The Arc of Indiana 2007 Legislative Wrap-Up

HB1001 State budget. (Crawford, R. Meeks)

Specifies a school funding formula. Requires a study of the efficiency and effectiveness of charter schools, requires a coordination of benefits study, establishes the sentencing policy committee, establishes the school of public health, and establishes the commission on disproportionality in youth services. Provides a review procedure for state university tuition increases. Provides for the funding of the department of insurance from fees. Repays delayed payments to political subdivisions and universities. Requires the state to reimburse a county for trial costs related to certain remanded cases. Increases the distribution of sales tax revenue to mass transit purposes. Makes changes concerning double up and fast track college credit programs. Extends the court fee uses to fund a court computerization program. Approves bonding for capital projects. Extends the period in which pension bonds may be repaid. Requires review of certain private contracts. Authorizes additional courts and magistrates. Establishes the spinal cord and brain injury trust fund. Indicates that money in certain student loan funds remains available for expenditure after the year in which the money is appropriated. Increases the tobacco products tax to provide an additional distribution to the affordable housing trust and community development fund. Permits a convention hotel to be included in an allocation area. Changes references from vocational education to career and technical education. Exempts election workers from social security withholding. Extends the pension relief fund. Expands the uses of the postwar construction fund. Designates the use of a recovery from United Airlines. Makes changes in certain salary matrices. Makes changes in the Orange County riverboat and historic hotel district preservation law. Makes conforming changes to conflicting versions of the bad debt sales tax deduction. Terminates a property tax investment deduction. Provides a tax exemption for certain activities related to the conduct of a Super Bowl in Indiana. Updates references to the Internal Revenue Code. Creates a prekindergarten pilot program. Provides for a refund of property taxes paid for a homestead in 2007 and an additional homestead credit in 2008. Provides for the change of a riverboat redevelopment agreement in East Chicago. Provides a salary matrix for state, conservation, and excise police. Makes other changes.

HB 1001 -- Special Items for People with Developmental Disabilities

The Budget includes $1 million for a new line item appropriation for an Endangered Adult Guardianship Program which will allow for 6 pilot programs, including Lake County and St. Joseph County.  This money will help people with developmental disabilities receive guardianship services in the community.

The budget does include money for 5% Medicaid growth.  Included in the Medicaid portion of the budget is language that reflects the savings from the closure of Fort Wayne State Developmental Center is to be used for services in the community.

The Budget includes $102,467,677.00 each year of the biennium for residential services for people with developmental disabilities.  In addition, $22.3 million is appropriated from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Fund for residential services each of the two years.  Included in this area of the budget is language that reflects the savings from the closure of Silvercrest Children’s Development Center to be used for community services. 
Also included is $12.5 million for Day services each year and just under $7 million for case management services.

Best Buddies received an appropriation of $500,000 over the biennium; CHOICE received a slight bump in their appropriation but the state will now be able to utilize more of that money for match money for the Aged and Disabled Waiver program.  ATTAIN continues to receive their appropriation of $333,000.  The Centers for Independent Living received an additional appropriation this year of approximately $2.5 million.
 
The Governor signed the budget bill just minutes after its passage on Sunday, April 29.

HB1027 Minimum wage. (Day, Bray)

Ties the amount of Indiana's minimum hourly wage to the federal minimum wage. Increases from $800 to $6,000 the amount of the maximum wage claim for which the commissioner of the department of labor may take an assignment. 

Signed by the Governor. 

HB1220 Adult protective services. (Hoy, Miller)

Requires the division of aging (division) to provide coverage for (instead of contracting for) specified adult protective services. Permits the division to contract with a prosecuting attorney to perform specified adult protective services, and permits a prosecuting attorney under contract with the division to provide specified services in certain other counties.
 
Signed by the Governor. 

HB1264 Guardian ad litem and CASA funding. (Avery, Dillon)

Provides that the division of state court administration will determine the number of children in need of services cases in each county to determine funding for guardian ad litem and court appointed special advocate programs.  

Signed by the Governor.
 
HB1428 Autism and Asperger's training for school personnel. (Hoy, Lubbers)

Requires every school corporation police officer or regular or special police officer assigned to a school to complete training on autism and Asperger's syndrome. Allows a governing body to adjourn its schools to allow teachers, school administrators, and paraprofessionals to participate in a basic or inservice course of education and training on autism. 

