Rep. Cindy Ziemke

Requires the long term and short term disability plans for state employees to provide on a biweekly basis, after a seven day elimination period, 100% of qualified wages for a correctional officer employed by the department of correction who is disabled by injuries resulting from certain tortious acts. Requires the state personnel department to amend a section of the Indiana Administrative Code. Defines a term. Makes conforming amendments and technical corrections.

Removes sentencing enhancements for battery and malicious mischief that relate to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Repeals certain offenses concerning the donation, sale, or transfer of blood or semen that contains HIV. Makes conforming amendments.

Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a state Medicaid waiver to reimburse providers who provide behavioral health services to committed offenders held by the department of correction. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to: (1) establish a plan to expand the use of certified community behavioral health clinics in Indiana; and (2) make certain considerations in preparing the plan.

Provides that an employment agency (agency) commits price gouging if an agency's charge is in excess of three times the fair market value of the health care services of a health care employee or temporary worker. Raises the surety bond for an agency from $1,000 to $10,000. Raises the annual licensing fee for an agency from $150 to $200. Includes violation of laws by the agency as a reason to deny the issuance of an agency's license. Specifies that the filing of a list of fees, charges, and commissions does not cause the fees, charges, or commissions to be reasonable or conscionable. Prohibits an agency that contracts for services with a health care provider employer from charging fees, charges, or commissions in excess of three times the fair market value of the health care services rendered by the agency or by an applicant referred by the agency. Requires the agency to keep certain records for five years rather than two. Specifies that fees that are paid are not refundable. Amends the definition of "employment agency" to include the temporary performance of services. Prohibits an agency from giving false information or making a false representation to an employer regarding an applicant or the applicant's qualifications to provide service to the employer. Establishes the following requirements on an agency: (1) Timely billing to a health care provider employer. (2) Providing certain information on an employee's qualifications to a health care provider employer. (3) Requiring compliance with requirements relating to the qualifications of personnel employed. (4) Prohibiting the agency from restricting employment opportunities of its personnel. (5) Prohibiting the agency from recruiting employees of a health care provider to which the agency supplies personnel. (6) Requires the agency to reimburse a health care provider employer for fines for violations by the agency or an employee or personnel of the agency in the provision of health care services. (7) Prohibits an agency's contract with an employee or health care provider employer from requiring payment of liquidated damages, employment fees, or other compensation if the employee is hired as a permanent employee of the health care provider employer. Allows an applicant or employer to report an agency's violation and allows the applicant and employer a private right of action. Raises the fee for a conviction from $10 to $1,000. Allows the office of the attorney general to investigate and prosecute complaints. Provides that the division of consumer protection is responsible for the investigation of complaints. Specifies the procedures for investigating complaints against an agency. Requires an agency to: (1) screen prospective employees; (2) conduct background checks on employees before they work for a health care provider; (3) complete an employee performance review; (4) provide health care providers with certain information on the employees; and (5) annually submit a report. Makes conforming and stylistic changes, and removes obsolete language.

Establishes a procedure for the lawful production and sale of cannabis in Indiana. Makes conforming amendments.

Establishes the psychology interjurisdictional compact concerning interjurisdictional telepsychology and the temporary authorization to practice psychology in another compact state. Sets forth requirements of a compact state. Sets forth the duties of the psychology interjurisdictional compact commission.

Establishes the cannabis compliance advisory committee to review and evaluate certain rules, laws, and programs. Establishes the cannabis compliance commission to regulate all forms of legal cannabis in Indiana, including industrial hemp and low THC hemp extract.

Defines "mental health diagnosis" and sets forth requirements that must be met in order for certain licensed professionals to provide a mental health diagnosis. Requires certain mental health professionals who are making a mental health diagnosis and who determine that the patient may have a physical condition that requires medical attention or has not been examined by a physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant in the preceding 12 months to: (1) advise the patient to schedule, and offer to assist the patient with scheduling, a physical examination for the patient; (2) provide the patient with a list of practitioners and certain information concerning the practitioners; and (3) coordinate patient care with the practitioner as appropriate. Requires documentation of the actions of the licensed professional in the patient's medical record.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing Hoosier Direct Support Professionals.

Includes reporting to the statewide maternal mortality review committee (committee) for the release of mental health records without the consent of the patient. Requires the committee to review cases of maternal mortality involving the death of a woman occurring during pregnancy, through one year after the pregnancy. Requires a health care provider and a health facility to report deaths during pregnancy, through one year after a pregnancy to the committee for review. Requires the committee to review all cases of maternal death. Specifies that a health care provider includes a mental health professional for purposes of the review of records by the committee. Requires the committee to: (1) determine whether an abortion was performed on the individual and whether the abortion contributed to the maternal mortality; (2) determine whether a miscarriage occurred and whether the miscarriage contributed to the maternal mortality; and (3) include the findings in the committee's annual report. Requires the statewide maternal mortality review coordinator to establish a process to report cases to the committee. Changes the expiration date of the statewide maternal mortality review committee to June 30, 2025.