouse of a veteran on the individual's driver's license or state identification card. (Current law provides only for an indication of veteran status.) Provides for space on state income tax forms to enable taxpayers to donate all or part of the taxpayer's tax refund to the veterans' affairs

Sponsor: Steven Davisson

Article V Convention lawsuits. Authorizes the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate to employ one or more attorneys necessary to initiate a lawsuit against the appropriate parties, including the Congress of the United States, the federal government, a state, or any other necessary party, relating to the calling of, the refusal to call, or any other matter relating to a convention held under Article V of the Constitution of the United States.

Sponsor: Ben Smaltz

Vehicle Bill. None

Vehicle Bill. None

Colors of lights on vehicles. Prohibits a person from operating a vehicle with a lamp, light, reflector, or a lighting device, in: (1) a color of amber, red, white, or yellow; or (2) a shade of color between white and amber or red and amber; (3) blue; or (4) green; other than in specific circumstances.

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

Coverage for spinal adjustments. Provides that the Indiana check-up plan must include chiropractic services, including spinal adjustments. Provides that implementation of the state plan to cover individuals eligible for Medicaid resulting from passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act must include chiropractic services. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning to apply for any necessary federal waiver or state plan amendment.

Sponsor: Donald Lehe

Retirement medical benefits account. Extends the period during which a participant in the retirement medical benefits account qualifies for an additional contribution to the participant's subaccount.

Sponsor: David Niezgodski

Notice of health exchange coverage grace period. Requires a health benefit exchange carrier to provide certain notice to providers, upon request, related to coverage for health care services furnished during a grace period. Specifies requirements for payment of related claims and violations of the requirements.

Sponsor: Matthew Lehman

Innkeeper's tax. Requires county council review and approval of the annual budget of the Lake County convention and visitor bureau. Provides that the bureau may not expend money from a fund established by the bureau unless the expenditure is in accordance with an appropriation made by the county council. Provides that a member or an employee of a local tourism agency may not use certain tickets received by the local tourism agency for any purpose other than the public and corporate purposes of the local tourism agency. Provides that an individual who violates the provision commits a Class C infraction.

Sponsor: Charlie Brown

Police equipment. Requires all patrol officers in Indiana to be equipped while on duty with a firearm, a nightstick, a taser, and mace by July 1, 2016. Allows for exceptions. Requires the Indiana criminal justice institute to identify grants and other funds that may be used to finance the purchase of required patrol officer equipment.

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Medical history forms. Prohibits the medical licensing board of Indiana from requiring a physician to obtain a completed medical history from a patient.

Sponsor: Vanessa Summers

Indiana Toll Road food and beverage tax. Authorizes Elkhart, LaGrange, LaPorte, Porter, and Steuben counties to adopt a food and beverage tax that is imposed only within a travel plaza located next to the Indiana toll road. Provides that the tax rate equals 1%. Specifies that the receipts from the food and beverage tax shall be distributed to the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission. Specifies the uses to which receipts from the food and beverage tax may be applied.

Sponsor: Thomas Dermody

Photographing ballots. Provides that a voter is entitled to: (1) take a digital image or photograph of the voter's ballot while the voter is in a voting booth or compartment; and (2) distribute or share the image using social media or by any other means.

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

Length of school year. Provides that a school corporation may include not more than six half days, during which students are dismissed early, in the 180 student instructional days required for a school year.

Sponsor: Melanie Wright

Property tax refunds. Requires a county auditor to pay a property tax refund on February 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the refund is allowed. Requires the county auditor to provide notice to the fiscal officer of each taxing unit that will be affected by a refund that the refund will be paid in the following calendar year. Removes obsolete provisions and gender specific terms from the property tax refund law.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Sewer and storm water fees incurred by tenants. Establishes billing procedures for municipal sewage or storm water user fees assessed for real property that is occupied by someone other than the owner. Provides that a lien does not attach for user fees assessed against real property occupied by someone other than the owner under certain circumstances. Requires the assessing entity to release certain liens and delinquent user fees upon receipt of a verified demand in writing from the owner.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Sentence modification. Provides that a court may not modify the sentence of a person convicted of a crime of violence, and specifies that a person seeking to modify the sentence of a crime committed before July 1, 2014, may only do so by using the version of the sentence modification statute that was in effect on June 30, 2014.

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Retirement plan proceed loans. Defines a "retirement plan proceed loan" as a loan or an extension of credit that is: (1) offered to an Indiana consumer; and (2) secured by the consumer's interest in, or right to, all or part of the proceeds of any pension or other retirement plan of which the consumer is a participant, beneficiary, or member. Prohibits a person from: (1) making or offering to make a retirement plan proceed loan; (2) brokering or offering to broker a retirement plan proceed loan; or (3) advertising, marketing, or soliciting retirement plan proceed loans in Indiana. Provides that

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

Use of DNA evidence. Requires: (1) every individual arrested after June 30, 2015, for burglary, residential entry, a crime of violence, or a sex offense; and (2) a child found to be a delinquent child for the commission of an act that, if committed by an adult, would be burglary, residential entry, a crime of violence, or a sex offense; to provide a DNA sample. Provides for the expungement of a DNA sample taken from an individual if: (1) the individual is acquitted of all felony charges; (2) all burglary, residential entry, crime of violence, and sex offense charges are

Sponsor: Joseph Zakas

Land classification for tax purposes. Specifies the criteria for classifying land as agricultural land for property tax assessment purposes. Provides that certain undeveloped lands must be assessed as agricultural land regardless of the motives of the owner at the time the owner acquired the land, the zoning designation of the land, or whether the owner uses the land for growing crops or raising livestock or is otherwise engaged in the business of farming. Requires assessing officials to review for compliance with the new criteria the assessments of lands that had been classified as excess residential property for the 2005 through

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Mortgage foreclosures. Amends the statute governing the foreclosure of mortgaged real estate to permit an enforcement authority that has issued an abatement order with respect to foreclosed property to file a praecipe for a sheriff's sale of the property if a person files a praecipe for sale, cancels the sale, and a sale does not take place within 180 days after the later of: (1) the filing of the judgment and decree; or (2) the elapse of three months after the date the complaint was filed.

Sponsor: Philip GiaQuinta

Teaching methods. Requires the state board of education, the department of education, governing bodies of school corporations, superintendents, principals, and other public school administrators to: (1) endeavor to create an environment within public schools that encourages students to explore questions, learn about evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond appropriately and respectfully to different conclusions and theories concerning subjects that have produced differing conclusions and theories on some topics; and (2) allow a teacher to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and weaknesses of conclusions and theories being presented in a course

Sponsor: Jeff Raatz

Use of TIF proceeds for public safety. Provides that a redevelopment commission outside Marion County may use tax increment finance (TIF) proceeds to pay expenses related to public safety or to make transfers of revenue to assist a county or municipality in paying such expenses, if the redevelopment commission by resolution makes a determination that paying the expenses or transferring the revenue will enhance redevelopment opportunities or economic development opportunities.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Early voting; vote centers. Provides that in a county having a consolidated city, the executive of the city and not the county election board determines: (1) whether satellite offices for absentee voting are to be established during an election year; or (2) whether vote centers are to be established in the county.

Sponsor: Edward DeLaney

Media production expenditure tax credit. Media production expenditure tax credit. Reestablishes the media production expenditure tax credit (which expired in 2012), with certain changes. Provides a refundable tax credit to taxpayers that make qualified production expenditures in Indiana. Provides that the tax credit may be granted only if qualified production expenditures are at least $50,000. Provides that in the case of a taxpayer that claims the tax credit for qualified production expenditures of less than $6,000,000, the amount of the credit equals a percentage of the taxpayer's qualified production expenditures. Specifies that the percentage is: (1) 40%, in the case

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

Highway worker death and injury benefits. Provides that the Indiana highway work zone solidarity fund is established to pay benefits under this chapter to or on behalf of highway workers who are injured or killed while on duty in a covered highway work zone. Annually appropriates money in the fund.

Sponsor: Robert Morris

Open-market PACE programs. Authorizes the legislative body of a local governmental unit to designate an area as a clean energy improvement financing district and authorize financing of certain qualified clean energy improvements, including reduced water consumption and waste water discharges, through assessments. Requires the utility regulatory commission to adopt rules to establish technical guidelines to assist local governmental units in administering a district's program.

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

Regulation of dams. Provides that in determining the hazard classification of a dam, the department of natural resources (department) may consider only the potential consequences resulting from the uncontrolled release of a dam's contents due to a failure of the dam to certain properties that were present at the time the dam was built. Provides that if a dam is later modified to impound a greater volume of water, the department shall determine the dam's hazard classification based on the potential consequences resulting from the uncontrolled release of the dam's contents due to a failure of the dam at the

Sponsor: William Friend

Child exploitation. Increases the criminal penalty for: (1) the offense of child exploitation from a Level 5 felony to a Level 4 felony; (2) child exploitation involving a child less than 12 years of age from a Level 5 felony to a Level 3 felony; (3) possession of child pornography from a Level 6 felony to a Level 5 felony; and (4) possession of child pornography involving a child less than 12 years of age from a Level 6 felony to a Level 4 felony.

Sponsor: Erin Houchin

Veterans property tax deduction. Eliminates the assessed value cap of $143,160 that applies to the property tax deduction for a veteran who: (1) has a total disability; or (2) is at least 62 years of age and has at least a 10% disability.