Signed by the Governor

HB1429 Attorney's fees in Medicaid lien collection cases. (Ulmer, Steele)

Increases the amount of attorney's fees required to be paid by the office of Medicaid policy and planning in Medicaid lien collection cases involving the recovery from an insurer or a person who injured a Medicaid recipient. Specifies that the increased attorney's fee provisions do not apply to certain liens placed on a Medicaid recipient's real property. Authorizes the office of Medicaid policy and planning to contract with an attorney to obtain or enforce certain liens placed on a Medicaid recipient's real property and caps attorney's fees in these cases.
 
Awaiting Governor’s Signature.

HB1437 Forensic diversion and criminal gangs. (Foley, Bray)

Imposes additional requirements for a person to participate in a pre-conviction or post-conviction forensic diversion program. Provides that a person who has both a mental illness and an addictive disorder may participate in a forensic diversion program. (Current law allows a person who has a mental illness or an addictive disorder to participate.) Permits a court to allow a person by a prosecuting attorney's office or pretrial services bureau to utilize the facilities or programs offered by an alcohol and drug services program. Changes the definition of "criminal gang", for purposes of certain criminal statutes, to provide that a criminal gang consists of at least three members (instead of five members). Makes it a Class D felony for an individual to solicit, recruit, entice, or intimidate another individual to join a criminal gang. Makes criminal gang recruitment a Class C felony if: (1) the solicitation, recruitment, enticement, or intimidation to join a criminal gang occurs within 1,000 feet of school property; or (2) the individual being solicited, recruited, enticed, or intimidated to join a criminal gang is less than 18 years of age. Requires the criminal justice institute to develop, maintain, and identify grants and other funds for the criminal gang witness protection program. Establishes a program to assist a person who witnesses criminal gang crime with certain expenses. Requires a court to order a criminal gang member to make restitution to a victim of a felony or misdemeanor committed by the criminal gang member. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the forensic diversion study committee.)
 
Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

HB1452 Various insurance matters. (Klinker, Miller)

Provides that the department of insurance sets the amount charged for copies of medical records. Allows certain state educational institutions to participate in a prescription drug purchasing program. Establishes the insurance education scholarship fund and makes an annual appropriation. Revises language concerning assessments for the second injury fund. Makes changes to insurance filing fees and deposits of certain fees into the department of insurance fund. Specifies requirements for assets in a segregated investment account for a funding agreement. Requires certain notice of coverage changes in residential property policies and prohibits certain provisions in the policies. Provides for standard personal property and casualty insurance fee. Amends insurance producer license renewal periods and continuing education requirements. Removes the requirement that resident surplus lines producers file a bond with the commissioner. Makes certain changes to filing and notice requirements that apply to commercial property and casualty insurance.  Specifies policy form filing requirements for a policy of accident and sickness insurance. Amends mandated benefit statutes defining an "accident and sickness" policy to standardize the list of the types of policies that are not included in the use of the term. Makes changes to statutes concerning accident and sickness insurance policies, travel accident policies, short term health policies, and long term care insurance producer compensation, including changes to preexisting condition limitation periods, claim payment requirements, policy return periods, and independent review organization determinations. Establishes an interim study committee to create a definition of "health insurance" for purposes of the law concerning accident and sickness insurance and health maintenance organization contracts. Allows the office of Medicaid policy and planning to establish a health care management program demonstration project and a pilot project concerning certain small employers.   Removes the term “limited health benefit policy” from mandate language.  Makes conforming changes. 

Signed by the Governor. 

HB1457 Birth problems registry and registration of mobile health entities. (Klinker, Lawson)

(Under current law the registry expires on July 1, 2007.) Requires the state department of health to issue registrations and maintain a registry for out-of-state mobile health care entities. Requires out-of-state mobile health care entities to register with the state department before doing business in Indiana. Establishes the prenatal substance abuse commission to develop a plan to improve early intervention and treatment for pregnant women who abuse alcohol or drugs or use tobacco. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on children's issues.)  

