With second and third reading deadlines passed, we have officially arrived at what is affectionately known as “death watch week.” This week and next will see a flurry of activity as both chambers are working to finalize the language in the remaining bills through the conference committee process or the bill will die without a final agreement. For some bills, like SB202 and SB292, the chamber in which the bills originated is agreeing with the changes made in the other chamber. For other bills, such as HB1001 and SB54—both of which saw substantial changes during the second half of the session—conference committees are working to reconcile the interests of the two chambers.
House Bills
HB 1164: Various utility matters
Returned to the House with amendments
The bill exempts a contract for the lease of state property under which no state expenditures are required from provisions: (1) requiring certain disclosures and certifications by a prospective state contractor regarding violations of Indiana telephone solicitation and automated calling statutes; (2) regarding cancellation of public purchasing contracts due to lack of funds; (3) regarding state contractor use of the E-Verify program; and (4) prohibiting state contractor employment of unauthorized aliens. The bill also exempts a political subdivision's disposal of property by sale, exchange, transfer, or lease of the property to a public utility or a communications service provider from certain provisions regarding disposal of property by a political subdivision.
Senate Bills
SB 3: Telehealth Matters
Signed by the Speaker of the House
The bill expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners and requires that telehealth medical records be created and maintained under the same standards of appropriate practice for medical records for patients in an in-person setting. The bill also provides that an applicable contract, employment agreement, or policy to provide telehealth services must explicitly provide that a practitioner may refuse at any time to provide healthcare services if, in the practitioner's sole discretion, the practitioner believes: (1) that health quality may be negatively impacted; or (2) the practitioner would be unable to provide the same standards of appropriate practice as those provided in an in-person setting.
SB 54: FAFSA Completion Incentive Awards
Heard in Conference Committee on 4/14
The bill requires the department of education to establish a FAFSA completion incentive pilot program. It also provides requirements for a school corporation to receive a FAFSA completion incentive award and a formula to determine the amount of an award.
SB 202: Health Facility Visitation
The Senate concurred in the House’s amendments
The bill requires health facilities and residential care facilities to allow visitation of a resident in a compassionate care situation. The bill also requires the state department of health to adopt standards and guidelines concerning the essential family caregiver program during a declared emergency, a public health emergency, or similar crisis, and requires facilities to participate in the program.
SB 205: Teacher Training
Motion to concur filed in the Senate
The bill requires the Department of Education to grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who: (1) possesses a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary four-year institution; (2) successfully completes an alternative teacher certification program with certain requirements; (3) holds a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification from a provider approved by the Department; and (4) has attended youth suicide awareness and prevention training. The bill also mandates that an in-state alternative teacher certification program must be operated in accordance with the procedures and program standards set by the Department and State Board of Education and requires that a graduate of an alternative teacher certification program be treated in the same manner as a graduate from a traditional teacher preparation program during the transition from an initial practitioner license to a practitioner license.
SB 292: Publication of Health Facility Reporting
The Senate concurred in the House’s amendments
The bill requires the state department of health to compile case and death data related to COVID-19 reported by health facilities and residential care facilities in a specified manner and publish the information on the state department's Internet web site, as well as update the data at least every seven days.