Sponsor: Heath VanNatter

The Reliable, Affordable, and Safe Power Act. Provides that, in response to the federal Environmental Protection Agency Clean Power Plan regulatory activity: (1) the governor and attorney general shall take appropriate steps to protect the state's sovereignty and police power authority in light of the designed federalism under the federal Clean Air Act; (2) the department of environmental management may examine the implications of preparing and implementing proposed regulations, but may not prepare or implement a state implementation plan until completion of judicial review concerning the legality of regulations under the federal Clean Air Act for existing power plants has

Sponsor: Scott Schneider

Earn more Indiana scholarship. Establishes the earn more Indiana scholarship program and fund for students attending postsecondary educational institutions immediately after high school to earn associate degrees. Sets forth qualification requirements. Provides for $36 million annual funding as follows: (1) $12 million from the state general fund. (2) $12 million from Indiana state lottery revenue. (3) $12 million from riverboat wagering taxes.

Sponsor: Terri Jo Austin

Abandoned structure liens. Provides that a person who repairs, cleans up, or maintains a neighboring abandoned structure is entitled to a lien on the property, not to exceed the lesser of: (1) the fair market value of the work performed; or (2) $10,000. Establishes a procedure for creating, filing, and enforcing the lien. Provides that any of the following may repair, clean up, or maintain an abandoned structure (and may assert, file, and enforce a lien) on behalf of one or more property owners whose property bears the specified geographic proximity to an abandoned structure: (1) A neighborhood association. (2)

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Hospital liens. Amends the law concerning hospital liens to allow a hospital lien to apply to a judgment, cause of action, suit, or claim accruing to a patient under: (1) a policy of disability insurance; or (2) automobile or homeowner's insurance that provides for medical payments. Makes a conforming amendment.

Sponsor: Matthew Lehman

Interim study committee on school testing and reporting. Urges the legislative council to establish an interim study committee on school testing and reporting requirements and their impact on school corporations.

Sponsor: Melanie Wright

Nonphotograph BMV identification documents. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to issue driver's licenses, permits, and identification cards without a photograph if the applicant for the license, permit, or identification card has a sincerely held religious objection to the taking of a photograph of the applicant. Provides that a license, permit, or identification card that does not bear a photograph must include a statement that indicates that the license, permit, or identification card may not be accepted by any federal agency for federal identification or any other federal purpose.

Sponsor: Greg Beumer

Credit time for behavior management programs. Requires the department of correction to establish, implement, and maintain an offender behavior management program. Provides that an offender who completes the behavior management program may receive credit time. Makes a technical correction.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Sales tax holiday. Provides a sales and use tax exemption each year beginning on the second Friday of August 2015 and August 2016 through the following Sundays (sales tax holiday) for the following items: (1) Clothing, if the sales price does not exceed $100. (2) A school supply, school art supply, or school instructional material, if the sales price does not exceed $15. Incorporates the definitions of these items as set forth in the May 24, 2012, Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.

Sponsor: Gregory Steuerwald

Endow Indiana program. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation shall administer a grant and tax credit program that encourages philanthropy in Indiana.

Sponsor: Philip GiaQuinta

Claim deadlines. Removes provisions barring certain claims filed against a decedent's estate more than nine months after the date of the decedent's death.

Sponsor: Philip GiaQuinta

DNA for felony arrestees. Requires every person arrested for a felony after June 30, 2015, to submit a DNA sample, and specifies that the sample may be taken only by buccal swab. Provides for the expungement of a DNA sample taken from the person if the person is acquitted of all felony charges, all felony charges are dismissed, or no charges have been filed after 30 days. Requires the officer who obtains a DNA sample from a person to inform the person of the right to DNA expungement and to provide the person with a form that may be used

Sponsor: Patrick Bauer

Juvenile placement. Provides that the department of child services is responsible for payment of expenses for housing or services for the benefit of a child placed by a juvenile court in a home or facility located outside Indiana.

Sponsor: Cherrish Pryor

Sewer rates for multipurpose buildings. For purposes of thestatute governing sanitation districts in certain municipalities, providesthat in establishing sewer fees, a district must provide for: (1) the apportionment or proration of fees assessed with respect to a multipurpose building in a manner that recognizes the different purposes to which the multipurpose building is put; or (2) the application of different fee schedules or classifications of fees to the individual units or parts of a multipurpose building in a manner that recognizes the primary purpose of the individual units or parts. Provides that any schedule of fees that: (1) is adopted

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Condominium co-owners meetings. Provides that the bylaws of a condominium association must include a requirement that specifies that any co-owners' meeting that is called must be open to all of the co-owners to attend.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Referenda for controlled projects and school levies. Provides that a referendum on a controlled project may be held only at a general election, if the preliminary determination to issue bonds or enter into a lease for the controlled project is made after June 30, 2015. Provides that a referendum for a referendum tax levy of a school corporation may be held only at a general election, if the resolution to hold the referendum is adopted after June 30, 2015.

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Employment protection for veterans. Provides that the rights, benefits, and protections of the federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act apply to members of the armed forces of the United States on active duty or to the spouse or dependent of a member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, if applicable. (Current law provides that the rights, benefits, and protections of the federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act apply only to members of the Indiana national guard on active duty.)

Sponsor: Bruce Borders

Unfunded pension liabilities. Provides that if an entity, including a political subdivision, participates in the public employees' retirement fund (PERF) at the discretion of the entity and then takes an action that would restrict employee membership in PERF, the entity becomes liable for the future benefits payable to the entity's current and former employees. Provides that if an entity (other than a political subdivision) that has discretion to participate in PERF seeks to withdraw from PERF, the entity becomes liable for the future benefits payable to the entity's current and former employees. Eliminates an obsolete provision that is no longer

Sponsor: David Niezgodski

Methamphetamine. Makes: (1) dealing in methamphetamine a Level 4 felony instead of a Level 5 felony; and (2) possession of methamphetamine a Level 5 felony instead of a Level 6 felony; if the person who committed the felony has a prior conviction for dealing in certain controlled substances, the person committed the felony while in possession of a firearm, the person committed the felony in, on, or within 1,000 feet of school property or a public park while a person under 18 years of age was reasonably expected to be present, the person who committed the felony delivered or financed

Sponsor: Ben Smaltz

School discipline. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2016, the department of education (department) shall develop, maintain, and make available to schools and school corporations a model evidence based plan for improving behavior and discipline within schools. Provides that a charter school and a school corporation shall establish an evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline. Provides that the department, in collaboration with certain entities, shall provide assistance to a charter school or school corporation in the implementation of the charter school or school corporation's plan. Requires a school corporation and charter school to compile and report

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Automated record keeping fee. Provides that, with certain exceptions, the $5 automated record keeping fee (fee) collected by the clerk of a circuit court after June 30, 2015, is distributed as follows: (1) 20% of the fee is distributed to the auditor of state for deposit in the state user fee fund. (2) 80% of the fee is distributed to the county auditor for deposit in the clerk's record perpetuation fund. Provides that, with certain exceptions, the $5 fee collected by the clerk of a city or town court after June 30, 2015, is distributed as follows: (1) 20% of

Sponsor: Peggy Mayfield

Department of veterans affairs. Requires the department of veterans' affairs (department) to employ staff for purposes of: (1) assisting veterans who are incarcerated; (2) seeking endowment benefits and grants; and (3) coordinating with other agencies and universities on behalf of veterans. Requires all counties to designate and employ a county service officer. Requires the department to establish six regional offices. Provides funding for county service officers. Makes an annual appropriation.

Sponsor: Christopher Judy

Self-defense and defense of third persons. Specifies that a person is justified in using deadly force only if the person reasonably believes that force is necessary to prevent: (1) serious bodily injury to the person or a third person; or (2) the commission of a forcible felony. Specifies that a person is justified in using reasonable force, including deadly force, against another person if the person reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's: (1) unlawful entry of; or (2) attack on; the person's dwelling, curtilage, or occupied motor vehicle. Removes a provision that

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Donations to educational foundations. Reenacts a provision (which expired in 2012) that authorizes a school corporation to donate up to $25,000 per year from any fund of the school corporation from which the donation may be made legally to a public school endowment corporation or nonprofit charitable community foundation if the donation is matched by a private donor. Specifies that the principal and income from the donation shall be distributed only to the school corporation as directed by resolution of the governing body of the school corporation, and that the school corporation may use the distributions only for programs and

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Grandparent and great-grandparent visitation. Grandparent and great-grandparent visitation. Allows great-grandparents to seek visitation rights with their great-grandchildren in certain circumstances. Allows a grandparent or great-grandparent to seek visitation if the grandparent or great-grandparent has had meaningful contact with the child but, as a result of an estrangement between the parent of the child and the grandparent or great-grandparent, the parent of the child terminated the child's visits with the grandparent or great-grandparent. Establishes factors for the court to consider in determining whether granting a grandparent or great-grandparent visitation rights is in the best interests of the child. Provides that a

Sponsor: Lonnie Randolph

Criminal law issues. Provides that a defendant's bond will be automatically forfeited if a defendant fails to appear for court unless the court orders the defendant's bond to not be forfeited. Provides that a defendant's bond will be automatically forfeited if a defendant is charged with a new offense while out on bond unless the court orders the defendant's bond to not be forfeited. Requires a defendant serving a probationary term for domestic violence to surrender all firearms and gun permits to a specified law enforcement agency. Increases the penalty for voluntary manslaughter from a Level 2 felony to a

Sponsor: Timothy Wesco

Criminal mischief. Increases from a Class B misdemeanor to a Level 6 felony the penalty for criminal mischief based on damaging or defacing the property of another, if the offense was committed while manufacturing or attempting to manufacture a controlled substance.

