IN
Indiana House Bill HB1220

Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HB1220 Compare Versions

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1+*EH1220.1*
2+March 21, 2025
3+ENGROSSED
4+HOUSE BILL No. 1220
5+_____
6+DIGEST OF HB 1220 (Updated March 19, 2025 2:04 pm - DI 140)
7+Citations Affected: IC 4-6; IC 32-34.
8+Synopsis: Office of the attorney general. Requires a teacher's
9+electronic mail address to be used for sending the annual summary of
10+a teacher's rights and protections. Removes the requirement that the
11+attorney general publish an annual newspaper notice regarding
12+unclaimed property held by the attorney general with a value of more
13+than $100.
14+Effective: July 1, 2025.
15+Karickhoff, Bascom, Bartlett,
16+Miller D
17+(SENATE SPONSORS — BUCK, BUSCH)
18+January 9, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Government and Regulatory
19+Reform.
20+February 3, 2025, reported — Do Pass.
21+February 6, 2025, read second time, ordered engrossed.
22+February 7, 2025, engrossed.
23+February 10, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 91, nays 0.
24+SENATE ACTION
25+February 20, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Public Policy.
26+March 20, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
27+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87 March 21, 2025
128 First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
229 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
330 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
431 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
532 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
633 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
734 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
835 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
936 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
1037 between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
11-HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1220
12-AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and
13-administration.
38+ENGROSSED
39+HOUSE BILL No. 1220
40+A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
41+offices and administration.
1442 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
15-SECTION 1. IC 4-6-2-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.184-2023,
16-SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
17-JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) Whenever any state governmental official
18-or employee, whether elected or appointed, is made a party to a suit,
19-and the attorney general determines that said suit has arisen out of an
20-act which such official or employee in good faith believed to be within
21-the scope of the official's or employee's duties as prescribed by statute
22-or duly adopted regulation, the attorney general shall defend such
23-person throughout such action.
24-(b) Whenever a teacher (as defined in IC 20-18-2-22) is made a
25-party to a civil suit, and the attorney general determines that the suit
26-has arisen out of an act that the teacher in good faith believed was
27-within the scope of the teacher's duties in enforcing discipline policies
28-developed under IC 20-33-8-12, the attorney general shall defend the
29-teacher throughout the action.
30-(c) Not later than July 30 of each year, the attorney general, in
31-consultation with the Indiana education employment relations board
32-established in IC 20-29-3-1, shall draft and disseminate a letter by first
33-class electronic mail to the residence listed electronic mail address
34-of teachers providing a summary of the teacher's rights and protections
35-under state and federal law, including a teacher's rights and protections
36-HEA 1220 2
37-relating to the teacher's performance evaluation under IC 20-28-11.5.
38-(d) The department of education, in consultation with the Indiana
39-education employment relations board, shall develop a method to
40-provide the attorney general with the names and electronic mail
41-addresses of active teachers in Indiana in order for the attorney general
42-to disseminate the letter described in subsection (c). Names and
43-electronic mail addresses collected and provided to the attorney
44-general under this subsection are confidential and excepted from public
45-disclosure as provided in IC 5-14-3-4.
46-(e) Whenever a school corporation (as defined in IC 20-26-2-4) is
47-made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the
48-suit has arisen out of an act authorized under IC 20-30-5-0.5 or
49-IC 20-30-5-4.5, the attorney general shall defend the school corporation
50-throughout the action.
51-(f) As used in this subsection, "bridge authority" refers to the New
52-Harmony and Wabash River bridge authority established by
53-IC 8-16-15.5-2. Whenever:
54-(1) the bridge authority;
55-(2) a member of the bridge authority;
56-(3) an officer of the bridge authority; or
57-(4) an employee of the bridge authority;
58-is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that
59-the suit has arisen out of an act or omission of any person described in
60-subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4), that is authorized or required under
61-IC 8-16-15.5 or any other law, the attorney general shall defend that
62-person throughout the action.
63-(g) A determination by the attorney general under subsection (a),
64-(b), (e), or (f) shall not be admitted as evidence in the trial of any such
65-civil action for damages.
