Sen. Jon Ford

Modifies the date associated with references in the election code to a federal statute or regulation. Removes and updates obsolete date references from Indiana election law. Specifies additional requirements for a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors. Modifies the day of the week that presidential electors must assemble to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Provides that the amount of foster care support tax credits allowed may not exceed $2,000,000 in each calendar year beginning after December 31, 2023, and ending before January 1, 2028. Requires the department of state revenue (department) to post certain information regarding the: (1) application for the tax credit; (2) timeline for receiving the tax credit; and (3) total amount of tax credits awarded during the current calendar year; on the department's website. Makes various changes to the process to apply for the tax credit. Provides that money in the insuring foster youth trust fund (fund) at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund. Provides that the fund's administrative expenses may not exceed 10% of the amounts deposited into the fund. Provides, in addition to inpatients of state or federally owned or operated hospitals or institutions and their supervisors, that the department of natural resources (DNR) may not charge an admission fee to foster families who reside together in the same licensed foster family home, or other certain foster youth, for the use of any property owned or managed by the DNR for purposes of the statutes concerning state parks and recreation areas. Requires the department of child services to make available a list provided by the Insurance Institute of Indiana that identifies insurers that may provide automobile insurance coverage for a minor without a guardian cosigner. Requires the Indiana assigned risk automobile insurance plan, subject to the rules of the plan, to make automobile insurance available to a foster youth who is between 16 and 23 years of age and is receiving services from the department of child services. Provides that a state or local government agency, a foster parent, or an entity providing services shall not be liable for any damages resulting from a foster youth's operation of an automobile owned and insured by the foster youth.

Amends the statute prohibiting the use of public funds to purchase equipment or services produced or provided by certain prohibited persons determined to be a national security threat to communications networks or supply chains to also prohibit the use of public funds to purchase communications equipment or service that is: (1) determined under specified federal regulations to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons; and (2) included on the covered list published, maintained, and updated by the federal Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau on the website of the Federal Communications Commission. Provides that the governor may, at any time, and in consultation with the executive director of the department of homeland security, designate a country as a threat to certain critical infrastructure located in Indiana. Provides that after June 30, 2023, a specified qualified entity may not enter into an agreement relating to critical infrastructure with a company if: (1) under the agreement, the company would be able to directly or remotely access or control of a critical infrastructure or a cybersecurity system of a critical infrastructure; and (2) the company is: (A) owned or controlled by citizens of (or a company or entity owned or controlled by citizens or the government of) China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or a country designated as a threat to critical infrastructure by the governor; or (B) headquartered in China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or a country designated as a threat to critical infrastructure by the governor. Provides that after June 30, 2023, a prohibited person may not purchase, lease, or acquire a parcel of real property that is directly adjacent to a military installation. Provides that the attorney general may investigate the purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property upon receipt of a complaint. Provides that the attorney general shall enforce a violation by commencing a receivership proceeding and selling the property through the receivership.

Provides that an agency of the state or a political subdivision may not provide an individual with an application for an absentee ballot unless requested by the individual or a member of the individual's family. Provides that an absentee ballot application must request that the applicant include: (1) certain identification numbers; or (2) a photocopy of: (A) the applicant's Indiana driver's license, (B) the applicant's Indiana identification card number for nondrivers, or (C) other specified proof of identification. Provides that the application form must state that an applicant may include only one of the identification numbers or one of the documents, but the application may be delayed if the county election board cannot match at least one of the numbers with the voter's registration record. Allows an individual to provide, for purposes of accessing an absentee ballot application submitted in an electronic format: (1) the individual's Indiana identification card number for nondrivers; or (2) the unique identifying number assigned to the voter's registration record in the computerized list; as an alternative to the options available under current law. (Current law requires the provision of the individual's Indiana driver's license number or the last four digits of the individual's Social Security number.) Specifies that certain information and documentation is confidential. Specifies when a county voter registration office is required to redact particular confidential information. Requires a county election board to implement specified procedures if the county election board cannot match at least one of the numbers with the voter's registration record. Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (BMV) to provide particular information each day to the secretary of state (secretary) and the election division. Requires the secretary and the election division to provide specified information to each county voter registration office. Specifies that if certain information provided by the BMV is not a part of the voter's registration record, the county voter registration office shall update the voter's registration record to include this information. Requires a circuit court clerk or director of a board of elections and registration (clerk) to transmit certain information to an applicant who submits an application to receive an absentee ballot by mail if the application does not fully comply with particular laws. Specifies a process by which a clerk may: (1) deliver a second absentee ballot application; (2) approve a second absentee ballot application; and (3) provide an absentee ballot; to a voter who timely submits a defective application to receive an absentee ballot. Provides that a voter who receives an absentee ballot under certain provisions may return the voted ballot: (1) in person to the absentee voter board; or (2) to the county election board; before the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots. Requires uniform application if a clerk uses this provision. Makes conforming changes.