Sponsor: Judson McMillin

Employer wellness tax credit. Restores the income tax credit for small employers who provide a qualified wellness program for their employees for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015. Provides that the credit may not be awarded for costs incurred after December 31, 2019. Provides that an unused credit for costs incurred after December 31, 2015, and before January 1, 2020, may be carried forward to the taxpayer's succeeding six taxable years. Provides that the statute expires in 2025 rather than in 2020.

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

Ignition interlock devices. Provides that if a person has a previous conviction for operating while intoxicated and the court grants specialized driving privileges, the court shall order that the specialized driving privileges include the requirement that the person may not operate a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning certified ignition interlock device.

Sponsor: Timothy Wesco

Traffic safety. Requires a motorist to provide at least three feet of clearance between a motor vehicle and a bicycle when at the speed of 30 miles per hour or less. Provides that at least one additional foot of clearance for every 10 miles per hour above 30 miles per hour must be provided by the motorist if possible. Allows a court to impose a 90 day to two year license suspension for a violation. Requires the imposition of community service, a driver's license suspension, and a fine of up to $12,500 for a violation that results in bodily injury

Sponsor: Martin Carbaugh

Transborder groundwater authority. Establishes the Indiana-Kentucky transborder groundwater authority (authority). Requires the authority to study ownership rights in the groundwater resources shared by Indiana and Kentucky and to explore the desirability of entering into an interstate compact with Kentucky concerning the use of the groundwater underlying southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Authorizes a county that borders the Ohio River or that borders another county that borders the Ohio River to elect to participate in the authority. Provides for the authority to include elected officials from municipal and county government in the participating counties, county health officers of the participating counties,

Sponsor: Steven Stemler

Teacher compensation. Provides that the number of years of a teacher's employment and the attainment of additional degrees or credit hours must account for not less than 33% of the increments or increases in a local salary schedule. Makes a corresponding change to a related section.

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Township funding of conservation projects. Allows a township board to include in the township budget adequate funds to help support cooperative conservation projects that are designed to monitor and improve watersheds in the township. Requires a township trustee to pay out funds that have been budgeted and will be used for township conservation projects and cooperative conservation projects in which the township is involved.

Sponsor: Jim Lucas

Veterans matters. Establishes a definition for "Hoosier veteran". Provides for Hoosier veterans to receive a preference in hiring for state employment. Provides for an incentive program to be established to promote the enrollment of members of the Indiana national guard in a group policy of life insurance provided to state employees. Establishes, for five years, the veterans' recovery program (program) and veterans' recovery fund to provide treatment for veterans with traumatic brain injury or posttraumatic stress disorder and to obtain reimbursement from third parties. Requires the commissioner of insurance to establish program standards. Allows the commissioner of insurance to appoint

Sponsor: Peggy Mayfield

Local government finance. Appropriates $100,000,000 in 2016 and each year thereafter from the state general fund to be used to reduce school corporation transportation fund levies. Authorizes counties, cities, and towns to impose a separate property tax levy for an infrastructure fund. Provides that the maximum permissible levy for an infrastructure property tax levy is based on the amount of the reduction in school transportation fund levies. Specifies the infrastructure purposes for which money in an infrastructure fund may be used (after appropriation by the unit's fiscal body). Appropriates $200,000,000 in 2016 and each year thereafter from the state general

Sponsor: Karen Tallian

Fair credit reporting. Provides that a violation of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (act), or any regulations issued under the act, in connection with a consumer transaction involving an Indiana consumer, is a deceptive act that is subject to the penalties set forth in the statute concerning deceptive consumer sales. Requires the attorney general to investigate complaints made by or on behalf of Indiana consumers and concerning alleged violations of specified provisions of the act. Allows the attorney general to investigate, on the attorney general's own motion, suspected violations of the specified provisions of the act. Authorizes the attorney

Sponsor: Patricia Miller

Uniform municipal food and beverage tax. Authorizes a municipal legislative body to impose by ordinance a municipal food and beverage tax. Provides that the tax may not exceed 1% of the gross retail income received from retail food and beverage transactions. Provides that the tax does not apply to a transaction that is exempt from the sales tax. Provides that the tax does not apply to a consolidated city, a municipality that has imposed a food and beverage tax under current law, or a municipality that is receiving county food and beverage tax revenue.

Sponsor: John Price

Net metering for electric utility customers. Requires the utility regulatory commission (IURC) to adopt, not later than August 1, 2015, emergency rules amending the IURC's net metering and interconnection rules for electric utilities. Provides that the amended rules must do the following: (1) Require a municipally owned electric utility under the IURC's jurisdiction to: (A) offer a net metering program to all customers classes; and (B) allow all customer classes to interconnect a customer-generator facility with a distribution facility of the utility. (2) Allow: (A) a municipally owned utility not under the IURC's jurisdiction; or (B) a rural electric membership

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Advanced technology vehicle fee. Imposes an annual fee on advanced technology vehicles. Deposits the fees in the motor vehicle highway account.

Sponsor: Doug Eckerty

Jury duty deferrals for postsecondary students. Provides that a prospective juror who is a full-time student enrolled in and attending an approved postsecondary educational institution during an academic year shall be exempted from jury service until the end of the academic year if: (1) the prospective juror requests a deferral by notifying the jury administrator that the prospective juror is a full-time student enrolled in and attending an approved postsecondary educational institution; (2) the prospective juror provides proof to the jury administrator that the jury service will likely interfere with the prospective juror's class schedule during the academic year; and

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Proprietary educational institutions. Provides that a student attending a postsecondary credit bearing proprietary educational institution receives scholarship awards at the same level as a student attending a four year state educational institution. Makes corresponding changes to related sections.

Sponsor: Thomas Saunders

Wholesale auto dealers, fees, and license plates. Provides that wholesale dealers are dealers subject to the jurisdiction of the dealer services division within the office of the secretary of state. (Jurisdiction over wholesale dealers was set to expire July 1, 2015.) Makes corresponding changes.

Sponsor: Curt Nisly

Fireworks regulation. Provides that a county or municipality may adopt an ordinance to limit the days and hours when consumer fireworks or certain other fireworks may be used, ignited, or discharged within the county or municipality, with certain exceptions.

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Hunting and fishing licenses. Provides that an individual may purchase and request that the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) place a notation on the individual's driver's license or identification card that indicates that the individual has a fishing, hunting, or hunting and fishing license. Requires the department of natural resources to establish fees for the fishing, hunting, or hunting and fishing licenses sold by the bureau.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Application of federal Affordable Care Act. Prohibits certain state actions related to enforcement or implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Requires the attorney general to file a civil action for injunctive relief in certain circumstances. Requires a tax deduction for taxpayers paying a penalty in relation to PPACA. Repeals a provision concerning application for a state innovation waiver under PPACA.

Sponsor: Timothy Harman

Straight ticket voting pilot program. Establishes a straight ticket voting pilot program for the 2016 and 2018 general elections. Requires the secretary of state to designate three counties as straight ticket voting pilot counties based on county population. Requires a county designated as a straight ticket voting pilot county to remove from the ballot the option for a voter to vote for all candidates of a political party or an independent ticket at one time or with one mark, except for candidates for presidential electors. Authorizes the secretary of state to adopt a process to allow counties to apply to

Sponsor: Scott Schneider

Foreclosure prevention and post-foreclosure leases. Requires a court, in a mortgage foreclosure action with respect to an occupied dwelling, to consider evidence concerning the effect of the foreclosure. Requires the court to withhold entry of judgment in a foreclosure action for 180 days if the court finds: (1) entry of a judgment of foreclosure will have a negative effect on the occupant or neighborhood or may lead to the house becoming vacant; and (2) there is a reasonable possibility that withholding entry of judgment in a foreclosure action will reduce the negative effects. Permits a court to require a mortgagee

Sponsor: Dan Forestal

Intern eligibility for unemployment benefits. Provides that "employment", for purposes of unemployment benefits, does not include service by an individual during an internship with a duration of not more than 90 days.

Sponsor: Martin Carbaugh

Demand side management programs. Requires the utility regulatory commission to: (1) enforce an existing; or (2) issue a new; order concerning energy efficiency and demand side management programs. Requires that industrial customers of an electricity supplier that previously opted out of participating in the electricity supplier's energy efficiency programs must: (1) resume participating in the program; or (2) begin participating in a subsequent program.

Sponsor: Ryan Dvorak

Nomination of candidates for U. Senate. Provides that a political party with a certain threshold number of members of the general assembly is required to nominate its candidate for United States Senate by a caucus consisting of all the members of that political party who are also members of the general assembly.

