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The 2015 Indiana General Assembly is underway. The Governor has released his 2015-17 biennial budget proposal which will be formally filed as HB 1001 early next week. It's a $31-billion package, roughly 1 1/2 % higher than the current budget. His proposed budget fully funds the Medicaid forecast. It appears many of the initiatives in the INARF Legislative Initiative are met in the Pence Proposal. Budget details can be found on the State Budget Agency website, www.in.gov/sba/2651. The House and Senate bills were being publicly released slowly in the first few days. More bills will be out next week as the bill filing deadlines for both bodies pass. Committee action will also pick up next week. Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo) has introduced SB 185, which would provide Indiana Income Tax credits for contributions to a non-profit “developmental disability care provider.” The credit is capped at $1,000 or 50% of the contribution. The bill was sent to the Tax and Fiscal Policy committee, chaired by Sen. Brandt Hershman. HB 1079 would establish the Autism Sub-committee of the Interim Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services committee. Rep. Karlee Macer’s (D-Indianapolis) bill has been assigned to the House Rules Committee, which signals that the bill is most likely dead for the session. If enacted it would be reversing the policy established last year by legislation drastically reducing the number of Interim Study Committees. Rep. Ron Bacon’s (R-Chandler) HB 1093 would require the State Department of Health to collect certain information to be disseminated by health facilities and providers to parents who receive pre- or post-natal test results for Downs Syndrome or any other disability. The bill is assigned to the House Public Health Committee. Sen. Pat Miller (R-Indianapolis) has authored SB 210 to require FSSA and the Department of Health to study and determine the appropriate state revenue source to provide additional assistance to children with hearing impairment. The bill is assigned to Sen. Miller’s Senate Health Committee. A study of the laws relating to Adult Protective Services would be assigned to a 2015 Interim committee under provisions of Sen. Tim Lanane’s (D-Anderson) SB 182. It’s assigned to Family and Children’s Services committee. The full text of bills can be found at iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills. If you have an issue or concern that is impacting your business, please take our survey. A weekly report of those bills INARF is watching is below: Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Prepared by: LegisGroup Public Affairs Report created on January 8, 2015 HB1079 AUTISM SUBCOMMITTEE (MACER K) Establishes the autism subcommittee as a permanent subcommittee of the public health, behavioral health, and human services interim study committee. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to House Rules and Legislative Procedures Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Karlee Macer HB1089 TAX CREDITS FOR HIRING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS (HALE C) Provides a tax credit against state tax liability for a small business that hires an eligible individual as a full-time employee in Indiana. Defines an "eligible individual" as a veteran, an individual who is at least 50 years of age, an individual with a physical or developmental disability, or an individual who has been totally unemployed for each of the 26 weeks preceding the hiring date. Specifies that the amount of the credit for hiring an eligible individual is the lesser of: (1) the amount of the unreimbursed training expenses incurred by the taxpayer in hiring the eligible individual; or (2) $1,000. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to House Ways and Means Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Christina Hale HB1093 INFORMATION CONCERNING CERTAIN DISABILITIES (BACON R) Requires the state department of health to collect certain information to be disseminated by health facilities and health care providers to parents who receive prenatal or postnatal test results for Down syndrome or any other disability. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to House Public Health Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Ronald Bacon SB22 CHARITY GAMING OPERATIONS (RANDOLPH L) Charity gaming operations. Allows an operator of or a worker at a charity gaming event (other than a full-time employee of the qualified organization conducting the event) to receive remuneration of not more than $50 for conducting or assisting in conducting the event. Provides that meals, recognition dinners, and social events for operators and workers are permitted if they do not constitute an unreasonable expenditure in the conduct of an allowable event. Relocates the prohibition on paying volunteer ticket agents to the statute imposing other rules on the use of a volunteer ticket agent. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Public Policy Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Lonnie Randolph SB135 HEALTH FACILITY EMPLOYEE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK (RANDOLPH L) Requires a health facility to obtain a national criminal history background check or an expanded criminal history check for the health facility's employees. Provides immunity to persons: (1) for denying or terminating employment because of another person's criminal history; or (2) for reporting to or participating in the proceedings of the state department of health or the registry of nurse aides. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Civil Law Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Lonnie Randolph SB136 DEATH SENTENCE ELIMINATION AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT (RANDOLPH L) Abolishes the death penalty. Repeals the law concerning the imposition and execution of death sentences and makes conforming amendments. Specifies that if a person was sentenced to death and is awaiting execution of the death sentence, the person's death sentence is commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Provides that when a defendant is charged with a murder for which the state seeks a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, the defendant may file a petition alleging that the defendant is an individual with mental retardation. Provides that if a defendant who is determined to be an individual with mental retardation is convicted of murder, the court may sentence the defendant only to a fixed term of imprisonment. Makes technical corrections. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Corrections & Criminal Law Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Lonnie Randolph SB160 MINIMUM WAGE FOR CERTAIN INDIANA EMPLOYEES (MRVAN F) After: (1) June 30, 2015, increases the minimum wage paid to certain employees in Indiana from $7.25 to $8.50; and (2) June 30, 2016, increases the minimum wage paid to certain employees in Indiana from $8.50 to $10; an hour. Makes technical corrections and corresponding changes. Removes outdated language. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Pensions and Labor Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Frank Mrvan SB166 SPINAL CORD AND BRAIN INJURY FUND (MILLER P) Allows the spinal cord and brain injury fund to be used to fund facilities, treatment, and services for spinal cord and brain injuries. Requires the spinal cord and brain injury research board to consider applications and make grants to nonprofit health care clinics that employ physical therapists and provide activity-based therapy services to individuals with traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries that require extended post acute care. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Health and Provider Services Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Patricia Miller SB182 ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES STUDY COMMITTEE (LANANE T) Requires the legislative council to assign the topic of adult protective service laws to an appropriate study committee during the 2015 interim. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Family & Children Services Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Timothy Lanane SB185 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY CARE PROVIDER TAX CREDIT (BUCK J) Provides a tax credit against adjusted gross income tax liability for donations to a qualified developmental disability care provider. Defines a "qualified developmental disability care provider" as a nonprofit organization that provides services to persons with developmental disabilities and that is either: (1) accredited; or (2) under contract with the division of disability and rehabilitative services. The amount of the credit is the lesser of $1,000 or 50% of the aggregate amount of donations made during a taxable year. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Tax and Fiscal Policy Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By James Buck SB206 NONCONTRACTED PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL COVERAGE (LEISING J) Provides for referral of an insured to a pediatric hospital that has not entered into a participating provider agreement with an insurer. Specifies requirements for applicability and payment. Makes a conforming amendment. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Health and Provider Services Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Jean Leising SB210 ASSISTANCE FOR HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN STUDY (MILLER P) Requires the state department of health and the office of the secretary of family and social services to study and determine the appropriate state revenue source to provide additional assistance to children with hearing impairments. Requires the state department of health to report to the general assembly before November 1, 2015. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Health and Provider Services Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Patricia Miller SB212 INMATES AND MEDICAID (MILLER P) Makes the department of correction (department) an inmate's authorized representative for applying for Medicaid for inmates who are potentially eligible for Medicaid and who incur medical care expenses that are not otherwise reimbursable. Requires the department and the office of the secretary of family and social services to enter into an agreement in which the department pays the state share of the Medicaid costs incurred for the inmate. Allows a sheriff to apply on behalf of a lawfully detained individual for Medicaid and act as the person's Medicaid representative if the sheriff enters into an agreement with the office of the secretary of family and social services to pay the state share of the Medicaid costs incurred for the person. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Corrections & Criminal Law Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Patricia Miller SB218 CHARITY GAMING PROCEEDS (BOOTS P) Specifies that a qualified organization under the charity gaming law may use money deposited into its separate charity gaming account to pay wages, salaries, and wage and salary related expenses. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Public Policy Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Philip Boots SB227 REMOVAL OF EXEMPTIONS FROM "DO NOT CALL" LAW (DELPH M) Removes existing exemptions from the statute governing telephone solicitations of consumers (Indiana's "do not call" list) for calls made by the following: (1) Tax exempt charitable organizations. (2) Licensed real estate brokers. (3) Licensed insurance producers and surplus lines producers. (4) Newspapers. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Technology Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Michael Delph SB244 LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD PROGRAM (BREAUX J) Requires the state department of health to seek authorization from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to administer and enforce, in Indiana, the EPA's program to address lead-based paint hazards created by renovation, repair, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint in certain housing structures and facilities. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to Senate Environmental Affairs Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - First Reading 1/6/2015 - Authored By Jean Breaux SB256 EVALUATION OF AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS (DELPH M) Provides procedures to evaluate and terminate all state agencies and programs on a 10 year cycle. Requires the schools of public and environmental affairs or business schools of state educational institutions to develop internships to give credit to students who perform the evaluation of state agencies and programs, and requires the state educational institutions to provide the evaluation service under the direction of the legislative services agency. Makes appropriations necessary to implement the termination of an agency or program. Repeals the current law concerning the agency evaluation process. Makes conforming changes. Current Status: 1/7/2015 - Referred to Tax and Fiscal Policy Recent Status: 1/7/2015 - First Reading 1/7/2015 - Authored By Michael Delph HB1066 WORK SHARING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (OBER D) Establishes a work sharing unemployment insurance program. Requires an employer that wishes to participate in the work sharing unemployment insurance program to submit a work sharing plan for approval by the commissioner of the department of workforce development. Establishes the work sharing benefit as equal to an affected employee's unemployment benefit reduced by a percentage that is equivalent to the number of hours by which an affected employee's normal weekly work hours are reduced divided by the employer's number of normal weekly work hours. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Coauthored by Representatives Carbaugh and Macer Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions 1/6/2015 - First Reading HB1067 CHARITY GAMING (HAMM R) Allows a full-time employee of a qualified organization, an operator of a charity gaming event, or a worker at a charity gaming event to receive remuneration for conducting or assisting in conducting the event. Provides that meals, recognition dinners, and social events for operators and workers are permitted if the value of these items does not constitute an unreasonable expenditure in the conduct of an allowable event. Current Status: 1/6/2015 - Coauthored by Representatives Karickhoff and Saunders Recent Status: 1/6/2015 - Referred to House Public Policy 1/6/2015 - First Reading