Sec. 3. (a) The pilot program may be staffed by persons who are not public employees.

     (b) The department shall determine the compensation, duties, qualifications, and terms of service for persons employed by the pilot program as either employees or independent contractors.

     (c) Employees of the pilot program:

(1) are eligible for;

(2) must participate in; and

(3) must receive;

the benefits of the public employees retirement fund set forth under IC 5-10.2 and IC 5-10.3.

     (d) Employees of the pilot program may participate in:

(1) group insurance plans;

(2) the state employee deferred compensation plan; and

(3) any other benefit or plan made available to public employees.

     (e) Employees and independent contractors of the pilot program are:

(1) subject to the:

(A) jurisdiction; and

(B) rules;

of the state ethics commission; and

(2) subject to the ethics requirements and rules that ordinarily apply to executive branch members of state government.

     (f) The employees of the pilot program are immune from civil liability and all associated damages, including punitive damages, arising from or related to any work performed within the scope of the employee’s employment for the pilot project.

     (g) Subject to approval by the budget agency, employees of the pilot program are entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as described in IC 4-13-1-4 and any other expense that is actually incurred in connection with the employee’s duties.

     (h) The department shall develop employee and employment policies for the pilot program.

As added by P.L.147-2018, SEC.4.