Sponsor: James Buck

Property tax assessment. Provides that an assessor has the burden of proving that an increase in an assessment is correct, in any review or appeal before the county property tax assessment board of appeals and in any appeals taken to the Indiana board of tax review, the Indiana tax court, or the Indiana supreme court, regardless of the amount of the increase in the assessed value of the property. (Current law provides that the assessor has this burden of proof if the assessment increases by more than 5% over the assessment for the prior year.) Provides that an assessor who

Sponsor: Scott Schneider

County adjusted gross income tax. Provides that, when construction of jail facilities are complete and bonds and leases are fully paid, the county adjusted gross income tax rate in Marshall County shall be established at a rate such that the revenue from the tax does not exceed the costs of operating and maintaining the jail facilities. Provides that the department of state revenue shall notify a taxpayer by registered or certified mail at least sixty (60) days before the department may report a taxpayer's unpaid tax assessment to a credit reporting agency.

Sponsor: Timothy Harman

Home rule powers of certain units. Gives Indianapolis-Marion County and second class cities (units) additional home rule powers. Provides that a unit may reject statutory restrictions otherwise applicable to the unit and adopt ordinances for governance instead of the rejected statutes. Provides that certain statutes may not be rejected by a unit. Allows a unit to file for bankruptcy under federal law.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Charity gaming. Allows a qualified organization to accept credit cards for the purchase of: (1) a chance to play any game of chance offered at an allowable event; and (2) a licensed supply.

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Business development closing fund. Establishes the business development closing fund (fund) to provide incentives in the form of forgivable loans to be used to attract new business and economic development to Indiana and encourage expansion of existing business in Indiana. Provides that if the amount of excess reserves is more than $200 million, then up to $100 million of the excess reserves that exceed $200 million shall be transferred to the fund. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) administers the fund. Requires the IEDC to perform the following duties: (1) Establish the criteria for awarding forgivable loans from

Sponsor: Randall Head

Telecommunications devices while driving. Provides that a person may not use a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle, with certain exceptions.

Sponsor: Dan Forestal

Performance funding. Requires that, if the commission for higher education includes in the performance based formula a metric for on time graduation rates, the metric for four year state educational institutions must be based on students included in the formula who graduate with a baccalaureate degree in six or fewer years.

Sponsor: Martin Carbaugh

Recounts and contests. Requires that, after December 31, 2015, the words "absentee ballot" be printed in prominent type with uniform capital letters at the top of every absentee ballot prepared and printed by a county election board. Eliminates the requirement that the third member of a recount commission be a mechanic. Requires that all: (1) contracts or leases for the sale or lease of; or (2) service contracts for preelection and election day maintenance or support of; voting equipment, systems, or software entered into, amended, or renewed after December 31, 2015, must include a provision that requires the vendor or

Sponsor: Michael Young

Hemp oil registry for the treatment of epilepsy. Establishes a hemp oil registry for certain physicians, individuals, and caregivers for the use of hemp oil in the treatment of a child with intractable epilepsy. Establishes a pilot study registry for physicians interested in studying the use of hemp oil in the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Requires the state department of health to develop and maintain both registries. Provides civil, criminal, and administrative immunity for physicians in the use of hemp oil in the treatment of intractable epilepsy if certain requirements are met. Exempts caregivers and individuals from criminal penalties for

Sponsor: James Tomes

School grades and teacher evaluations. Provides that statewide assessment (ISTEP) results may not be used as an objective measure in teacher evaluations during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years. Provides that student assessment results may not be used as a factor in determining a school's performance category during a particular school year for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years.

Sponsor: Vaneta Becker

Marijuana penalties. Provides that a person who possesses at least five pounds of marijuana, or at least 150 grams of hash oil, hashish, or salvia, may be convicted of possession with intent to deliver even if the only evidence of intent is the amount of the drug involved.

Sponsor: Gregory Steuerwald

LIFE scholarships. Establishes the lifelong learning incentive for excellence (LIFE) scholarship program to provide scholarships to Indiana residents for postsecondary education. Provides for administration of the program by the commission for higher education. Establishes the LIFE scholarship fund consisting of: (1) appropriations made to the fund from other sources; and (2) grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the fund. Sets forth the amount of a scholarship award, subject to the amount of money in the LIFE scholarship fund. Provides eligibility criteria for potential recipients.

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Credit for income taxes paid to another state. Provides that the maximum income tax credit that an Indiana resident may take for income taxes paid to another state includes the Indiana local option income tax rate in addition to the Indiana state adjusted gross income tax rate (applies when the state of employment does not have a reciprocity agreement with Indiana).

Sponsor: William Fine

Unsafe used tires. Defines "unsafe used tire" as a used: (1) passenger tire; or (2) light truck tire; that has one or more specified nonconformities. Prohibits a supplier from: (1) selling or offering to sell an unsafe used tire to a customer in Indiana; or (2) installing or offering to install an unsafe used tire on a motor vehicle. Provides that a person who knowingly violates these provisions is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each violation.

Sponsor: Dan Forestal

Battery innovation funding. Appropriates $3,350,000 for the upcoming biennium to the Indiana economic development corporation for lease payments for the battery innovation center located in Greene County.

Sponsor: Matthew Ubelhor

Performance and payment bonds. Requires that public-private agreements must contain performance bond and payment bond requirements.

Sponsor: Doug Eckerty

Hearing aid assistance program. Appropriates $2,250,000 to the hearing aid fund to provide money for the hearing aid assistance program.

Sponsor: Harold Slager

Redevelopment commission transfers. Provides that in the case of a tax increment financing allocation area established or reestablished after June 30, 2015, the governing body of a school corporation containing territory within the allocation area may, before August 1 of each year, adopt a resolution providing that property taxes must be transferred by the redevelopment commission to the school corporation in the following calendar year. Specifies that the amount of property taxes that must be transferred by the redevelopment commission to the school corporation in that year is equal to a percentage determined by the school corporation multiplied by the

Sponsor: Howard Kenley

Resident tuition rate for children of veterans. Provides that a person: (1) whose mother or father served in the armed forces of the United States or the Indiana National Guard, received a discharge or separation other than a dishonorable discharge, and are residents of Indiana; (2) who is a nonresident of Indiana; and (3) who meets certain other requirements; is eligible to pay the resident tuition rate determined by the state educational institution.

Sponsor: Timothy Harman

Child exploitation and child pornography. Provides that for purposes of the elements of the crimes of: (1) child exploitation; and (2) possession of child pornography; sexual conduct includes the exhibition of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple.

Sponsor: Randall Head

Access to personal Internet accounts. Provides that an employer may not request an employee or applicant for employment to grant access to, allow observation of, or disclose access information that allows access to or observation of the employee's or applicant's personal Internet account. Provides that an educational institution may not request a student or prospective student to grant access to, allow observation of, or disclose access information that allows access to or observation of the student's or prospective student's personal Internet account. Provides that an employer may not discharge, discipline, fail to hire, or otherwise penalize an employee or applicant

Sponsor: Terri Jo Austin

Qualified organizations. Specifies that a qualified organization under the charity gaming law may use not more than 50% of the money deposited into its separate charity gaming account to pay wages, salaries, and wage and salary related expenses. Increases the maximum number of guest days that certain private clubs may designate from three to four days in a month or from nine to 12 days in a quarter. Removes the option that quarterly designations of guest days be made over consecutive days within the quarter. Removes obsolete language relating to guest days designated by clubs that serve alcoholic beverages on

Sponsor: William Friend

Solemnizing marriages. Provides that a minister of a religious organization may solemnize a marriage.

Sponsor: Matt Pierce

Tuition exemption for children of veterans. Removes the requirement that a veteran served during a time of war or performed hazardous duty recognized by an award or campaign medal in order for the veteran's child to receive a tuition and fee exemption at a state educational institution.

Sponsor: Frank Mrvan

Septic tank inspections and fees. Provides that a regional sewage district (district) may not: (1) inspect a septic tank soil absorption system (system); or (2) impose a fee for an inspection of a system. Provides that a property owner may bring a civil action against a district that inspects a system or charges a fee for an inspection. Provides that a prevailing property owner may recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

Sponsor: Doug Eckerty

Indiana academic standards. Requires the state board of education (state board), before July 1, 2016, to readopt the Indiana academic standards that were in effect before January 1, 2009. Prohibits the state board, the department of education, and school corporations from applying for or renewing a flexibility waiver from federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind) requirements after June 30, 2015. Provides for the continuation of the ISTEP assessment until the new standards are adopted. Allows the state board to adopt emergency rules concerning the standards until permanent rules can be adopted. Makes a technical correction.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Purdue University board of trustees. Provides that the full-time student appointed as a member of the board of trustees of Purdue University may be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student. Provides that the elected student government representatives of the student body who choose students to participate on the search and screen committee include both the elected graduate and undergraduate student government representatives of the student body.

Sponsor: Sheila Klinker

Deduction for fitness facility expenditures. Provides a deduction from adjusted gross income to an individual for expenditures made to a fitness facility on behalf of the individual, the individual's spouse, and the individual's dependent children.

Sponsor: Mike Speedy

Indiana promise scholarship program. Establishes the Indiana promise scholarship program and fund for students attending postsecondary educational institutions to earn associate degrees immediately after high school. Sets forth qualification requirements. Makes an appropriation.