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

HB1508 Probate and trust matters. (Koch, Zakas)

Provides that a trust is entitled to certain property tax deductions for real property owned by the trust if the property is occupied by an individual who has a beneficial interest in the trust, would be considered the owner of the property if the property were a life estate, and otherwise qualifies for the deduction. Specifies that the trust entitled to a deduction is not required to file a statement to apply for the deduction if certain conditions are met. Provides that when a court has not directed notice by rule, the default certified or registered mail option is replaced by the option to provide notice by first class postage prepaid mail. Specifies that the notice provided by the clerk of the court to an heir, a devisee, a legatee, or a creditor when letters testamentary or of administration are issued shall be served by certified mail. Provides that a will can be admitted to probate more than three years after the decedent's death if the will is presented for probate less than 60 days after: (1) another will previously offered for probate is denied probate; or (2) the probate of another will previously admitted to probate is revoked. Authorizes the use of an affidavit to obtain the information necessary to determine whether the value of a decedent's gross probate estate is low enough to allow the estate to be administered summarily. Provides immunity from civil liability to a person who provides information in good faith reliance upon the affidavit. Increases the maximum gross value of a probate estate that may be summarily distributed and closed upon the filing of an affidavit from $25,000 to $50,000. Specifies that the personal representative has the right to take possession of all the property of the decedent, without exception. Removes a provision under which the personal representative is not authorized to possess property subject to the surviving spouse and family allowances. Provides that the notice requirements applying to hearings on filed estate accountings also apply to a hearing on a petition for a court to decree the final distribution of an estate. Requires notice to be given by certified mail when a petition for the appointment of a guardian or for the issuance of a protective order is filed under the probate code. Specifies that when a petition for appointment of a guardian or for the issuance of a protective order is filed with the court, notice of the petition and the hearing on the petition shall be given by certified mail. Removes a provision requiring that notices concerning guardianship petitions be given according to the notice requirements applicable to hearings on guardianship petitions. Provides that upon the termination of a guardianship any remaining property subject to the guardianship may be transferred to a trust approved by the court or to a custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. Authorizes the self-appointment of certain fiduciaries as custodians under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. Eliminates the requirement that a trust certification document include the trust's taxpayer identification number. Provides that the trustee of a trust to which an interest in real property is transferred is considered the insured owner under a title insurance policy issued for the interest in real property if the transfer meets certain conditions. Makes technical corrections. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the probate code study commission.)

Signed by the Governor.

HB1510 Gaming. (VanHaaften, Merritt, Simpson)

Establishes the license control and gaming control divisions within the gaming commission. Makes numerous changes to the laws concerning charity gaming licenses and the participants in charity gaming. Authorizes the gaming commission to issue an annual license permitting a qualified organization to sell pull tabs, punchboards, and tip boards at any time on the premises owned or leased by the qualified organization and regularly used for the activities of the qualified organization. Authorizes an annual charity game night license. Specifies that pre-elementary childhood development programs and state educational institutions are qualified organizations. Specifies the conditions for conducting raffles and door prize drawings applicable to a candidate's committee. Makes certain changes concerning manufacturers and distributors of charity gaming supplies. Permits certain rent expenses to be deducted from gross revenues for purposes of calculating fees for renewing charity gaming licenses. Authorizes the revocation of a lottery retailer's contract with the lottery commission, a charity gaming license, a retail merchant's certificate, a tobacco sales certificate, or an alcoholic beverage permit for violations of certain statutes. Provides that a second unrelated conviction for professional gambling, maintaining a professional gambling site, or promoting professional gambling is a Class C felony rather than a Class D felony. Authorizes the possession of an antique slot machine that is used for decorative, historic, or nostalgic purposes. Provides that possessing an electronic gaming device is a Class A infraction. Provides that knowingly or intentionally accepting or offering to accept, for profit, money or other property risked in gambling on an electronic gaming device maintained by the person is maintaining a professional gambling site, a Class D felony.

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

HB1566 Minority and women's enterprises. (Crawford, Ford)

