Department of correction. Amends and updates certain terms involving direct placement in a community corrections program. Updates the definition of "community corrections program". Specifies that a court may suspend any portion of a sentence and order a person to be placed in a community corrections program for the part of the sentence which must be executed. Provides that a person placed on a level of supervision as part of a community corrections program: (1) is entitled to earned good time credit; (2) may not earn educational credit; and (3) may be deprived of earned good time credit. Provides that when a person completes a placement program, the court may place the person on probation. Provides that a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony for an offense committed after June 30, 2022, to the department of correction (department), and that, consistent with current law, a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony for an offense committed before July 1, 2022, to the department only if certain circumstances exist. Establishes certain conditions of parole for a person on lifetime parole and makes the violation of parole conditions and commission of specified other acts by a person on lifetime parole a Level 6 felony, with an enhancement to a Level 5 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Provides that, for purposes of calculating accrued time and good time credit, a calendar day includes a partial calendar day. Makes conforming changes.

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

Parole. Specifies that a person placed on parole following a term of imprisonment that includes a sentence for a crime of violence may be released on parole for not more than 24 months. Provides that time served while confined to a prison or jail does not count toward time served on parole.

Veterinary medicine. Changes the name of the Indiana board of veterinary medical examiners to the Indiana board of veterinary medicine (board). Provides that the state veterinarian: (1) serves as the chief administrative officer of the board; (2) performs the duties delegated by the board to the state veterinarian; and (3) provides technical advice and assistance to the board. Establishes the Indiana center for animal policy (center) to facilitate the coordination of regulatory duties of the state board of animal health (BOAH) and the board. Provides that the state veterinarian is the chief administrative officer of the center and the BOAH. Requires that the BOAH (not the professional licensing agency) perform certain administrative functions for the board. Requires that the board and the division of consumer protection, office of the attorney general enter into a memorandum of understanding to share information concerning complaints and investigations against individuals regulated by the board. Allows the board to adopt emergency rules. Provides that the board, and the state veterinarian if authorized by the board, may subpoena witnesses and compel the production of certain documents as part of an investigation. Changes the name of the veterinary investigative fund to the veterinary medicine fund (fund). Makes various changes to the fund. Provides that the changes made by the bill do not apply until July 1, 2023. Provides for transition and makes conforming changes.

Protective orders. Provides that an order for protection issued ex parte or upon notice and a hearing, or a modification of an order for protection issued ex parte or upon notice and a hearing, is effective: (1) for two years after the date of issuance; or (2) indefinitely after the date of issuance if the respondent is a sex or violent offender and is required to register as a lifetime sex or violent offender and the petitioner was the victim of the crime that resulted in the requirement that the respondent register as a lifetime sex or violent offender. Requires a respondent who is subject to an indefinite order for protection to request a hearing in objection to the order of protection within 30 days of the order being issued. Allows any party to request a hearing on a two year order for protection at any time. Provides that a person may only request one judicial review hearing on a protection order.

Eligibility for senior property tax deduction. Increases the maximum assessed value of the real property from $200,000 to $300,000 to be eligible for the senior property tax deduction. Provides that the assessor shall provide a report to the county auditor describing any physical improvements to the property.

Student health. Requires the governing body of a school corporation or chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school system to authorize the absence and excuse of a student due to the student's mental or behavioral health concerns. Limits the number of excused absences for mental or behavioral health concerns, without documentation, to three instructional days in a school year. Allows a student to be excused for more than three instructional days if the student provides certain documentation. Requires that a school selected to participate in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behaviors Survey or a successor survey participate in the survey. Provides that the commission for higher education shall, before January 1, 2023, work with the statewide suicide prevention coordinator to develop a suicide prevention training for students at each state educational institution (institution). Requires each student at an institution, after July 1, 2023, to participate in the training in the student's first year at the institution. Requires each institution to collect and report certain information concerning suicide prevention to the statewide suicide prevention coordinator. Establishes a mental health and suicide prevention in higher education task force (task force). Provides that the task force shall create a statewide suicide prevention resource guide for institutions. Makes conforming changes.