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

Restroom access for certain retail customers. Provides that if a retail establishment has a toilet facility on its premises for the use of the retail establishment's employees, a customer, upon request, must be allowed to use the toilet facility during normal business hours if certain conditions are met, including that: (1) the customer has Crohn's disease or another medical condition requiring the customer to have immediate access to a toilet facility; (2) the toilet facility is reasonably safe for use by the customer; and (3) there is no public restroom immediately accessible to the customer. Makes it a Class C

Sponsor: Frank Mrvan

Performance bonds for state highway contracts. Provides that, after June 30, 2015, the department of transportation (department) shall require the lowest and best bidder for a state highway contract to submit a performance bond payable to the state not more than 10 days after the contract is let. (Current law requires each bidder for a contract for a project with an estimated cost of more than $200,000 to submit a bid guarantee and a performance bond.) Provides that, if a bidder fails to submit the performance bond within 10 days, the department shall let the contract to the next lowest

Sponsor: Holli Sullivan

Various gaming matters. Authorizes riverboats to move inland to adjacent properties. Replaces the riverboat admissions tax with a supplemental wagering tax. Eliminates the supplemental distribution from the existing wagering tax. Authorizes table games at the racinos. Imposes a separate wagering tax on table games. Establishes the Indiana gaming investment tax credit for certain capital investments that are made after December 31, 2015, and before January 1, 2021, by a licensed owner or operating agent of a riverboat or by a racino licensee. Provides that the amount of the tax credit is equal to 10% of the qualified capital investment made

Sponsor: Philip Boots

Punitive damages. Provides that when an award in a civil action includes a punitive damage award: (1) the court shall send a written copy of the punitive damage award to the office of the attorney general; (2) the state's interest in the punitive damage award that is deposited into the violent crime victims compensation fund vests; and (3) the state becomes a creditor with respect to that part of the punitive damage award that is deposited into the violent crime victims compensation fund. Allows the attorney general to intervene in an action concerning the award of punitive damages to protect

Sponsor: Susan Glick

Substance abuse appropriation. Defines "substance abuse treatment" for purposes of the statute concerning mental health and addiction forensic treatment services. Appropriates $20,000,000 in each state fiscal year of the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, to the division of mental health and addiction for substance abuse treatment in the context of mental health and addiction forensic treatment services.

Sponsor: Wendy McNamara

Special group recognition license plates. Authorizes the Independent Colleges of Indiana to act as the intermediary for the purpose of distributing special group recognition license plates (plates) to member institutions that are unable to meet the 500 plate sales requirement. Allows the bureau of motor vehicles to disclose personal information concerning plate holders to member institutions under certain circumstances, for certain purposes.

Sponsor: William Friend

Firearm ownership and medical records. Prohibits a practitioner or medical records custodian from disclosing certain information relating to a patient's ownership of a firearm. Prohibits a political subdivision or the board regulating a practitioner from requiring the practitioner to: (1) inquire whether a patient owns a firearm; (2) document in a patient's medical record whether the patient owns a firearm; or (3) notify any governmental entity of the patient's identification solely on the basis of the patient's ownership of a firearm.

Sponsor: Christopher Judy

Fire and building safety. Provides that for purposes of the building code, a Class 2 structure townhouse may be separated from an adjoining unit by a one hour fire-resistance rated wall combined with a National Fire Protection Association 13D compliant fire sprinkler system.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Income apportionment for income tax purposes. Eliminates the throwback rule that is used in determining income subject to taxation by Indiana.

Sponsor: David Ober

Child abuse training. Requires: (1) child care providers that receive reimbursement vouchers; (2) public schools, including charter schools; and (3) nonpublic schools that receive choice scholarship students; to provide training to staff concerning the recognition of the warning signs that a child is being abused.

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Education funding. Increases the amounts used in determining performance grant awards. Appropriates $20,000,000 each state fiscal year of the biennium for performance grant awards that is in addition to the appropriation made by the budget act. Provides a complexity grant minimum guarantee based on a floor of $450 per average daily membership (ADM). Appropriates $10,700,000 each state fiscal year to fund the minimum guarantee complexity grant.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Tax credit for literacy programs. Provides an income tax credit for charitable contributions to certain literacy programs. Provides that the credit is equal to 50% of the charitable contribution, but may not exceed: (1) $100 for a single individual return; (2) $200 for a joint return; or (3) the lesser of 10% of a corporation's adjusted gross income tax liability or $1,000 for a corporate return.

Sponsor: Edward Clere

Video gaming terminals. Authorizes wagering on video gaming terminals in certain establishments. Establishes a licensing structure for participants in video gaming. Imposes a video gaming wagering tax of 30% of adjusted gross receipts.

Sponsor: Philip Boots

State gross retail tax. Specifies that the double direct test for the gross retail tax exemption for agricultural machinery, tools, and equipment applies to agricultural machinery, tools, and equipment acquired for the direct use in the direct production of timber harvesting.

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Distributions of motor vehicle excise tax revenue. Provides that distributions of motor vehicle excise tax revenue to the counties may not be reduced to recoup excess distributions of motor vehicle excise tax revenue attributable to an error in calculating the motor vehicle excise until after December 31, 2015. Provides that the state may recoup only those excess distributions of motor vehicle excise tax revenue that were received by the counties in the three year period beginning on September 16, 2011.

Sponsor: Thomas Saunders

Alternative schools and expelled students. Provides that a student who is expelled is in violation of Indiana's compulsory school attendance law unless the student attends another school, an alternative school, or an alternative education program. Provides that a school corporation may not expel a student unless the school corporation makes arrangements for the student to attend an alternative school or an alternative education program that agrees to accept the student.

Sponsor: Greg Taylor

Special employment and training services fund. Provides that the annual amount released from the special employment and training services fund for training and counseling assistance provided by Hometown Plans is increased from $400,000 to $575,000, $175,000 of which must be distributed for use in the Evansville area.

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Proceedings supplementary for judgment debtors. Provides that if it is established at a hearing that a judgment debtor is not able to pay a judgment, the judgment creditor may seek a subsequent order from a court to compel the judgment debtor to appear at a proceeding supplementary concerning the judgment debtor's property, income, or other assets. Provides that if it is established at the proceeding supplementary that a judgment debtor has recently: (1) acquired property or other assets in the care of; or (2) begun new employment with; a proposed garnishee defendant, the court shall make the property, assets, or

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Municipal water utility liens. Provides that rates and charges of a municipally owned water utility constitute a lien against property served by the utility. Provides that the method for attachment and enforcement of municipal water utility liens is the same as the method for municipal wastewater utility liens.

Sponsor: Philip GiaQuinta

Public records on the Internet. Provides that if a public agency that publishes a public record to an Internet site, the public agency must publish the public record in an open format. Requires a public agency that maintains an Internet site to publish catalogs of the public records published to the Internet site. Provides that the office of technology shall maintain an Internet site that aggregates the catalogs of public records that public agencies are required to publish to their respective Internet sites.

Sponsor: Todd Huston

DNR director authority over dewatering wells. Amends the law concerning the emergency regulation of ground water rights to: (1) include within the definition of "dewatering well" a water well or pump system that is used as part of a mining project to remove water from an area being mined; (2) authorize the director of the department of natural resources (director) to declare a ground water emergency when an investigation discloses that a dewatering well has caused a significant ground water withdrawal facility to fail to produce water in a quantity sufficient for the beneficial use for which the facility owner

Sponsor: Micheal Aylesworth

Private certifying organizations. Establishes a procedure for individuals to apply to the professional licensing agency (agency) to allow qualified individuals to become state certified and be placed on the electronic registry of professions. Requires a private certifying organization be certified by the agency. Prohibits an individual who is not state certified from using the title "state certified".

Sponsor: Charles Burton

Veterans deductions. Authorizes the fiscal body of a county to adopt an ordinance to make the property tax deduction available under current law to World War I veterans available instead to veterans of World War II and veterans who served in the Korean Conflict or in the Vietnam Conflict. Authorizes the fiscal body of a county to adopt an ordinance to provide a property tax deduction to the surviving spouses of veterans of World War II and to the surviving spouses of veterans who served in the Korean Conflict or in the Vietnam Conflict that is equivalent to the current

Sponsor: Charles Moseley

State board of education. Provides that the state board of education has 13 members. (Currently, the board has 11 members.) Sets forth qualifications for members appointed by the governor. Makes transitional provisions.

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

Administration of standardized tests in schools. Provides that the department of education (department) may not require the students in a school corporation, a charter school, a school, or a grade or class in a school to complete a required statewide, national, or international test using a computer. Provides that the department, a school corporation, or a school may not require a student to use a computer to complete a required statewide, national, or international test if the student's parent or the student, if the student is at least 18 years of age or emancipated, requests that the student complete the

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

Bias motivated crimes. Defines "bias motivated crime" as the crime of battery, aggravated battery, strangulation, kidnapping, criminal confinement, robbery, arson, criminal mischief, burglary, residential entry, criminal trespass, theft, criminal conversion, intimidation, harassment, or stalking if the person who commits the crime intentionally selects: (1) an individual against whom the crime was committed; or (2) any property damaged or otherwise affected by the crime; in whole or in part because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability of the individual, another individual, or a group of individuals, whether or not

Sponsor: Gregory Porter

Restorative justice. Specifies that a juvenile court may require, as part of: (1) a program of informal adjustment; or (2) a dispositional decree; that a delinquent child who has committed an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult participate in a restorative justice program.

Sponsor: Karlee Macer

Unpasteurized milk acquisition. Allows the acquisition of unpasteurized milk by an individual who obtains the milk from animals solely or partially owned by the individual. Allows unpasteurized milk from animals owned by an individual to be distributed to members of the individual's family or nonpaying guests.