Expands the definition of "minority business enterprise" to include nonprofit qualified minority nonprofit corporations. Expands the definition of "women's business enterprise" to include certain nonprofit corporations. Requires that the statistical analysis required of the governor's commission on minority and women's business enterprises must: (1) use criteria for participation of minority business enterprises established in Richmond v. Croson; (2) include information on both contracts and subcontracts; and (3) use data based on the combined capacity of minority businesses in Indiana and not just regional data. Requires the commission to conduct an analysis during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Requires the commission to evaluate the competitive differences between qualified minority or women's nonprofit corporations and other than qualified minority or women's nonprofit corporations that offer similar services. Specifies that the goals and objectives concerning the awarding of contracts to minority and women's business enterprises applies to contracts of state educational institutions. Specifies that the statistical analysis used to establish the goals applies to contracts and subcontracts of state educational institutions. Requires a contractor whose offer designated minority or women's business enterprises to furnish any supplies or perform any work under the contract awarded by a state agency to the contractor to: (1) notify in writing each minority and women's owned business enterprise designated in the contractor's offer that the contractor has been awarded the contract; and (2) give copies of each notification to the state agency that awarded the contract. Provides for remedies if the contractor fails to satisfy these requirements. Requires the department of administration to adopt rules to resolve grievances arising under the minority and women's owned business enterprise statute. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

HB1647 Twenty-first Century scholarhops; GEDs; informational graduation rate. (Porter, Lubbers).

Expands eligibility for the 21st Century Scholars Program to grade 7 students, and, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, to grade 6 students.  Provides that an individual must be at least 18 or have withdrawn from school with permission to receive a GED diploma.  Modifies the formula for determining graduation rates, and adds an informational five-year and six-year graduation rate determination. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature.

HB1663 Health and hospital corporation; real property issues. (Buell, Miller)

Adds: (1) municipal corporations as local units for purposes of providing group health insurance for public employees; and (2) hospitals and the health and hospital corporation of Marion County as facilities for purposes of voluntary and involuntary treatment of mentally ill individuals. Provides that the health and hospital corporation of Marion County may file certain civil actions. Specifies actions a court may take when a municipal corporation brings certain civil actions. Authorizes the health and hospital corporation of Marion County to: (1) take certain actions; (2) use levied taxes or other funds to make intergovernmental transfers to the state to fund governmental health care programs; (3) condemn property; and (4) issue bonds to procure funds to pay costs of acquiring property and improving property for use as a hospital, a health care facility, or an administrative facility. Requires: (1) bonds to be issued by a resolution of the board of the health and hospital corporation of Marion County; and (2) bonds to be executed by the executive director in the name of the health and hospital corporation of Marion County. Excludes certain hospitals and the health and hospital corporation of Marion County from leasing and lease purchase laws. Amends notice requirements for unsafe building orders. Increases the maximum amount that constitutes a lien against property when employees or contractors of a municipal corporation enter onto that property and take action to bring the property into compliance with an ordinance. Provides that if the mailing address on a conveyance of real property is not a street address or rural route address of the grantee, the conveyance must also include a street address or rural route address of the grantee after the mailing address. Provides that a conveyance may not be recorded after June 30, 2007, unless the conveyance meets this requirement. Provides that if an unsafe building order is issued to a person regarding a premises that is: (1) owned by the person or is being purchased by the person under a contract; and (2) leased to another person; the person must provide to the department administering the unsafe building law the person's name, street address (excluding a post office box address), and phone number. Repeals a provision that requires the board of the health and hospital corporation of Marion County to provide an integrated administrative organization.  

Awaiting Governor’s Signature.

HB1678 Health matters. (C. Brown, Miller)

Provides for a tax credit related to small employer qualified wellness programs. Increases the cigarette tax by 44 cents per pack to fund various health related expenses. Allows an employer to take a tax credit for making a health benefit plan available to the employer's employees for the first two taxable years that the employer makes the health benefit plan available. Increases the income limit for Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women. Makes funding changes to the hospital care for the indigent program, the municipal disproportionate share program, and the Medicaid indigent care trust fund. Provides for continuous eligibility of a child under Medicaid and the children's health insurance program (CHIP) until the child becomes three years of age. Establishes the Indiana check-up plan (plan) and the Indiana check-up plan trust fund. Specifies requirements for the plan, including coverage, financial assistance, eligibility and enrollment, contracting, financial obligations, and funding requirements. Increases the CHIP eligibility family income limit. Requires the state department of health to establish standards for and certify a small employer qualified wellness program. Requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to cover children up to 24 years old upon request. Allows certain small employers to join together to purchase group health insurance and allows the insurance commissioner and the office of the secretary of family and social services to develop a program to provide for such purchases. Requires the Indiana comprehensive health insurance association to administer plan benefits for high risk individuals insured under the plan. Requires application for necessary federal Medicaid approvals, including approval for presumptive eligibility for certain pregnant women and implementation of the plan. Establishes a plan task force. Requires the health finance commission to study and report concerning several issues. Makes appropriations. Makes conforming and technical changes.  

