State & Federal Update

Welcome to the first Statehouse Report of the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Indiana University’s State Government Relations team brings you these reports to provide concise information on the progress of legislation monitored by IU. This newsletter is a recap of the first month, from now until the end of session the newsletter will be weekly.

This session began on Monday, January 4th, under historically unusual circumstances—COVID-19 has largely reshaped the face of the State legislature. The Indiana House of Representatives has moved entirely to the State Government Center South to accommodate social distancing. The Senate remains at the Statehouse but is using the gallery in the Senate chamber for more space. Meetings with lawmakers have shifted to Zoom, and the hallways of the Statehouse, usually bustling with news of legislation and busy advocates, are silent except for those who are specifically testifying on bills being heard that day.

One thing that does not change this year is the fact that the 2021 session is a budget year. The biennial budget is the most critical bill to be considered by the legislature during this session. Of course, the pandemic has directly affected the State’s revenue which will greatly affect budget growth.

Our team has been diligently working on IU’s piece of the biennial budget process for months. The first three steps of the biennial budget process have been completed. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved its university operating and capital funding recommendations in November. Then, in December, the state revenue forecast was released. Most recently, in January, the Governor made his budget recommendations, marking the third step in a long process of deliberation by the General Assembly, leading to final passage of a biennial budget in late April. Unlike past years, IU did not present its formal budget requests to the House Ways and Means Committee due to time restrictions associated with COVID-19 session accommodations. The House budget must be approved by the Committee by February 16.

Introduced Bills

The IU State Relations team reviewed every bill filed this year—there were over 1,000—to ensure that we are tracking all legislation that may impact the university. Here is a summary of some of the most important bills proposed this session that IU will be tracking:

House Bills


HB 1002: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19

The bill provides that a person is not liable to a claimant for loss, damage, injury, or death arising from COVID-19 unless certain conditions are met. The bill also protects health care providers from professional discipline and civil liability for certain acts or omissions arising from a state disaster emergency unless certain conditions are met.  

HB 1006: Law Enforcement Officers
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 1511: Hazing

The bill requires each postsecondary educational institution to develop and conduct an educational program on hazing, inform law enforcement of certain allegations of hazing, and report hazing incidents on the institution’s website.


Senate Bills


SB 1: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19

The bill provides civil tort immunity for damages arising from COVID-19 unless certain conditions are met. 

SB 3: Telehealth Matters

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.

SB 54: FAFSA Requirement

The bill requires all students in their senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA unless certain conditions are met.

SB 101: Education and Higher Education Matters

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 287: Health Care Strategy Task Force
The bill establishes the health care strategy task force, which will recommend ways to improve quality, access, and affordability of health care in Indiana and includes Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health as the home of the task force.

This week at the Statehouse moved quickly as lawmakers rushed to hear as many bills as they could in the penultimate week of committee hearings before the deadline to hear bills in their originating house.

The biggest news of the week centered around HB1001, the budget bill. On Wednesday, House Ways and Means heard testimony on the Governor’s proposed budget. Then on Thursday afternoon the committee released their amendment to the budget which will likely be the version to pass out of the House and be considered by the Senate. Of course, the budget is Indiana University’s top legislative priority this year and our team is dedicating countless hours to the process.

Next week is the last week for legislation to be heard in committee, if a bill has not had a committee hearing it is dead and will not become law this session.

House Bills


HB 1001: Budget
Passed out of House Ways and Means
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.

HB 1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Passed out of both House Public Health and House Ways and Means
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.

HB 1286: Telehealth Matters
Passed out of House Public Health
The bill expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners instead of applying only to prescribers. It also 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.

Senate Bills

SB 1: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19
Passed out of the House 72-21
The bill provides civil tort immunity for damages arising from COVID-19 unless certain conditions are met. The final version of this bill only provides the immunity to cases of exposure, meaning that entities (including universities) who implement reasonable health and safety protocols can’t be held liable if an individual is exposed to, or contracts, COVID-19 on their premises.

SB 54: FAFSA Requirement
Passed out of the Senate 27-20
The bill requires all students in their senior year of high school to complete and submit the FAFSA unless certain conditions are met. 

SB 101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Passed out of Senate Education and Career Development unanimously
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.

Another busy week at the Statehouse as lawmakers raced to meet the deadline to move bills out of committee and to the floor before the end of the week. By the middle of next week, we will have a good idea of what has passed out of its originating chamber and is still eligible to become law.

Many important bills hit the floor of the House and the Senate for second reading, which is the opportunity for the whole chamber to offer amendments on the bill. Most notably, HB1001, the state budget bill, was on second reading on Wednesday. While there were 43 amendments offered, only six prevailed and did not significantly change the content of the bill.

House Bills


HB1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Passed the House 95-2
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.

HB1082: High Tech Crimes Unit Program
Passed the House 98-0
The bill establishes a fund for the purpose of establishing 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.

HB1384: Civics Education
Passed the House 96-1
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

SB1: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19
Senate Concurred on House amendments. Will go to the Governor
The bill provides civil tort immunity for damages arising from COVID-19 unless certain conditions are met. The final version of this bill only provides the immunity to cases of exposure, meaning that entities (including universities) who implement reasonable health and safety protocols can’t be held liable if an individual is exposed to, or contracts, COVID-19 on their premises.