Sponsor: Christopher Judy

Abandoned and vacant property. Specifies that there must be delinquent property taxes or special assessments on real property before it may be sold by the county treasurer as abandoned or vacant property. Provides that an order of a local building standards hearing authority that real property is abandoned or vacant and nonpayment of the associated penalty permits the executive of the county, city, or town to certify to the county auditor that the real property should be sold as abandoned or vacant property. Provides that a hearing authority may use the same standards that are used by a court in

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Employee permits. Allows the alcohol and tobacco commission to issue an employee permit to a person who is serving a sentence for operating while intoxicated, if the person is enrolled in an evaluation and treatment program provided by a licensed addiction counselor or licensed clinical addiction counselor. Allows the alcohol and tobacco commission to issue an employee permit to a person who has two unrelated convictions for operating while intoxicated and completes the second sentence less than two years before the application, if the person completes an evaluation and treatment program provided by a licensed addiction counselor or licensed clinical

Sponsor: Dennis Zent

Township assistance. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee, in the 2015 interim, certain study topics related to the funding and delivery of township assistance in a township for which the township assistance property tax rate is more than 12 times the statewide average rate.

Sponsor: William Fine

Abandoned homestead property taxation. Allows a county or city fiscal body to adopt an ordinance to grant an assessed value property tax deduction for abandoned homesteads that become owner occupied by a military veteran, member of the military, public safety officer, or licensed teacher. Provides that the deduction may be for up to 10 years and at percentages specified in the fiscal body's ordinance. Permits the fiscal body to establish additional criteria for a homestead to be eligible for the deduction. Requires an application process and an annual filing by the property owner. Allows the department of local government finance

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Definition of adjusted gross income. Eliminates the adjustment based on the federal deduction for amounts spent on certain depreciable property under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code in the definition of "adjusted gross income" for purposes of the Indiana adjusted gross income tax and the financial institutions tax. Eliminates the add back of the federal deduction for domestic production activities under Section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code in the definition of "adjusted gross income" for purposes of the Indiana adjusted gross income tax and the financial institutions tax.

Sponsor: Daniel Leonard

Motor vehicle license excise surtax. Deletes the requirement in current law that a county may only impose the motor vehicle license excise surtax at the same rate or amount on each motor vehicle. Authorizes counties to: (1) impose the surtax at the same rate or amount on each motor vehicle; (2) impose the surtax at one or more different rates based on weight classifications of the vehicles; or (3) impose the surtax at one or more different rates based on the class of vehicle (passenger vehicles, motorcycles, trucks with a declared gross weight that does not exceed 11,000 pounds, and

Sponsor: John Price

Resident tuition rate. Provides that an individual authorized by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be present in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is eligible to pay the resident tuition rate if the individual is otherwise eligible to pay the resident tuition rate of the state educational institution.

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

Property tax study. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on fiscal policy the task of studying the impact on the finances of political subdivisions in Indiana of: (1) levy limits; (2) recent trends in assessed valuation; and (3) circuit breaker property tax credits.

Sponsor: Edward DeLaney

Dissolution of township government. Provides that on January 1, 2019, in all counties (except Marion County) the following occur: (1) All township governments are dissolved and all township powers and duties are transferred to the county (including township assistance, fire protection, cemetery maintenance, weed control, parks, fence viewing, and any township libraries). (2) The duties and responsibilities of the township trustee are transferred to the county executive or the county executive's designee. (3) The duties and responsibilities of the township board are transferred to the county fiscal body. Provides that on January 1, 2019, in all counties (except Marion County)

Sponsor: Cindy Ziemke

Drainage board assessments. Specifies that for periodic payments of drainage assessments first certified after June 30, 2015, the interest rate is equal to the prime rate plus one percentage point (rather than 10%, under current law).

Sponsor: Milo Smith

Pharmacy dispensing coverage. A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning insurance

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

Leave for victims of domestic or family violence. Provides for up to 30 days of safe leave in a 12 month period for an employee to deal with issues related to domestic or family violence. Permits an employee to take unpaid safe leave for up to three consecutive days per absence. Provides that an employee accrues one day of paid safe leave for every 30 days worked, beginning on the ninety-first day after the employee's date of hire. Allows an employer to require documentation of an employee's eligibility for safe leave. Requires an employee to make a good faith effort

Sponsor: Cindy Kirchhofer

State board of accounts. Specifies that the state board of accounts shall hold an exit conference that includes the officer or chief executive officer of the state office, municipality, or entity examined, any employees or agents of the state office, municipality, or entity examined who are requested to attend by the officer or chief executive officer, and the members of the legislative and fiscal bodies of the municipality or entity examined. Provides that all information discussed and materials presented or delivered by any person during an exit conference are confidential and may not be discussed or shared publicly until the

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Domestic violence. Requires the criminal justice institute (institute) to compile information concerning crimes that involve domestic violence and submit the information to the National Incident-Based Reporting System maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Requires, instead of allows, the victim services division of the institute to make grants from the domestic violence prevention and treatment fund. Requires each county to establish and operate a domestic violence shelter in the county to assist victims of domestic violence in the county. Provides that, upon a finding of a violation of an order for protection concerning a victim of domestic or family violence,

Sponsor: Karlee Macer

New markets tax credit. Provides for an Indiana new markets tax credit against state taxes for investments in qualified community development entities that is similar to the federal new markets tax credit. Provides that the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) may not approve more than $80,000,000 of qualified equity investments each state fiscal year. Requires the IEDC to submit an annual report on the Indiana new markets tax credit to the budget committee.

Sponsor: Gerald Torr

Natural gas vehicle grant program. Establishes the natural gas vehicle grant program within the office of management and budget to award grants of $5,000 to school corporations and certain municipalities toward the purchase of natural gas vehicles. Makes an appropriation. Repeals the alternative fuel vehicle grant program for local government units. Requires the Indiana department of transportation to amend certain publications and documents concerning general or specific service signs for compressed natural gas fueling stations.

Sponsor: Randall Frye

Sexual assault and domestic violence. Repeals the sexual assault victim advocate standards and certification board. Creates the domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and treatment council (council). Provides that the council shall: (1) administer the sexual assault victims assistance account; (2) coordinate and monitor programs for state and federal funding concerning sexual assault, domestic violence and family violence prevention; and (3) make recommendations to the board of trustees of the criminal justice institute concerning certain grants or contracts involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence prevention. Makes appropriations to the domestic violence prevention and treatment fund and the sexual

Sponsor: Julie Olthoff

Casino regulation. Removes restrictions on where gambling may occur. Authorizes table games at racinos. Changes "riverboat" references to "casino". Repeals statutes specifically concerning riverboats. Repeals the riverboat admissions tax and distribution of admissions tax revenue to municipalities. Repeals the statute limiting the number of slot machines at a racino. Provides that the gaming commission shall not reject an application for a license to operate a casino based on the location of the proposed casino. Repeals language requiring cities and counties to approve ordinances and referenda for riverboat gaming. Repeals language that specifically applies to locations where riverboats currently are located.

Sponsor: Todd Huston

Certified registered nurse anesthetist. Allows a certified registered nurse anesthetist to administer anesthesia under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a podiatrist if the administration takes place in a hospital and a licensed physician is available to respond immediately in person to a medical emergency.

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Cost of medical procedures. Requires each hospital and ambulatory outpatient surgical center (facility) to: (1) prepare a list of the facility's average charge for the treatment of common or frequent diagnostic, inpatient, and outpatient procedures and treatment; and (2) disclose to a prospective patient before admission the facility's average charge for the procedure or treatment.

Sponsor: Wes Culver

Income tax deductions. Provides an income tax deduction for all retirement or survivor's benefits that are received by a resident individual taxpayer for service in an active or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, air force, coast guard, marine corps, merchant marine, Indiana army national guard, or Indiana air national guard. Provides that a resident individual taxpayer who was employed in Indiana for at least 20 years and has resided in Indiana for at least 20 years is entitled to an income tax deduction for all federal civil service benefits received by

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

Firearms on business premises. Permits a person to bring an action for damages against a business entity having a policy of barring possession of a firearm on the entity's property, if: (1) the person suffers a loss due to criminal activity on the entity's property; and (2) the loss could have been avoided or reduced if the business entity did not prohibit possession of a firearm on its property. Provides that a person who does not prohibit: (1) an individual from possessing a firearm on the person's property; or (2) the person's employees from possessing a firearm while the employees

Sponsor: Jim Lucas

Abortion matters. Prohibits a person from performing an abortion if the person knows that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion because of: (1) the sex of the fetus; or (2) a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome or a genetic abnormality. Makes it a Level 5 felony if a person knowingly or intentionally performs a sex selective abortion or an abortion because of a diagnosis of Down syndrome or other genetic abnormality. Provides for civil relief. Requires certain information to be provided by the parent or legal guardian of a minor pregnant woman when giving

Sponsor: Timothy Wesco

Highway funding and motor fuel taxation. Increases the amount of sales tax collections to be deposited in the motor vehicle highway account from 1% to 2%. Decreases the amount deposited in the state general fund by 1%. Indexes the gasoline and special fuel tax rates for inflation beginning in 2018.