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

HB1778 Juvenile law and child care. (Summers, Lubbers)

Applies the law concerning children in need of services to child care ministries, certain child care providers, and certain individuals who have contact with children. Requires the department of child services and the appropriate law enforcement agency to jointly investigate a report that alleges child abuse or neglect and involves a child care ministry. Adds a definition of "child caregiver." Specifies that a child who is at least 14 years of age and does not require child care services is not counted for purposes of the limit on the number of children who may be present in a child care home. Specifies that a licensed child care provider is considered to be in compliance with the federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher program requirements if the provider is not found to be in violation of the requirements. Requires a criminal history background check for members of a child care home provider's household. Requires that a child care ministry refrain from employing, or allowing to serve as volunteers, certain individuals.  

Signed by the Governor.

HCR 40 – Urging Congress to Reevaluate “No Child Left Behind” (Koch)

A Concurrent Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to reevaluate the requirements of the “No Child Left Behind Act” and to fund the levels authorized in the act.

SB0005 Nursing facility quality assessment fee. (Miller, C. Brown)

Extends collection of the nursing facility quality assessment until August 1, 2009.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0038 Purchases from persons with disabilities. (R. Meeks, Herrell)

Provides that before the purchasing agent of a governmental body that is not a political subdivision issues a solicitation for supplies or services, the purchasing agent shall: (1) obtain a written determination from the committee for the purchase of products and services or a person designated by the committee; or (2) certify that the supplies or services cannot be obtained from a nonprofit agency that meets the specifications at a fair market price. Provides that before the purchasing agent of a governmental body that is not a political subdivision issues a solicitation for a consolidated purchase of supplies or services, the purchasing agent shall: (1) require the vendor to purchase products or services from a catalog of; or (2) establish standards to ensure participation of solicitation by; a nonprofit agency that meets specifications. Establishes requirements concerning a fair market price. Adds employment data to the information included in a quarterly report provided by a participating qualified nonprofit agency for persons with severe disabilities to the committee for purchase of products and services. Specifies that the quarterly report must be made available to the department of administration. Requires that the: (1) state use catalog be updated by the committee for the purchase of products and services not less than every 90 days in a calendar year; and (2) web based electronic version of the state use catalog be considered the catalog of record.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0043 Neglect of a dependent. (Bray, L. Lawson)

Specifies that a person having the care of a dependent commits neglect of a dependent as a Class C felony if the person's abandonment or cruel confinement of the dependent: (1) deprives a dependent of necessary food, water, or sanitary facilities; (2) consists of confinement in an area not intended for human habitation; or (3) involves the unlawful use of handcuffs, a rope, a cord, tape, or a similar device to physically restrain a dependent. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the sentencing policy study committee.)  

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

SB0049 Trust and fidiciary matters. (Zakas, Kuzman)

Permits a bank, trust company, or savings bank that holds funds or property as a fiduciary to use the funds or property to purchase products, services, and securities from the bank, trust company, savings bank, affiliate, or a selling group or syndicate that includes the bank, trust company, savings bank, or affiliate. Sets forth procedures for a bank, trust company, or savings bank to: (1) give notice of; and (2) obtain consent for; such a transaction with respect to specified fiduciary relationships. Specifies remedies for beneficiaries of trusts injured as a result of the trustee's violation of the provisions concerning the purchase products, services, and securities from the bank, trust company, savings bank, affiliate, or a selling group or syndicate that includes the bank, trust company, savings bank, or affiliate. Eliminates the requirement that a trust certification document include the trust's taxpayer identification number. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature.

SB0094 Individuals with disabilities. (Kenley, Landske, VanHaaften)

Changes terms used to describe individuals with disabilities. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision commission.) Puts “People First” language in practice in statutes and laws. 

Signed by the Governor.