66-(h) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to deprive any such
67-person of the person's right to select counsel of the person's own choice
68-at the person's own expense.
69-SECTION 2. IC 32-34-1.5-25, AS ADDED BY P.L.141-2021,
70-SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
71-JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 25. (a) The attorney general shall give notice to an
72-apparent owner that property presumed abandoned and appearing to be
73-owned by the apparent owner is held by the attorney general under this
74-chapter by
75-(1) publishing once per year in at least one (1) newspaper of
76-general circulation to each county of the state notice of property
77-with a value greater than one hundred dollars ($100) held by the
78-attorney general, which must include:
79-HEA 1220 3
80-(A) the name of each apparent owner residing in the county, as
81-set forth in the report filed by the holder;
82-(B) the last known address or location of each apparent owner
83-residing in the county, if an address or a location is set forth in
84-the report filed by the holder;
85-(C) a statement explaining that the property of the apparent
86-owner is presumed abandoned and has been taken into the
87-protective custody of the attorney general;
88-(D) a statement that information about the abandoned property
89-and its return to the apparent owner is available from the
90-attorney general to a person having a legal or beneficial
91-interest in the property;
92-(E) the web address of the unclaimed property Internet web
93-site maintained by the attorney general;
94-(F) a telephone number and electronic mail address to contact
95-the attorney general to inquire about or claim property; and
96-(G) a statement that a person may access the Internet by a
97-computer to search for unclaimed property and a computer
98-may be available as a service to the public at a local public
99-library; and
100-(2) maintaining an Internet web site a website or data base
101-accessible by the public and electronically searchable which
102-contains the names reported to the attorney general of all apparent
103-owners for whom property valued at ten dollars ($10) or more is
104-being held by the attorney general.
105-(b) The Internet web site website or data base maintained under
106-subsection (a)(2) (a) must include instructions for filing with the
107-attorney general a claim to property and a printable claim form with
108-instructions for its use.
109-(c) In addition to publishing the information under subsection (a)(1)
110-and maintaining the Internet web site website or data base under
111-subsection (a)(2), (a), the attorney general may use other printed
112-publication, telecommunication, the Internet, or other media to inform
113-the public of the existence of unclaimed property held by the attorney
114-general.
115-SECTION 3. IC 32-34-1.5-79, AS ADDED BY P.L.141-2021,
116-SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
117-JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 79. (a) When reasonably necessary to enforce or
118-implement this chapter, the attorney general may disclose confidential
119-information concerning property held by the attorney general or the
120-attorney general's agent only to:
121-(1) an apparent owner or the apparent owner's personal
122-HEA 1220 4
123-representative, attorney, other legal representative, relative, or
124-agent designated under section 76 of this chapter to have the
125-information;
126-(2) the personal representative, other legal representative, relative
127-of a deceased apparent owner, agent designated under section 76
128-of this chapter by the deceased apparent owner, or a person
129-entitled to inherit from the deceased apparent owner;
130-(3) another department or agency of this state or the United
131-States;
132-(4) the person that administers the unclaimed property law of
133-another state, if the other state accords substantially reciprocal
134-privileges to the attorney general of this state if the other state is
135-required to maintain the confidentiality and security of
136-information obtained in a manner substantially equivalent to
137-sections 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84 of this chapter; and
138-(5) a person subject to an examination under section 55(6) of this
139-chapter.
140-(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 78(a) of this chapter, the
141-attorney general shall include on the Internet web site website or in the
142-data base required by section 25(a)(2) 25(a) of this chapter the name
143-of each apparent owner of property held by the attorney general. The
144-attorney general may include in published notices, printed publications,
145-telecommunications, the Internet, or other media and on the Internet
146-web site website or in the data base additional information concerning
147-the apparent owner's property if the attorney general believes the
148-information will assist in identifying and returning property to the
149-owner and does not disclose personal information except the home or
150-physical address of an apparent owner.
151-(c) The attorney general and the attorney general's agent may not
152-use confidential information provided to them or in their possession
153-except as expressly authorized by this chapter or required by another
154-law of this state.