Sponsor: Timothy Wesco

State payments in lieu of property taxes. Requires the state to make payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOT) for qualified parcels in counties in which not less than 15% of all land in the county is: (1) owned or leased by the state; and (2) subject to an exemption from property taxes. Defines a "qualified parcel" as a parcel that is: (1) owned or leased by the state; (2) subject to an exemption from property taxes; and (3) located in a county to which the act applies. Provides that a county containing qualified parcels is entitled to receive PILOTs

Sponsor: Lloyd Arnold

RITE program grants. Provides that the education roundtable, with approval by the state board of education, shall develop the rewarding innovation, technology, and excellence (RITE) program to award grants to school corporations whose schools have exhibited improvement toward benchmarks developed by the state board of education. Provides that a school corporation that applies for a grant under the RITE program must demonstrate how the school corporation's: (1) innovation; (2) use of technology; or (3) other efforts to achieve excellence; have led to improvement in meeting the benchmarks. Specifies that grants under the RITE program must be made from the state

Sponsor: Philip GiaQuinta

Public records requests for police video. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee during the 2015 legislative interim the topic of public records requests for police body camera video.

Sponsor: John Price

School transportation fund replacement grants. Provides a grant to school corporations that have their transportation fund levies reduced by more than 50% because of the application of circuit breaker credits. Specifies that the amount of a grant is equal to the amount of circuit breaker credits granted against the school corporation's transportation fund levy for the year. Appropriates from the state general fund the amounts necessary to make the grants.

Sponsor: Sue Errington

Redistricting commission. Establishes a redistricting commission (commission) to create, hold hearings on, take public comment about, and recommend plans to redraw general assembly districts and congressional districts. Requires the legislative services agency (agency) to provide staff and administrative services to the commission. Establishes standards to govern the commission and the agency in the creation of redistricting plans. Provides that if the Constitution of the State of Indiana does not require the general assembly to establish legislative districts, the commission's recommendations for legislative and congressional districts become the plans that define those districts. Provides that, if the Constitution so requires, the

Sponsor: Milo Smith

Sales tax refunds in disaster areas. Provides that a person who is the owner of a building that is located in a county declared a disaster area under federal law and that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster occurring after December 31, 2011, is entitled to a refund of the state sales and use tax paid on the purchase of building materials that: (1) are used to repair the building or to construct a new building to replace the damaged or destroyed building; and (2) are purchased after the occurrence of the disaster by the owner

Sponsor: Terry Goodin

County assessors. Provides that county assessors must attain the certification of a level three assessor-appraiser not more than one year after taking office rather than attaining the certification before taking office. Provides that the county assessor forfeits office if the county assessor fails to attain the certification of a level three assessor-appraiser in the time allowed.

Sponsor: Steven Stemler

Local voter initiative. Authorizes a county, city, or town to adopt an ordinance to permit the adoption of other ordinances or resolutions for the county, city, or town by a process initiated by voters of the county, city, or town.

Sponsor: Justin Moed

Superintendent compensation. Provides that a school corporation is not required to have a public hearing relating to a school superintendent's employment contract if the superintendent receives an annual salary increase that is not specified in the superintendent's contract for employment if the annual salary increase: (1) applies to all employees of the school corporation; and (2) is in an amount equal to or less than that received by the employees of the school corporation.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Hunting wildlife. Removes exotic mammals from the animals that may be propagated or offered for hunting at a shooting preserve. Makes it a Class C misdemeanor to: (1) engage in computer assisted remote hunting or provide or operate a computer assisted remote hunting facility; (2) use an unmanned aerial vehicle to search for, scout, locate, or detect wildlife as an aid to hunt or take wildlife; (3) release from confinement a wild mammal for the purpose of taking the wild mammal; or (4) offer for sale the taking of a wild mammal that is kept or confined on private property.

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Liquor sales. Allows the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) to issue a liquor dealer's permit only to a package liquor store. (Current law allows the commission to issue a liquor dealer's permit to a drug store or a package liquor store.) Provides that the holder of a liquor dealer's permit who: (1) held a liquor dealer's permit before July 1, 2015; and (2) is the proprietor of a drugstore who holds a license issued by the state board of pharmacy; may continue to hold the permit until the permit expires. Provides that the permit: (1) may not be renewed; and

Sponsor: Pete Miller

Public records requests for police video. Urges the legislative council to assign to a study committee during the 2015 legislative interim the topic of public records requests for police body camera video.

Sponsor: James Tomes

Levees. Provides that a county may pay the costs incurred by a committee in charge of a levee for maintenance or repairs on a levee and later be reimbursed through the assessment of the land benefited by the maintenance or repairs. (Current law requires that the county pay the costs of maintenance or repairs on a levee and later be reimbursed through the assessment of the land benefited by the maintenance or repairs.) Allows a committee in charge of a levee to raise the necessary money to pay the cost of maintenance or repairs on a levee.

Sponsor: Eric Bassler

Taxation of electronic cigarettes. Imposes a tax on electronic cigarettes at a rate of $0.0083 per milligram of nicotine per one milliliter of consumable product. Deposits the revenue from the tax in the state general fund.

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Indiana health exchange. Establishes the Indiana health exchange. Requires the commissioner of the department of insurance to design, implement, and administer the Indiana health exchange in accordance with federal law. Specifies certain exchange related requirements, including financial requirements and health plan certification requirements.

Sponsor: Karen Tallian

Tax deduction for Ohio River bridge tolls. Provides an income tax deduction to qualified individuals who pay tolls to cross certain Ohio River bridges. Provides that a qualified individual is an individual who resides in Clark County or Floyd County and incurs at least $100 in non-reimbursed toll expenses to cross the Ohio River bridges in Clark County or Floyd County. Provides that the amount of the tax deduction may not exceed the lesser of: (1) the amount of non-reimbursed tolls paid by the qualified individual during the taxable year; or (2) $500.

Sponsor: Ronald Grooms

Manure structure approval disclosure requirements. Provides that an application to the department of environmental management for approval of the construction or expansion of a satellite manure storage structure must include a disclosure statement providing certain information about each "responsible party" (each individual who is an applicant or an officer, director, or senior management official of an entity that is an applicant) about whom there has been an allegation of an act or omission constituting a material violation of state, federal, or foreign environmental law that presented a substantial endangerment to human health or the environment.

Sponsor: Jeff Raatz

Supplemental county levy; Lake County. Provides that the supplemental county property tax levy in Lake County that is distributed to school corporations in Lake County expires on July 1, 2018. Provides that a school corporation that receives a share of the supplemental county property tax levy in Lake County may not use the money for debt service or to pay for a capital project.

Sponsor: Rick Niemeyer

Renewable energy standards. Requires an electricity supplier to supply a certain percentage of its total electricity supply from renewable energy resources. Establishes the renewable energy resources fund to receive penalties paid by electricity suppliers that fail to supply electricity from renewable energy resources. Continuously appropriates money in the fund. Requires the utility regulatory commission to adopt guidelines to assist electricity suppliers that participated in the CEPS program in complying with the new renewable energy standards. Repeals IC 8-1-37 (voluntary clean energy portfolio standard (CEPS) program).

Sponsor: Mark Stoops

Threats and gun violence. Provides that a juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over an individual: (1) at least 14 years of age who carries a handgun without a license; or (2) who uses a firearm in the commission of an offense. Makes communicating a threat with the intent to cause the evacuation of school property or a hospital a Level 6 felony. (Under current law, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.) Adds unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon to the definition of "crime of violence". Provides that a person who uses a firearm to

Sponsor: James Merritt

Proof of financial responsibility. Amends requirements of the bureau of motor vehicles concerning requests for evidence of financial responsibility.

Sponsor: Curt Nisly

Driving while intoxicated and child endangerment. Provides that a court must order the installation of a certified ignition interlock device on a motor vehicle that is owned or expected to be operated by a person convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated while a passenger less than 18 years of age was present.

Sponsor: Dennis Kruse

Minority student teaching stipend. Provides that a minority student who participates in a school administration internship as part of the student's graduate degree program is eligible to receive a stipend from the student teaching stipend for minorities.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Property tax deductions for veterans and spouses. Authorizes the fiscal body of a county to adopt an ordinance to make the property tax deduction available under current law to World War I veterans available instead to veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict. Authorizes the fiscal body of a county to adopt an ordinance to provide a property tax deduction to the surviving spouses of veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict that is equivalent to the current property tax deduction for surviving spouses of World War I veterans. Provides

Sponsor: Charles Moseley

Employee's right to scheduled employment. Requires an employer to post a schedule of hours and days to be worked by certain employees not less than seven days prior to the first day that the employee is scheduled to work during that pay period. Requires an employer to pay an employee for not less than 1/2 of the unworked hours, as scheduled, if: (1) the employee is sent home or released from employment early on a scheduled day of employment; or (2) a scheduled shift of employment is terminated. Provides that an employer that fails to post a schedule or pay

Sponsor: Karen Tallian

Women's occupational opportunity. Adds to the state workforce innovation council an advisory member who possesses expertise in assisting women to obtain certain employment. Establishes equal pay certification for businesses contracting with state agencies. Requires the commissioner of workforce development to establish a women and high wage, high demand, nontraditional occupation grant program. Makes an appropriation.