SB101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Passed the Senate 45-0
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. 

SB205: Teacher Training
Passed out of Senate Education and Career Development 8-5
The bill requires applicants for an initial teacher's license to provide evidence that the applicant has successfully completed education and training in trauma informed instruction and the recognition of signs that a student may be reacting to trauma. The bill also requires that teacher preparation programs include a curriculum that instructs teachers about social emotional learning practices that are helpful in supporting students who have experienced trauma.

This week the Indiana General Assembly reconvened for the second half of session. After a short break, the bills that made it through their originating chamber have switched sides and will now go through the same process in the opposite body.

We told you several weeks ago that the number of bills filed for this year was more comparable to a short session due to time constraints and COVID-19 precautions. After the first half of session, we’ve  now seen that even fewer bills have moved than anticipated. Of the 410 bills filed in the Senate, only 167, or 41%, survived. The House passed even fewer bills—149, or 25%, of the 602 filed.

The small number of bills has not slowed down the pace at the Statehouse. There are still many significant bills to be moved.

House Bills

HB1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Heard in Senate Health and Provider Services; committee vote expected next week
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
Heard in Senate Education and Career Development; committee vote expected next week
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

SB54: FAFSA Requirement
Heard in House Education; committee vote expected next week
The bill requires all students in their senior year of high school to complete and submit the FAFSA unless certain conditions are met. 

SB101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Heard in House Education; committee vote expected next week
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. 

This week session continued to pick up the pace after the intersession break. While some important bills remain to be heard, many key pieces of legislation were given hearings this week. In a phenomenon often seen in the second half of the legislative session, some bills were even stripped and replaced by amendment. One such bill we were following, SB54 FAFSA Awards, which would have made all high school seniors complete the FAFSA form, was gutted by amendment and replaced with an incentives program that would encourage schools to increase their FAFSA completion rates.

While we will continue to follow committee hearings next week, one of the final steps in the budget process is slated for Thursday, when Indiana University will present their budget request to the Senate Appropriations committee. The Senate will use this presentation to help shape their version of the budget, HB1001, that was passed earlier this session in the House.

House Bills

HB1006: Enforcement Officers
Passed out of Senate Corrections and Criminal Law 11-0
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.

HB1082: High Tech Crimes Unit Program
Passed out of Senate Corrections and Criminal Law 9-0
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.

HB1384: Civics Education
Passed out of Senate Education and Career Development 13-0
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

SB54: FAFSA Awards
Passed out of House Education 13-0 - Recommitted to House Ways and Means
The bill provides that a school corporation may receive a FAFSA completion improvement award and establishes a formula for calculating the award amount.

SB101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Passed out of House Education 13-0
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.

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.

Bills continued to move through committees in both houses this week, including HB1007 and SB54, the public health grants program and FAFSA bill respectively. Some bills, like HB1006 and HB1082, await the Governor’s signature. Others, however, have received hearings but not yet advanced; SB205, which has seen drastic changes throughout the session, is among them. On Thursday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard presentations from various state agencies. These presentations aim to shape the Committee’s ongoing deliberations over the proposed biennial budget.

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.

HB 1006: Law Enforcement Officers
Signed by the Speaker of the House
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 1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Passed out of Senate Appropriations 12-0
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.

HB 1082: High Tech Crimes Unit Program
Signed by the Speaker of the House
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 1384: Civics Education
Motion to concur with Senate amendments filed
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 54: FAFSA Awards
Passed out of House Ways and Means 21-1
The bill provides that a school corporation may receive a FAFSA completion improvement award and establishes a formula for calculating the award amount.

SB 101: Education and Higher Education Matters
Signed by the Speaker of the House
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
Heard in House Education
The bill requires applicants for an initial teacher's license to provide evidence that the applicant has successfully completed education and training in trauma informed instruction and the recognition of signs that a student may be reacting to trauma. The bill also requires that teacher preparation programs include a curriculum that instructs teachers about social emotional learning practices that are helpful in supporting students who have experienced trauma.

This week marked a significant point in session as Thursday was the final day for bills to be heard in committee. Those bills that did not receive a hearing in the opposite chamber are now dead and no longer eligible to become law.  
 
After undergoing a number of changes since its arrival in the House, SB54 has passed out of the chamber and was sent back to the Senate, the Senate filed a motion to dissent meaning that SB54 will go to conference committee where it could continue to face changes.  Health care and public health legislation also advanced this week: bills concerning visitation and data reporting (SB202 and SB292, respectively) passed out of House Public Health, while HB1007 had its second reading in the Senate where an amendment was approved that more specifically delineated the uses for the public health grants it allocates. Most significantly, Senate Appropriations heard public testimony as part of the committee’s ongoing consideration of the biennial budget and released their version of the budget on Thursday.

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.

HB 1007: State Health Improvement and Grant Program
Second reading in the Senate
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.

HB 1384: Civics Education
Signed by the Speaker of the House
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 54: FAFSA Completion Incentive Awards
Passed in the House 87-6 and returned to the Senate with 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 202: Health Facility Visitation
Passed out of House Public Health 11-0
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 292: Publication of Health Facility Reporting
Passed out of House Public Health 10-0
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.

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. 

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.