155-HEA 1220 Speaker of the House of Representatives
156-President of the Senate
157-President Pro Tempore
158-Governor of the State of Indiana
159-Date: Time:
160-HEA 1220
43+1 SECTION 1. IC 4-6-2-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.184-2023,
44+2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
45+3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) Whenever any state governmental official
46+4 or employee, whether elected or appointed, is made a party to a suit,
47+5 and the attorney general determines that said suit has arisen out of an
48+6 act which such official or employee in good faith believed to be within
49+7 the scope of the official's or employee's duties as prescribed by statute
50+8 or duly adopted regulation, the attorney general shall defend such
51+9 person throughout such action.
52+10 (b) Whenever a teacher (as defined in IC 20-18-2-22) is made a
53+11 party to a civil suit, and the attorney general determines that the suit
54+12 has arisen out of an act that the teacher in good faith believed was
55+13 within the scope of the teacher's duties in enforcing discipline policies
56+14 developed under IC 20-33-8-12, the attorney general shall defend the
57+15 teacher throughout the action.
58+16 (c) Not later than July 30 of each year, the attorney general, in
59+17 consultation with the Indiana education employment relations board
60+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87 2
61+1 established in IC 20-29-3-1, shall draft and disseminate a letter by first
62+2 class electronic mail to the residence listed electronic mail address
63+3 of teachers providing a summary of the teacher's rights and protections
64+4 under state and federal law, including a teacher's rights and protections
65+5 relating to the teacher's performance evaluation under IC 20-28-11.5.
66+6 (d) The department of education, in consultation with the Indiana
67+7 education employment relations board, shall develop a method to
68+8 provide the attorney general with the names and electronic mail
69+9 addresses of active teachers in Indiana in order for the attorney general
70+10 to disseminate the letter described in subsection (c). Names and
71+11 electronic mail addresses collected and provided to the attorney
72+12 general under this subsection are confidential and excepted from public
73+13 disclosure as provided in IC 5-14-3-4.
74+14 (e) Whenever a school corporation (as defined in IC 20-26-2-4) is
75+15 made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the
76+16 suit has arisen out of an act authorized under IC 20-30-5-0.5 or
77+17 IC 20-30-5-4.5, the attorney general shall defend the school corporation
78+18 throughout the action.
79+19 (f) As used in this subsection, "bridge authority" refers to the New
80+20 Harmony and Wabash River bridge authority established by
81+21 IC 8-16-15.5-2. Whenever:
82+22 (1) the bridge authority;
83+23 (2) a member of the bridge authority;
84+24 (3) an officer of the bridge authority; or
85+25 (4) an employee of the bridge authority;
86+26 is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that
87+27 the suit has arisen out of an act or omission of any person described in
88+28 subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4), that is authorized or required under
89+29 IC 8-16-15.5 or any other law, the attorney general shall defend that
90+30 person throughout the action.
91+31 (g) A determination by the attorney general under subsection (a),
92+32 (b), (e), or (f) shall not be admitted as evidence in the trial of any such
93+33 civil action for damages.
94+34 (h) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to deprive any such
95+35 person of the person's right to select counsel of the person's own choice
96+36 at the person's own expense.
97+37 SECTION 2. IC 32-34-1.5-25, AS ADDED BY P.L.141-2021,
98+38 SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
99+39 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 25. (a) The attorney general shall give notice to an
100+40 apparent owner that property presumed abandoned and appearing to be
101+41 owned by the apparent owner is held by the attorney general under this
102+42 chapter by
103+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87 3
104+1 (1) publishing once per year in at least one (1) newspaper of
105+2 general circulation to each county of the state notice of property
106+3 with a value greater than one hundred dollars ($100) held by the
107+4 attorney general, which must include:
108+5 (A) the name of each apparent owner residing in the county, as
109+6 set forth in the report filed by the holder;
110+7 (B) the last known address or location of each apparent owner
111+8 residing in the county, if an address or a location is set forth in
112+9 the report filed by the holder;
113+10 (C) a statement explaining that the property of the apparent
114+11 owner is presumed abandoned and has been taken into the
115+12 protective custody of the attorney general;
116+13 (D) a statement that information about the abandoned property
117+14 and its return to the apparent owner is available from the
118+15 attorney general to a person having a legal or beneficial
119+16 interest in the property;
120+17 (E) the web address of the unclaimed property Internet web
121+18 site maintained by the attorney general;
122+19 (F) a telephone number and electronic mail address to contact
123+20 the attorney general to inquire about or claim property; and
124+21 (G) a statement that a person may access the Internet by a
125+22 computer to search for unclaimed property and a computer
126+23 may be available as a service to the public at a local public
127+24 library; and
128+25 (2) maintaining an Internet web site a website or data base
129+26 accessible by the public and electronically searchable which
130+27 contains the names reported to the attorney general of all apparent
131+28 owners for whom property valued at ten dollars ($10) or more is
132+29 being held by the attorney general.