Requires the Indiana department of transportation (department) to establish the worksite speed control pilot program (pilot program) for the purpose of enforcing worksite speed limits. Requires that the department: (1) work with the state police department to administer the pilot program; and (2) enter into an agreement with the state police department to share information regarding the pilot program. Permits the department to contract with a third party vendor to assist in implementing the pilot program. Provides that an individual who is recorded by a worksite speed control system may not be assessed a civil penalty unless the violation is at least 11 miles per hour above the established worksite speed limit. Replaces the term "work zone" with "worksite" throughout the relevant statutes.

Defines the term "professional sports team foundation" for purposes of the charity gaming law. Specifies that a professional sports team foundation is a qualified organization. Specifies that qualified organizations may conduct unlicensed allowable events at facilities leased or owned by the capital improvement board of managers of Marion County (CIB). (Current law allows qualified organizations to conduct charity gaming events without a license if the value of all prizes awarded is less than $2,500 for a single event and $7,500 for all unlicensed events conducted during a calendar year.) Authorizes payment by credit card for a chance to enter: (1) a raffle or water race at an allowable event conducted by a qualified organization; and (2) an allowable event conducted at a facility leased or owned by the CIB.

Defines the term "pore space". Corrects a spelling error in the address of the carbon sequestration pilot project (pilot project). Provides that the pilot project will construct, operate, or use not more than two (2) carbon dioxide pipelines and will maintain operations only in Vigo and Vermillion counties. Requires the director of the department of natural resources to designate the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project not more than 30 days after the Class VI well permit authorizing the operation of carbon dioxide injection wells at the site of the pilot project is issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that, for purposes of the pilot project, the title to pore space is vested in the person who holds in fee simple the surface interest in the land or water, as identified by the property records of the county, except in case of an explicit conveyance, exception, or reservation through a recorded conveyance to another person. Requires the pilot project operator, before the anticipated migration of injected carbon dioxide into pore space to notify the person who owns the pore space in fee simple of the anticipated migration of the carbon dioxide. Requires the carbon sequestration pilot project operator to make an offer of compensation to a pore space owner to provide that the offer of compensation must be at least a yearly payment of 40% of the average estimated cash rent per acre for the area of Indiana and the class of land, according to the Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey Results published by Purdue University most recently before the offer of compensation is made, every year until the cessation of injection of carbon dioxide. Provides that a person who claims ownership of pore space may initiate non-binding mediation of the dispute with the pilot project operator concerning the pore space. Establishes a procedure for mediation and allows the pilot project operator to consolidate multiple requests for mediation into one or more mediation proceedings. Provides that if a person who claims ownership of pore space is unable to reach an agreement with the pilot project operator concerning the acquisition, lease, or occupancy of the pore space through negotiation or mediation, the person may pursue a civil action against the pilot project operator. Provides that, generally, in a civil action against the pilot project operator, the court may not grant injunctive relief, an order of possession, or monetary relief that exceeds the fair market value of pore space in Indiana. Provides, however, that these limits on monetary recovery do not apply in case of direct and tangible physical injury or damage to a person, tangible property, or an animal or in case of an effect of the pilot project on the sources of the public water supply used by a public utility. Provides that the code section authorizing the establishment of the carbon sequestration pilot project expires July 1, 2028, if the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project is not issued a Class VI permit by the United States Environmental Protection Agency by that date.

Requires the division of family resources of the family and social services administration (division) to develop and implement simplified requirements by which an individual who: (1) is 60 years of age or older or a person with a disability; and (2) resides in a household every resident of which is 60 years of age or older or a person with a disability (eligible individual); may certify or recertify the individual's eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the simplified requirements must allow an eligible individual who certifies or recertifies the individual's eligibility to receive SNAP benefits under the simplified requirements to remain eligible for SNAP benefits for 36 months after the certification or recertification. Requires the division to use data matching to provide SNAP eligibility information to eligible individuals who are receiving Medicaid benefits and are eligible for SNAP benefits.

Amends the law requiring a health plan operator to fairly negotiate rates and terms with any ambulance service provider willing to become a participating provider with respect to the operator's health plan. Provides that, if negotiations between an ambulance service provider and a health plan operator that occur after June 30, 2022, do not result in the ambulance service provider becoming a participating provider with respect to the health plan, each party, beginning May 1, 2023, is required to provide to the department of insurance (department) a written notice: (1) reporting the unsuccessful conclusion of the negotiations; and (2) stating the points that were discussed in the negotiations but on which agreement was not reached. Requires the department, not later than May 1, 2024, to submit to the legislative council and the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services a report summarizing the written notices that the department has received from ambulance service providers and health plan operators.

Requires that contractors on a public works project meet certain standards relating to the welding of structural steel.