Monday, January 11, 2016
Happy New Year! Indiana's 2016 legislative session has begun, and the Indiana Institute for Working Families is following a number of bills that will affect the lives of working families.
Click here to view the full list of the bills we are tracking.
Each week, the Inside the Statehouse Blog will provide a summary of the previous week's developments and a preview of legislation slated to move forward during the week. Subscribe here to receive these updates via email. From time to time, if an unfavorable or favorable bill is moving forward, we will also send Action Alerts with detailed information on how to act and/or who to contact to influence legislation. For more frequent updates, you can like the Indiana Institute for Working Families on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. The Institute also welcomes your donations to ensure that working families continue to have a voice at the Statehouse.
This Week
Description: Provides that a local governmental unit may not establish, mandate, or otherwise require an employer to provide to an employee who is employed within the jurisdiction of the unit a scheduling policy that exceeds the requirements of federal or state law, rules, or regulations, unless federal or state law provides otherwise.
Last Action Taken: Committee report: do pass, adopted
Hearing Location & Time: Monday, January 11, 1:30pm, Senate Chamber
HB 1054: Garnishment of state tax refunds
Description: Provides that if a debt has been reduced to a judgment in Indiana and the judgment has not been satisfied, set aside, or discharged in bankruptcy, the judgment creditor may garnish a state tax refund otherwise due to the debtor.
Last Action Taken: First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
Hearing Location & Time: Monday, January 11, 10:30AM, RM 156-D
SB 76: Military service and Medicaid eligibility
Description: Allows an individual (and the individual's dependent) who is: (1) an active member of the armed services of the United States or the national guard; (2) a legal Indiana resident; (3) assigned for duty or deployed outside Indiana; and (4) eligible for Medicaid waiver services or Medicaid assistance; to maintain Medicaid eligibility and remain on Medicaid waiver waiting lists.
Last Action: First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs & The Military
Hearing Location & Time: Tuesday, January 12, 9AM, RM 233
SB 206: FSSA matters
Description: Allows the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to delegate appointment authorities, the issuance of certain orders, and other acts to carry out the functions of the divisions to an individual. Authorizes the secretary to adopt rules concerning the implementation and administration of the early education grant pilot program. Changes references from intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded to intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Creates an exception for state institutions concerning advanced practice nurses acting under a collaborative agreement with a practitioner, requiring that the nurse act under privileges granted by the medical FSSA matters. Allows the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to delegate appointment authorities, the issuance of certain orders, and other acts to carry out the functions of the divisions to an individual. Authorizes the secretary to adopt rules concerning the implementation and administration of the early education grant pilot program. Changes references from intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded to intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Creates an exception for state institutions concerning advanced practice nurses acting under a collaborative agreement with a practitioner, requiring that the nurse act under privileges granted by the medical staff of the institution.
Last Action: First Reading: Referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions
Hearing Location & Time: Wednesday, January 13, 9:00AM, RM 431
SB 165: Healthy Indiana Plan
Description: Repeals the prior healthy Indiana plan statutes and makes revisions to the currently operating healthy Indiana plan. Repeals statutes governing the high risk Indiana check-up plan.
Last Action: First reading: referred to Committee on Health & Provider Services
Hearing Location & Time: Wednesday, January 13, 9:00AM, RM 431
Last Week
SB 20: Restrictions on employer scheduling policies
Description: Provides that a local governmental unit may not establish, mandate, or otherwise require an employer to provide to an employee who is employed within the jurisdiction of the unit a scheduling policy that exceeds the requirements of federal or state law, rules, or regulations, unless federal or state law provides otherwise.
Last Action Taken: Committee report: do pass, adopted
Hearing Location & Time: Monday, January 11, 1:30pm, Senate Chamber
SB 15: Fresh food initiative
Description: Establishes the food desert grant and loan program within the state department of health's division of nutrition and physical activity (division) to assist new businesses, existing businesses, and other legal entities to offer fresh and unprocessed foods within a food desert. Defines "food desert". Requires the division to establish: (1) criteria for awarding grants and making loans under the program; and (2) terms and conditions for recipients of the grants and loans. Provides that the recipient of a grant or loan: (1) may use the proceeds only to acquire, repair, or renovate property or equipment to be Fresh food initiative. Establishes the food desert grant and loan program within the state department of health's division of nutrition and physical activity (division) to assist new businesses, existing businesses, and other legal entities to offer fresh and unprocessed foods within a food desert. Defines "food desert". Requires the division to establish: (1) criteria for awarding grants and making loans under the program; and (2) terms and conditions for recipients of the grants and loans. Provides that the recipient of a grant or loan: (1) may use the proceeds only to acquire, repair, or renovate property or equipment to be used in offering fresh and unprocessed foods within a food desert; and (2) shall not use the proceeds to acquire food to be sold. Establishes the food deserts fund for purposes of awarding grants and loans under the program. Requires the division to establish criteria for the evaluation of the health impact of the program and to evaluate the grants and loans awarded under the program according to the criteria. Requires the division, at the direction of the health commissioner, to submit an annual report to the general assembly documenting the effectiveness of the program.
Last Action Taken: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