Education matters. Defines "applicable school". Provides that a state agency, school corporation, or applicable school, or an employee of the state agency, school corporation, or applicable school acting in an official capacity, may not direct or otherwise compel students or a school employee to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to certain tenets relating to the individual's sex or race. Provides that a state agency, school corporation, or applicable school, or an employee of the state agency, school corporation, or applicable school acting in an official capacity, may not require an employee of the state agency, school corporation, or applicable school to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of racial or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of sex or race. Requires each school corporation or applicable school to adopt a policy to allow a taxpayer to observe classroom instruction at any time requested by the taxpayer. Requires, not later than July 30, 2022, and not later than June 30 each year thereafter, each applicable school to post on the applicable school's Internet web site, in a manner that is accessible by the public, certain information regarding learning materials and educational activities. Requires the department of education (department) to develop and post on the department's Internet web site a model plan for presenting the learning material or educational activity information. Establishes procedures for a petitioner to file a complaint form alleging certain violations occurred within a school corporation or applicable school. Provides that a petitioner may appeal a school corporation's or applicable school's findings to the department. Requires the department to appoint an administrative law judge to adjudicate appeals. Requires the department to issue a final order. Requires the attorney general or the attorney general's designee to review a school corporation's or applicable school's findings or the department's final order. Provides that the attorney general may assess civil penalties if the attorney general determines a violation occurred. Provides that a school corporation or applicable school may not take retaliatory action against a petitioner or an individual related to or associated with the petitioner. Repeals provisions requiring the department to develop the children's social, emotional, and behavioral health plan. Makes conforming amendments.

Adoption tax credit study and evaluation. Requires the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana to study and evaluate issues regarding the adoption tax credit, make findings and recommendations regarding the tax credit, including whether the credit amount needs to be increased, and submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the general assembly by November 1, 2022.

Youth employment. Specifies that certain state laws concerning the employment of minors do not prevent an employer from employing a minor who is at least 14 years of age as a farm laborer during school hours on a school day if particular requirements are met, including the submission of a statement from the minor's parent stating that the minor has withdrawn from school after completing grade 8 due to the parent's deeply held religious belief.

Interim study committee. Requests that the legislative council assign to the interim study committee on child services the topic of studying a requirement for and funding of court appointed attorneys in certain cases involving juveniles.

Waiver of penalties and interest. Provides that the fiscal body of a county may adopt an ordinance to establish a property tax amnesty program and require a waiver of interest and penalties added before January 1, 2022, on delinquent taxes and special assessments on real property in the county if: (1) all of the delinquent taxes and special assessments on the real property were first due and payable before January 1, 2022; and (2) before November 1, 2023, the taxpayer has paid all of these delinquent taxes and special assessments and has also paid all of the taxes and special assessments that are first due and payable after December 31, 2021. Requires the waiver of interest and penalties in these circumstances, notwithstanding any payment arrangement entered into by the county treasurer and the taxpayer. Provides that the waiver of interest and penalties under a program shall not apply to interest and penalties added to delinquent property tax installments or special assessments on real property that was purchased or sold in any prior tax sale.

Prior authorization for addiction treatment. Provides that Medicaid, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract may not require prior authorization for a non-opioid prescription drug that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Special death benefit. Requires the long term and short term disability plans for state employees to provide on a biweekly basis, after a seven day elimination period, 100% of qualified wages for a correctional officer employed by the department of correction who is disabled by injuries resulting from certain tortious acts. Requires the state personnel department to amend a section of the Indiana Administrative Code. Provides as follows beginning July 1, 2023: (1) Specifies the meaning of a death in the line of duty as it relates to a county coroner or deputy county coroner. (2) Adds county coroners and deputy county coroners to the list of: (A) public safety officers whose relative receives a special death benefit if the officer dies in the line of duty; and (B) employees who may qualify for a presumption of disability or death in the line of duty. (3) Adds county coroners and deputy county coroners to the list of designated Indiana first responders. Makes conforming technical corrections.

Township budget. Provides the following with regard to a township that fails to fix its budget, tax rate, and tax levy, or submit its estimated budget and other information to the department of local government finance's computer gateway: (1) The township's most recent annual tax levy continues for the ensuing budget year. (2) The township board must adopt and the township trustee must approve a resolution to continue the township's most recent annual appropriations for the ensuing budget year. (Current law provides that both levy and appropriations continue for the ensuing budget year without any action by the township board and trustee.) Provides that if a resolution is not adopted and approved, all appropriations during the ensuing budget year must be approved by the township board on a monthly basis.