SB0171 Insurance products sales. (Delph, GiaQuinta)

Provides that engaging in certain dishonest or predatory insurance practices in marketing or sales of insurance to members of the United States armed forces constitutes an unfair and deceptive act and practice in the business of insurance. Allows the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to define and protect members of the United States armed forces from dishonest or predatory insurance practices. Makes the law concerning annuity purchase or exchange recommendations made to senior consumers apply to all consumers and requires the department of insurance to adopt rules to implement the law.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0372 Health insurance procedures. (Miller, Simpson, C. Brown)

Requires the department of insurance to review the current preauthorization practices and procedures and allows the department to review the standardization of other insurance matters. Requires the department to report to the legislative council before November 1, 2007 concerning the department's findings.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0408 Programs for high ability students. (Lubbers, Porter)

Changes reference in school corporation annual report from "gifted and talented" to "high ability". Changes the criteria for awarding grants to school corporations for high ability programs. Requires a school corporation to establish a program for high ability students consistent with federal, state, local, and private funding sources and sets forth requirements for assessments to identify high ability students.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0451 Emergency communication disorder permits. (Becker, Lubbers, Sipes, Reardon)

Allows the department of education to issue an emergency communication disorder permit to an individual to serve the needs of certain students who are eligible for speech and language services. Makes technical corrections.  

Signed by the Governor.

SB0489 Funding for rural health care program. (Ford, Welch)

Establishes the rural health care pilot program support fund to provide grants to Indiana health care providers who participate in the federal rural health care pilot program.  

Signed by the Governor. 

SB0503 Disproportionate share payments and health. (Becker, Miller, C. Brown)

Makes changes to the disproportionate share program. Requires the department of insurance and the office of the secretary of family and social services to study and make final recommendations to the legislative council not later than November 1, 2008, concerning: (1) a plan to provide health insurance to specified uninsured individuals; and (2) a health insurance program that would require local units of government, school corporations, and other public employees to join together to purchase health insurance. Requires the health finance commission, during the 2007 interim, to study specified issues concerning the Indiana tobacco use prevention and cessation program and certain health coverage reimbursement rates and premium costs. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to study and make final recommendations to the legislative council not later than November 1, 2008, concerning the viability of keeping families who are eligible for different state health care assistance plans together under the same health care plan. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

SB0504 TANF. (Miller, C. Brown)

Changes references from "Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program" to "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program". Requires TANF applicants to participate in employment and job opportunities and that applicants who refuse to participate may be sanctioned. Removes a provision that makes a person convicted of specified misdemeanors ineligible for TANF. Provides that an individual who has been convicted of a felony involving a controlled substance, that does not include an element of distribution or manufacturing of controlled substances, and has completed or is participating in certain substance abuse treatment programs or mental health programs may receive assistance under TANF for up to 12 months. Requires drug testing not less than once every two months for a individual who has been convicted of a felony involving a controlled substance. Requires the department of correction to assist an offender with applying for TANF. Specifies when a dependent child is eligible for TANF and removes the high school diploma or equivalency certificate requirement. Makes certain TANF records confidential and not subject to disclosure. Repeals: (1) a provision requiring the diversion of a grant to subsidize child care costs; (2) a provision allowing for payment of care to be made directly to the person furnishing the care; (3) language regarding the amount of assistance available to a person who was previously eligible under AFDC; (4) a provision allowing the county office to designate a responsible person to receive assistance for a dependent child if the person essential to the well-being of the child is not providing proper care or not capable of properly spending assistance; (5) a provision allowing a person whose income would otherwise make the person ineligible for TANF to qualify for Medicaid assistance or transitional child care assistance under certain circumstances; (6) a provision allowing for a lawful permanent resident to be eligible for assistance and transitional benefits for one year; (7) provisions requiring assistance certificates and certificate requirements; (8) a chapter on change of residence for TANF recipients; and (9) a provision requiring that payments must be made monthly to recipients by warrant. Requires the family and social services agency to study tax relief and financial or medical assistance programs available to residents with incomes below the federal poverty income level. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

SB0534 Various family law matters. (Lubbers, Kuzman)

