HB 1174

                                                           Introduced Version
          HOUSE BILL No. 1174
                _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 12-9-5-3; IC 36-8-29.
Synopsis: Project Lifesaver program requirement for counties.
Requires each county to establish and maintain a Project Lifesaver
program. Tasks the division of disability and rehabilitative services
with ensuring compliance, and requires the division to report to the
general assembly.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                     Pfaff, Andrade
   January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
2026  IN 1174—LS 6655/DI 116
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
   Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1174
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
 government.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 12-9-5-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.74-2022,
2 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3. The division shall administer the following
4 programs:
5      (1) Programs established under any of the following statutes:
6(A) This article.
7(B) IC 12-11.
8(C) IC 12-12.
9(D) IC 12-12.7.
10      (2) Programs under the following statutes, to the extent the
11      division has responsibilities for programs under those statutes:
12(A) IC 12-24.
13(B) IC 12-26.
14(C) IC 12-27.
15(D) IC 12-28.
16(E) IC 12-29.
17(F) IC 36-8-29.
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                                  2
1      (3) Supported employment for a person with developmental
2      disabilities.
3      (4) Epilepsy service centers program.
4      (5) Epilepsy clinic program.
5      (6) Medicaid waivers for in-home services for treatment of
6      developmental disabilities.
7    SECTION 2. IC 36-8-29 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
8 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
9 1, 2026]:
10    Chapter 29. Project Lifesaver Program
11    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "Project Lifesaver" means the
12 community based, public safety, nonprofit organization that
13 provides:
14      (1) law enforcement agencies;
15      (2) fire and rescue agencies; and
16      (3) caregivers;
17 with a program designed to protect and locate an individual with
18 a cognitive disorder who is prone to wandering behavior.
19    Sec. 2. Not later than January 1, 2027, a county shall establish
20 and maintain its own Project Lifesaver program.
21    Sec. 3. The county fiscal body of a county shall appropriate and
22 approve the money necessary for the county to comply with this
23 chapter.
24    Sec. 4. (a) The division of disability and rehabilitative services
25 shall ensure that a county complies with this chapter.
26    (b) The division of disability and rehabilitative services shall
27 report, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, county compliance
28 to the general assembly not later than March 1, 2027.
29    (c) The division of disability and rehabilitative services may
30 adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to carry out this chapter.
 2026  IN 1174—LS 6655/DI 116