133+30 (b) The Internet web site website or data base maintained under
134+31 subsection (a)(2) (a) must include instructions for filing with the
135+32 attorney general a claim to property and a printable claim form with
136+33 instructions for its use.
137+34 (c) In addition to publishing the information under subsection (a)(1)
138+35 and maintaining the Internet web site website or data base under
139+36 subsection (a)(2), (a), the attorney general may use other printed
140+37 publication, telecommunication, the Internet, or other media to inform
141+38 the public of the existence of unclaimed property held by the attorney
142+39 general.
143+40 SECTION 3. IC 32-34-1.5-79, AS ADDED BY P.L.141-2021,
144+41 SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
145+42 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 79. (a) When reasonably necessary to enforce or
146+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87 4
147+1 implement this chapter, the attorney general may disclose confidential
148+2 information concerning property held by the attorney general or the
149+3 attorney general's agent only to:
150+4 (1) an apparent owner or the apparent owner's personal
151+5 representative, attorney, other legal representative, relative, or
152+6 agent designated under section 76 of this chapter to have the
153+7 information;
154+8 (2) the personal representative, other legal representative, relative
155+9 of a deceased apparent owner, agent designated under section 76
156+10 of this chapter by the deceased apparent owner, or a person
157+11 entitled to inherit from the deceased apparent owner;
158+12 (3) another department or agency of this state or the United
159+13 States;
160+14 (4) the person that administers the unclaimed property law of
161+15 another state, if the other state accords substantially reciprocal
162+16 privileges to the attorney general of this state if the other state is
163+17 required to maintain the confidentiality and security of
164+18 information obtained in a manner substantially equivalent to
165+19 sections 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84 of this chapter; and
166+20 (5) a person subject to an examination under section 55(6) of this
167+21 chapter.
168+22 (b) Except as otherwise provided in section 78(a) of this chapter, the
169+23 attorney general shall include on the Internet web site website or in the
170+24 data base required by section 25(a)(2) 25(a) of this chapter the name
171+25 of each apparent owner of property held by the attorney general. The
172+26 attorney general may include in published notices, printed publications,
173+27 telecommunications, the Internet, or other media and on the Internet
174+28 web site website or in the data base additional information concerning
175+29 the apparent owner's property if the attorney general believes the
176+30 information will assist in identifying and returning property to the
177+31 owner and does not disclose personal information except the home or
178+32 physical address of an apparent owner.
179+33 (c) The attorney general and the attorney general's agent may not
180+34 use confidential information provided to them or in their possession
181+35 except as expressly authorized by this chapter or required by another
182+36 law of this state.
183+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87 5
184+COMMITTEE REPORT
185+Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Government and Regulatory
186+Reform, to which was referred House Bill 1220, has had the same
187+under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
188+House with the recommendation that said bill do pass.
189+(Reference is to HB 1220 as introduced.)
190+MILLER D
191+Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0
192+_____
193+COMMITTEE REPORT
194+Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Public Policy, to which
195+was referred House Bill No. 1220, has had the same under
196+consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
197+the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
198+ (Reference is to HB 1220 as printed February 3, 2025.)
199+
200+ALTING, Chairperson
201+Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0
202+EH 1220—LS 6844/DI 87