Sponsor: Robin Shackleford

Land reclassification. Provides that if a taxpayer's land is classified as agricultural land at the time of the taxpayer's acquisition of the land, the land is presumed to be agricultural land as long as the taxpayer uses the land in the same manner as the person from whom the taxpayer acquired the land. Provides that agricultural land may not be reclassified as excess residential land without notice and, upon the request of a taxpayer, provides a hearing before the county property tax assessment board of appeals.

Sponsor: Michael Delph

Assessed value growth quotient for tax purposes. Provides that a county based assessed value growth quotient may be determined for each civil taxing unit. Provides that the assessed value growth quotient for a civil taxing unit is the lesser of: (1) the quotient determined using a six year average of statewide income growth (as current law provides); or (2) the quotient determined using a six year average of assessed value growth in the county in which the particular civil taxing unit is located. Makes conforming changes.

Sponsor: Brandt Hershman

Distribution of taxes based on tax levies. Provides that after 2015 if a distribution of excise taxes or local option income taxes to a taxing unit is based on the amount of a taxing unit's property tax levy, the calculation of the distribution is to be based on the amount of the taxing unit's property tax levy after subtracting any circuit breaker property tax credits that are provided to taxpayers of the taxing unit for property located in the taxing unit.

Sponsor: Rick Niemeyer

Protected taxes and school corporations. Makes permanent the fund allocation of property tax reductions resulting from the granting of property tax circuit breaker credits for some school corporations.

Sponsor: Timothy Lanane

Crimes of violence and surety bonds. Provides that if a person charged with a crime of violence is admitted to bail, the person: (1) shall be admitted to bail by executing a bail bond with sufficient solvent sureties, depositing cash or securities in an amount equal to the bail, executing a bond secured by certain real estate, or posting a real estate bond; and (2) may not be admitted to bail under the statute that allows admission to bail by executing a bail bond by depositing cash or securities in an amount not less than 10% of the bail.

Sponsor: James Merritt

Internet media. Prohibits a person doing business in Indiana as an Internet media service from entering into a contract with an individual who is less than 18 years of age. Provides for an individual who is damaged as a result of a violation to file a complaint with the attorney general. Specifies civil remedies for a violation.

Sponsor: Christopher Judy

National Guard scholarship awards. Maintains the appropriation for the National Guard tuition supplement program at the 2014-2015 state fiscal year level for the upcoming biennium.

Sponsor: Charles Moseley

Charity gaming operations. Allows an operator of or a worker at a charity gaming event (other than a full-time employee of the qualified organization conducting the event) to receive remuneration for conducting or assisting in conducting the event. Provides that meals, recognition dinners, and social events for operators and workers are permitted if they do not constitute an unreasonable expenditure in the conduct of an allowable event.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Property taxes. Permits the department of local government finance, with the approval of the attorney general, to waive all or part of the property taxes imposed on property owned by a: (1) nonprofit corporation organized for educational, literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purposes; or (2) nonprofit entity, other than a corporation, that is organized as a church or religious entity. Provides that certain requirements must be met before a taxpayer's property tax liability may be waived.

Sponsor: Vernon Smith

Recording of new lots. Provides that if an instrument dividing land requires issuance of a new tax identification number: (1) the county auditor may not endorse the instrument; and (2) the recorder may not record the instrument; unless the plan commission executes a written confirmation that the property division complies with local regulations concerning minimum lot frontage, width, and area, and with the subdivision and platting of land. Provides that the plan commission may not charge a fee for issuing a written confirmation. Requires the recorder to record the confirmation as an attachment to the instrument. Provides that these requirements

Sponsor: Rhonda Rhoads

Appropriation for recreational trail maintenance. Appropriates $2,000,000 from the state general fund for deposit in the recreational trail maintenance fund for distribution in the 2015-2017 biennium to defray the costs of maintaining recreational trails.

Sponsor: Gail Riecken

Use of SNAP benefits. Requires the division of family resources to establish a pilot program that allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used only for food and beverages that have sufficient nutritional value, as determined by the division of family resources.

Sponsor: Cindy Ziemke

State agency purchases. Requires a minimum of 35% of an executive branch state agency's annual nonpayroll expenditures to be made on purchases from Indiana businesses.

Sponsor: William Fine

Endangering an unborn child. Provides that a person who knows she is pregnant and knowingly or intentionally consumes a controlled substance commits endangering an unborn child, a Level 6 felony.

Sponsor: Michael Karickhoff

Licensing of electrical contractors. Establishes the electrical licensing board. Requires electrical contractors to be licensed. Establishes licensing requirements for electrical contractors. Adds references to electrical licensing to the laws that affect licensing boards.

Sponsor: Rick Niemeyer

Deduction for small business investor income. Provides an individual income tax deduction for small business investor income received from Indiana small businesses. Specifies that the amount of the deduction is equal to 50% of the total amount of small business investor income received in the taxable year by the individual, but not to exceed $62,500 (in the case of an individual who files a single return) or $125,000 (in the case of spouses who file a joint return). Provides that an individual may receive such a deduction for small business investor income from a particular Indiana small business for not

Sponsor: James Buck

School discipline. Requires charter schools and nonpublic schools that accept choice scholarships to adopt written discipline rules in the same manner as school corporations. Removes a good faith effort exception to the requirement of giving general publicity to the written discipline rules.

Sponsor: Greg Taylor

Utility easements. Defines "utility" for purposes of IC 14-18-10 (the law concerning utility easements) to include a communications service provider. Provides that the director of the department of natural resources may not impose a charge to issue a permit to erect or construct a utility line upon or across a public highway right-of-way that passes through state land.

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Ban on sale or use of coal tar pavement products. Prohibits the: (1) sale; and (2) application to pavement; of a coal tar pavement product (a tar formed from the distillation of bituminous coal) except as required for purposes of research on the effects of the coal tar pavement product on the environment.

Sponsor: David Niezgodski

Handgun training and reciprocity license. Provides that a person who: (1) is at least 21 years of age; and (2) successfully completes a handgun safety and training course that meets certain requirements; may have the superintendent of state police place an identifying symbol on the face of the person's four year Indiana handgun license that the person may refer to in attempting to qualify for a firearms reciprocity license issued by another state or a political subdivision of another state. Requires the superintendent of state police to retain a copy of the person's handgun safety and training course certificate of

Sponsor: Charles Burton

Farm winery sales. Allows a holder of a farm winery permit to sell and ship, by the bottle or by the case, not more than 5,000 gallons of wine that is priced at less than $301 per gallon during a permit year to a holder of a wine retailer's permit or a holder of a wine dealer's permit.

Sponsor: Eric Koch

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Provides that materials, compounds, mixtures, or preparations that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are schedule III controlled substances that may be dispensed only by prescription. Repeals: (1) the law allowing the dispensing of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine without a prescription subject to certain restrictions; and (2) provisions related to that law.

Sponsor: Susan Glick

Greenwood food and beverage tax. Authorizes the city of Greenwood to adopt a municipal food and beverage tax. Provides that the tax rate may not exceed 1%. Specifies the uses to which receipts from the food and beverage tax may be applied.

Sponsor: John Price

Interim study on private property rights. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on environmental affairs or another appropriate study committee for study during the 2015 legislative interim the topic of establishing a private property rights protection act in Indiana based on the Florida "Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act".

Sponsor: Doug Miller

Nontrustee fiduciaries. Defines certain categories of nontrustee fiduciaries. Specifies certain powers and duties of nontrustee fiduciaries with respect to the administration of trusts. Provides limitations on the liability that may be imposed upon nontrustee fiduciaries in the exercise of their powers and performance of their duties. Provides limitations on the liability that may be imposed on trustees with respect to their interaction with nontrustee fiduciaries. Specifies rules governing the choice of law with respect to nontrustee fiduciaries.

Sponsor: Rodric Bray

Distribution of local option income taxes. Requires the department of state revenue to track the amount of county income tax that is received from employers for county taxpayers through withholding for which an income tax return has not been filed. Provides for distributions to counties of income tax withholdings received that are not associated with an individual income tax return by the deadline for claiming a refund (two years).

Sponsor: Randall Head

Class 2 structure fire safety. Provides that for purposes of the building code, a Class 2 structure townhouse may be separated from an adjoining unit by a one hour fire-resistance rated wall combined with a National Fire Protection Association 13D compliant fire sprinkler system.

Sponsor: David Frizzell

Education standards. Removes the requirement that Indiana's educational standards must comply with federal standards necessary to receive a flexibility waiver under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Sponsor: Curt Nisly

Indiana transparency web site. Transfers, from the department of education to the department of local government finance, responsibilities that relate to posting certain school financial data on the Indiana transparency Internet web site. Makes conforming changes.

Sponsor: Cherrish Pryor

IURC approval of substitute natural gas contracts. Requires the Indiana finance authority (authority) to submit the following to the utility regulatory commission (commission) for approval: (1) A contract for the purchase of substitute natural gas (purchase contract). (2) An amendment to a purchase contract. (Current law requires the authority to submit the following to the commission for approval: (1) A purchase contract submitted before January 1, 2012, for approval and amendments. (2) A purchase contract entered into after December 31, 2012. (3) Amendments made at any time to any purchase contract. (4) Any other agreements between the authority and a

Sponsor: Mark Messmer

Medicare supplement for state employees. Requires the state department of personnel to make available to certain state employees a group Medicare supplement insurance policy. Requires the state to pay a percentage of the group Medicare supplement policy premium equal to the average percentage paid for self-insured health coverage for active employees.

Sponsor: Jean Leising