The action at the State House continued this week as key legislation reached new milestones. Governor Holcomb signed a number of bills into law, including HB1006, which aims to improve training and accountability for law enforcement officers. The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled and passed its own version of the biennial budget. Other notable bills that address various matters in the realms of utilities (HB1164) and education (SB205) also passed out of their respective committees.
House Bills
HB 1006: Law Enforcement Officers
Signed by the Governor
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.
HB 1123: Legislative Oversight of Certain Fiscal and Emergency Matters
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
The bill provides that the general assembly may convene in an emergency session if the legislative council adopts a resolution making certain findings concerning a state of emergency declared by the governor. The bill also establishes the legislative state of emergency advisory group and creates the economic stimulus fund (ESF) for the deposit of all discretionary funds received by the state.
HB 1082: High Tech Crimes Unit Program
Signed by the Governor
The bill establishes a fund for the purpose of creating high tech crimes units that collectively represent the north, south, east, west, and central geographic areas of Indiana to enhance the ability of prosecuting attorneys to investigate, collect evidence, and prosecute high tech crimes.
HB 1164: Various utility matters
Passed out of Senate Utilities 7-3
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.
HB 1384: Civics Education
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
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
The Senate concurred in the House’s amendments
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
The Senate dissented from the House’s amendments
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 101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Signed by the Governor
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.
SB 205: Teacher Training
Passed out of House Education 10-3
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.