INDIANA — Several laws passed earlier this year will take effect beginning July 1. Those laws include:
• Pharmacists will be allowed to prescribe birth control pills, rings, or patches for adults up to one year. The pharmacist will have to complete more training, and will be required to provide patients with self-screening assessments. They will also have to refer them to a primary care provider for follow-up care.
• There will be a 25 foot buffer zone around public safety officers conducting official duties. Anyone crossing the line could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. This buffer zone has no exceptions, including for media.
• Gas taxes will increase from 34 cents a gallon to 35 cents.
• The Indiana Dept. of Transportation will be able to use cameras to ticket people speeding in construction zones. Drivers going over 11 mph over the speed limit in an active work zone may be ticketed. The first violation will only be a warning, with fines increasing with each incident.
• Legislation will take effect that would fund firearms training for teachers who choose to carry a handgun, and covers the cost of counseling of students and teachers in a shooting incident.
• Community members will be able to request the removal of school library books deemed “obscene” or “harmful to minors.”
• Human sexuality instruction is banned in schools before 4th grade.
• Parents will need to be notified if a student wants to change their personal pronouns in school.