Provides that: (1) proceedings for voluntary termination of parent-child relationships and adoptions are not governed by the uniform child custody jurisdiction law; (2) certain adoption notices are valid regardless of whether the notice is served within or outside Indiana; (3) adoption notices served on a putative father who is not a resident of Indiana are valid if certain conditions are met; (4) a parent who has given valid consent to the termination of the parent-child relationship may waive certain notice requirements; (5) certain notices of adoption proceedings shall be served by publication in the same manner that a summons is served by publication; and (6) if a prospective adoptive parent suffers a pecuniary loss as a result of a violation of adoption deception, the prospective parent may bring a civil action against the person who benefits from the adoption related expenses. Allows a petition for adoption to be amended to substitute another petitioner under certain circumstances. Requires that if a parent has given written consent, been advised concerning a voluntary termination of the parent-child relationship, and appears in court, the court may consider only whether the consent for the termination of the parent-child relationship was voluntary. Changes the period within which a putative father may register with the putative father registry to be entitled to notice of an adoption. Makes it a Class A misdemeanor to place a paid advertisement or paid listing of a telephone number in a telephone directory: (1) that a child is offered or wanted for adoption; or (2) to place or locate a child for adoption; unless the advertisement is placed by an attorney or a licensed child placing agency and certain other requirements are met. Requires a person that publishes a telephone directory to include certain information concerning adoption and adoption services. 

Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

SB0551 Indiana health informatics corporation. (Dillon, Austin)

Establishes the Indiana health informatics corporation (IHIC). Provides that the IHIC is a body politic and corporate. Requires the IHIC to encourage and facilitate the development of health informatics functions in Indiana. Provides that the IHIC is governed by a board consisting of the following nine members: (1) The secretary of family and social services, or the secretary's designee. (2) The state health commissioner, or the state health commissioner's designee. (3) Seven individuals appointed by the governor; one of which must be a physician; and one of which must be a hospital administrator. Authorizes the IHIC board to appoint any advisory panels that the board considers useful in advising the board and the corporation on issues determined by the board. Requires the IHIC to do the following: (1) Encourage and facilitate the development of a statewide health information exchange system. (2) Encourage and facilitate users of the statewide health information exchange system and other interested parties in developing and adopting standards. (3) Develop programs and initiatives to promote and advance the exchange of health information. (4) Recommend policies and legislation that advance the development and efficient operation of the statewide health information exchange system. (5) Report on Indiana's progress toward implementing the statewide health information exchange system. Requires the IHIC's plan to create the statewide health information exchange system to provide for procedures and security policies to ensure compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), protection of information privacy, and the use of information in the system only in accordance with HIPAA and as required by public health agencies. Requires the state board of accounts to examine the IHIC and its funds, accounts, and financial affairs. Specifies that the IHIC is subject to the open door law and the public records law. Provides that the IHIC must comply with current statutory provision when adopting rules. Provides the IHIC board may adopt emergency rules. Provides that the IHIC shall determine qualifications, duties, compensation, and terms of service for persons employed by the IHIC. Prohibits the IHIC from issuing bonds or other debt obligations. Authorizes the IHIC to make grants, loans, and loan guarantees. Authorizes the IHIC to establish a nonprofit subsidiary to solicit and accept nonprofit entity funding. Provides that the IHIC is abolished on June 30, 2015.  

Signed by the Governor. 

SB0566 Health care services. (Dillon, C. Brown)

Requires an insurer to accept a Medicaid claim for services provided a Medicaid recipient for three years after the date the service was provided. Specifies the circumstances in which a Medicaid claim may not be denied by an insurer. States that notice requirements may be satisfied by electronic or mail submission (current law provides only for certified or registered mail). Requires an insurer to accept the state's right of recovery and assignment of certain rights as required by federal law. Adds certain less restrictive settings to the definition of children's psychiatric residential treatment services. Requires OMPP to conduct a study of Medicaid claims eligible for payment by a third party. Provides that if the study by OMPP reveals a percentage of at least 1%, OMPP shall implement an automated procedure for determining whether a Medicaid claim is eligible for payment by a third party before payment. Allows OMPP to implement a change in the office's maximum allowable cost schedule for prescription drugs 30 days after OMPP posts the changes on OMPP's Internet web site. (Current law requires 45 days before the change may be effective).  Allows a pharmacy to determine not to participate in the Medicaid program as a result of a change in the schedule if the pharmacy notifies the office within 30 days of the change in the schedule taking effect. Changes the way charges are set at state mental health institutions. Repeals provisions concerning the per capita cost of treatment at state mental health institutions and the per capita cost of outpatient services.
 
Awaiting Governor’s Signature. 

SCR 91 – Centennial of Indiana 1907 Eugenical Sterilization Law – (Miller, Buell)

A concurrent resolution to mark the centennial of Indiana’s 1907 eugenical sterilization law and to express the regret of the Senate and House of Representatives of the 115th Indiana General Assembly for Indiana’s experience with eugenics.