Bills are moving at the State House as lawmakers begin to tackle large, priority bills. It was a busy week that saw some controversial, as well as some bipartisan, legislation through committees. For Indiana University, the legislative week culminated with our budget presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday morning. Part of the annual budget process, the presentation shares both the university’s successes and statewide impact as well as our budget needs and priorities for the biennium. After the budget presentation, which occurs on the same day the HB1001 is initially heard in Senate Appropriations, the committee will consider the proposed budget and make their amendments to the bill in a subsequent hearing. Then negotiations between the two chambers begin.
House Bills
HB 1001: State Budget
Heard in Senate Appropriations
The House version of the budget restores the funding in FY 2022 for higher education operating and line item appropriations after the 7% cut made by the state in FY 2021. In FY 2023, the budget includes a total of 7% performance funding with 2% new dollars and 5% reallocated dollars. The House budget, like the Governor’s recommended budget, restores dual credit funding at $50 per credit hour. Additionally, the House budget, again like the Governor’s recommended budget, does not provide any new dollars for higher education capital projects nor for Repair and Rehabilitation (R&R) projects.
HB1006: Law Enforcement Officers
Passed out of the Senate 49-0 and returned to the House without amendments
The bill requires the Indiana law enforcement training board to establish mandatory training in de-escalation and establishes a procedure to allow the Indiana law enforcement training board to decertify an officer who has committed misconduct. The bill also specifies that a law enforcement officer who turns off a body worn camera with the intent to conceal a criminal act commits a Class A misdemeanor.
HB1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Passed out of Senate Health and Provider Services 12-0 - Recommitted to Senate Appropriations
The bill requires the State Department of Health, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services, to study and prepare a plan to improve the health and behavioral health of Indiana residents. The bill also establishes a grant program and fund for preventing and addressing health issues and challenges.
HB1384: Civics Education
Passed out of the Senate 49-0 and returned to the House with amendments
The bill requires that the state board of education, in coordination with the department of education, establish standards for civics education and provides that each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic school shall require each student to successfully complete in grade 6, 7, or 8 one semester of a civics education course.
Senate Bills
SB 3: Telehealth Matters
Passed out of House Public Health 12-0
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.
SB101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Passed out of the House 98-0 and returned to the Senate without amendments
The bill deems a student who is at least 17 years of age to have full legal capacity to enter into a contract for a Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. The bill also amends requirements regarding the development of a student's graduation plan.