Provides that a political subdivision may lease real property of the political subdivision that is located between the curb of a street and the front of commercial property, including a parkway strip, tree row, verge, or sidewalk, to the owner or property manager of the commercial property: (1) upon terms agreed to between the political subdivision and the property owner or property manager; and (2) without competitive bidding. Specifies requirements for the lease. Provides that upon execution of the lease, the property of the political subdivision shall be under the maintenance, control, and supervision of the property owner or the property manager, subject to the public's right to use the sidewalk as a walkway. Requires the lessee to: (1) assume the liability of the political subdivision for personal injuries and property damage to third parties occurring on the property; and (2) maintain insurance coverage in amount determined sufficient by the political subdivision. Requires the lease to be approved by at least a two-thirds vote of the members of the fiscal body of the political subdivision and recorded in the office of the county recorder.
Provides that the office of community and rural affairs, rather than the Indiana economic development corporation, administers the broadband ready communities development center.
Establishes mental health disability review panels (review panel) for evaluation of members of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund (1977 fund) who have been determined to have an impairment for mental illness. Includes mental illness in the description of "occupational diseases" for purposes of determining whether a 1977 fund member has an impairment. Makes the final determination of an impairment for a mental illness provisional for two years: (1) beginning July 1, 2020, for a final determination made after December 31, 2012, and before July 1, 2020; or (2) from the date of the final determination, for a final determination made after June 30, 2020. Requires that, during that time, the 1977 fund member participate in a mental health treatment plan, at the employer's cost, and at the end of the two year period, requires the review panel to evaluate the 1977 fund member to determine if the 1977 fund member: (1) is medically able to return to duty; or (2) may continue for another two year provisional disability period. Requires that, at the end of the second provisional period, the review panel evaluate the 1977 fund member to determine if the 1977 fund member: (1) is medically able to return to duty; or (2) has a permanent impairment. Provides that the evaluations conducted by the mental health disability review panels are confidential. Provides that the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system may suspend a 1977 fund member's disability benefits if the member fails to comply with reasonable requests for information by the mental health disability review panel. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension management oversight.)
Removes the restriction on the prescribing of ophthalmic devices through telemedicine and sets conditions on when a provider may, through telemedicine, prescribe medical devices. Establishes conditions that must be met before a prescriber may issue a prescription for an ophthalmic device through telemedicine. Prohibits making changes and substitutions to a prescription for contact lenses or prescription eye glasses unless under the direction of the prescriber. States that a prescriber is not liable for any damage or injury to an individual resulting from the packaging, manufacturing, or dispensing of the contact lenses or prescription eye glasses unless the prescriber is also the seller. Prohibits the optometry board from establishing restrictive standards concerning the practice of ocular telemedicine or ocular telehealth.
Provides that, upon request by certain youth membership organizations (organization), a public school shall provide, at least one time each school year, a day and time, which may be during the school day as approved by the public school, for the representative of the organization to provide information to students on school property. Requires a public school to conduct expanded criminal history checks of representatives of organizations. Requires, not later than November 1, 2022, and not later than November 1 each year thereafter, the department of education (department) to report to the general assembly information regarding the pass rate of students who took the naturalization examination and post the pass rate on its Internet web site. Establishes the high school equivalency pilot program (program) for Richmond Community Schools, MSD Washington Township Schools, and MSD Warren Township Schools. Allows a student who has completed less than 50% of the required number of credits necessary to graduate upon entering their fourth year of high school to participate in the program to earn a high school equivalency. Provides that a student who participates in the program may not be counted in a school's graduation rate. Allows a school corporation to contract with adult education providers to provide services under the program if the adult education providers meet certain requirements. Requires a participating school corporation to pay for the program from its budget or through gifts, donations, bequests, grants, and funds from any other source. Requires the school corporation to hold a public meeting to discuss the source of the funds. Provides that an eligible student enrolled in a school corporation may not be a student in an adult education center or adult high school. Requires participating school corporations to report to the general assembly concerning the program. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee for study during the 2020 interim the topic of whether, and in what form, the state should encourage robotics classes and clubs for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Requires that the department of workforce development ensure that the high school equivalency test is administered under certain conditions and by certain vendors. Makes conforming amendments.
Defines "person in a position of trust" and "self-dealing". Provides that a: (1) person commits exploitation of a dependent or an endangered adult if the person recklessly uses or exerts control over the personal services or property of an endangered adult or dependent; and (2) person in a position of trust commits exploitation of a dependent or an endangered adult if the person recklessly engages in self-dealing with the property of the dependent or endangered adult. Increases the penalty if the person has a prior unrelated conviction. Removes: (1) provisions relating to the Social Security Act; (2) a sentencing enhancement that applies if the victim is at least 60 years of age; and (3) a sentencing enhancement based on the value of the property.
Extends eligibility for National Guard license plates to former members of the National Guard.
Amends the access to public records act to provide that personal information regarding a correctional officer, probation officer, community corrections officer, law enforcement officer, judge, crime victim, or their family members may be withheld from disclosure when requested by a person confined in a prison, county jail, detention facility, or in a community corrections program as a result of the person's arrest or conviction for a crime, or that person's agent or relative. (Currently the law permits withholding personal information of officers, judges, victims, or their family members, if the information is requested by a person incarcerated in a penal institution after conviction for a crime.) Provides that the term "agent" does not include an attorney in good standing admitted to the practice of law in Indiana.
Allows a person who: (1) is the spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces assigned to Indiana; (2) affirms certain information concerning the person's licensure in the other state; (3) submits verification that the person is licensed in a regulated occupation in at least one other state; (4) has passed a national criminal background check; and (5) submits an application and pays any application fee; to be issued a provisional license for the regulated occupation at the same practice level allowed by the license held by the person in the other state. Provides that provisional licensing does not apply to a license that is established or recognized through an interstate compact, a reciprocity agreement, or a comity agreement that is established by a board or by law. Establishes penalties for submission of false information for purposes of obtaining a provisional license.
Requires hospitals, ambulatory outpatient surgical centers, and urgent care facilities to post certain information on their Internet web sites about health care services they provide, including the weighted average negotiated charges for the services. Provides that an insurer that issues a group health insurance policy or a health maintenance organization that enters into a group health maintenance organization contract shall disclose to the policyholder or subscriber: (1) the amount of the commission, service fee, or brokerage fee to be paid to an insurance producer for selling, soliciting, or negotiating the policy or contract; and (2) whether the commission or fee is based on a percentage of total plan premiums or a flat per member fee. Requires that this information be disclosed at the outset and upon renewal of the policy or contract. Prohibits the inclusion in a health provider contract of a provision under which a provider (an individual or entity licensed or authorized to provide health care services) would be prohibited from disclosing health care service claims data to an employer providing the coverage. States that the inclusion of such a provision in a health care provider contract is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance. Requires the department of insurance to submit a request for information and a request for proposals concerning the establishment and operation of an all payer claims data base, which will receive and contain information on claims paid by insurers, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and other payers. Provides that a fully credentialed provider shall be reimbursed by an insurer or health maintenance organization for eligible services provided at an in-network hospital if certain conditions are met.
Provides rights to sexual assault victims, including the right to: (1) speak with a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, and a victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available, before a forensic medical exam or during the course of an investigation; (2) the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence; and (3) notice. Requires a provider, before commencing a forensic medical examination, or as soon as possible, to notify a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, or victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available.
Makes various changes to trust and probate laws concerning proof of title affidavits, small estate affidavits, execution of a trust by a third party, silent trusts, nonjudicial settlements of accounts, and legacy trusts. Makes technical corrections. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the probate code study commission.)
